27 research outputs found
A direct image of the obscuring disk surrounding an active galactic nucleus
Active galactic nuclei (AGN) are generally accepted to be powered by the
release of gravitational energy in a compact accretion disk surrounding a
massive black hole. Such disks are also necessary to collimate powerful radio
jets seen in some AGN. The unifying classification schemes for AGN further
propose that differences in their appearance can be attributed to the opacity
of the accreting material, which may obstruct our view of the central region of
some systems. The popular model for the obscuring medium is a parsec-scale disk
of dense molecular gas, although evidence for such disks has been mostly
indirect, as their angular size is much smaller than the resolution of
conventional telescopes. Here we report the first direct images of a pc-scale
disk of ionised gas within the nucleus of NGC 1068, the archetype of obscured
AGN. The disk is viewed nearly edge-on, and individual clouds within the
ionised disk are opaque to high-energy radiation, consistent with the unifying
classification scheme. In projection, the disk and AGN axes align, from which
we infer that the ionised gas disk traces the outer regions of the long-sought
inner accretion disk.Comment: 14 pages, LaTeX, PSfig, to appear in Nature. also available at
http://hethp.mpe-garching.mpg.de/Preprint
The nature of supernovae 2010O and 2010P in Arp 299-II. Radio emission
We report radio observations of two stripped-envelope supernovae (SNe), 2010O and 2010P, which exploded within a few days of each other in the luminous infrared galaxy Arp 299. Whilst SN 2010O remains undetected at radio frequencies, SN 2010P was detected (with an astrometric accuracy better than 1 milli arcsec in position) in its optically thin phase in epochs ranging from similar to 1 to similar to 3 yr after its explosion date, indicating a very slow radio evolution and a strong interaction of the SN ejecta with the circumstellar medium. Our late-time radio observations towards SN 2010P probe the dense circumstellar envelope of this SN, and imply M [M-circle dot yr(-1)]/upsilon(wind) [10 km s(-1)] = (3.0 - 5.1) x 10(-5), with a 5 GHz peak luminosity of similar to 1.2 x 10(27) erg s(- 1) Hz(- 1) on day similar to 464 after explosion. This is consistent with a Type IIb classification for SN 2010P, making it the most distant and most slowly evolving Type IIb radio SN detected to date.</p
SuperCLASS - I. The super cluster assisted shear survey: Project overview and data release 1
The SuperCLuster Assisted Shear Survey (SuperCLASS) is a legacy programme using the e-MERLIN interferometric array. The aim is to observe the sky at L-band (1.4 GHz) to a r.m.s. of 7μJybeam−1 over an area of ∼1deg2 centred on the Abell 981 supercluster. The main scientific objectives of the project are: (i) to detect the effects of weak lensing in the radio in preparation for similar measurements with the Square Kilometre Array (SKA); (ii) an extinction free census of star formation and AGN activity out to z ∼ 1. In this paper we give an overview of the project including the science goals and multiwavelength coverage before presenting the first data release. We have analysed around 400 h of e-MERLIN data allowing us to create a Data Release 1 (DR1) mosaic of ∼0.26deg2 to the full depth. These observations have been supplemented with complementary radio observations from the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) and optical/near infrared observations taken with the Subaru, Canada-France-Hawaii, and Spitzer Telescopes. The main data product is a catalogue of 887 sources detected by the VLA, of which 395 are detected by e-MERLIN and 197 of these are resolved. We have investigated the size, flux, and spectral index properties of these sources finding them compatible with previous studies. Preliminary photometric redshifts, and an assessment of galaxy shapes measured in the radio data, combined with a radio-optical cross-correlation technique probing cosmic shear in a supercluster environment, are presented in companion papers
LeMMINGs - II. The e-MERLIN legacy survey of nearby galaxies. The deepest radio view of the Palomar sample on parsec scale
We present the second data release of high-resolution (≤0.2 arcsec) 1.5-GHz radio images of 177 nearby galaxies from the Palomar sample, observed with the e-MERLIN array, as part of the Legacy e-MERLIN Multi-band Imaging of Nearby Galaxies Sample (LeMMINGs) survey. Together with the 103 targets of the first LeMMINGs data release, this represents a complete sample of 280 local active (LINER and Seyfert) and inactive galaxies (H II galaxies and absorption line galaxies, ALG). This large program is the deepest radio survey of the local Universe, ≳1017.6 W Hz−1, regardless of the host and nuclear type: we detect radio emission ≳0.25 mJy beam−1 for 125/280 galaxies (44.6 per cent) with sizes of typically ≲100 pc. Of those 125, 106 targets show a core which coincides within 1.2 arcsec with the optical nucleus. Although we observed mostly cores, around one third of the detected galaxies features jetted morphologies. The detected radio core luminosities of the sample range between ∼1034 and 1040 erg s−1. LINERs and Seyferts are the most luminous sources, whereas H II galaxies are the least. LINERs show FR I-like core-brightened radio structures while Seyferts reveal the highest fraction of symmetric morphologies. The majority of H II galaxies have single radio core or complex extended structures, which probably conceal a nuclear starburst and/or a weak active nucleus (seven of them show clear jets). ALGs, which are typically found in evolved ellipticals, although the least numerous, exhibit on average the most luminous radio structures, similar to LINERs
LeMMINGs - IV. The X-ray properties of a statistically complete sample of the nuclei in active and inactive galaxies from the Palomar sample
All 280 of the statistically-complete Palomar sample of nearby (<120 Mpc)
galaxies dec > 20 degrees have been observed at 1.5 GHz as part of the LeMMINGs
e-MERLIN legacy survey. Here, we present Chandra X-ray observations of the
nuclei of 213 of these galaxies, including a statistically-complete sub-set of
113 galaxies in the declination range 40 degrees to 65 degrees. We observed
galaxies of all optical spectral types, including 'active' galaxies (e.g.,
LINERs and Seyferts) and 'inactive' galaxies like HII galaxies and absorption
line galaxies (ALG). The X-ray flux limit of our survey is
1.6510~erg s cm (0.310 keV). We detect X-ray
emission coincident within 2-arcsec of the nucleus in 150/213 galaxies,
including 13/14 Seyferts, 68/77 LINERs, 13/22 ALGs and 56/100 HII galaxies, but
cannot completely rule out contamination from non-AGN processes in sources with
nuclear luminosities <10 erg s. We construct an X-ray Luminosity
function (XLF) and find that the local galaxy XLF, when including all AGN
types, can be represented as a single power-law of slope . The
Eddington ratio of the Seyferts is usually 2-4 decades higher than that of the
LINERs, ALGs and HII galaxies, which are mostly detected with Eddington ratios
<10. Using [O III] line measurements and BH masses from the literature,
we show that LINERs, HII galaxies and ALGs follow similar correlations to low
luminosities, suggesting that some 'inactive' galaxies may harbour AGN
LeMMINGs - IV. The X-ray properties of a statistically complete sample of the nuclei in active and inactive galaxies from the Palomar sample
All 280 of the statistically complete Palomar sample of nearby ( 20° have been observed at 1.5 GHz as part of the LeMMINGs e-MERLIN legacy survey. Here, we present Chandra X-ray observations of the nuclei of 213 of these galaxies, including a statistically complete sub-set of 113 galaxies in the declination range 40° <δ < 65°. We observed galaxies of all optical spectral types, including ‘active’ galaxies [e.g. low-ionization nuclear emission line regions (LINERs) and Seyferts] and ‘inactive’ galaxies like HII galaxies and absorption line galaxies (ALG). The X-ray flux limit of our survey is 1.65 × 10−14 erg s−1 cm−2 (0.3−10 keV). We detect X-ray emission coincident within 2 arcsec of the nucleus in 150/213 galaxies, including 13/14 Seyferts, 68/77 LINERs, 13/22 ALGs and 56/100 HII galaxies, but cannot completely rule out contamination from non-AGN processes in sources with nuclear luminosities ≲1039 erg s−1. We construct an X-ray Luminosity function (XLF) and find that the local galaxy XLF, when including all active galactic nucleus (AGN) types, can be represented as a single power law of slope −0.54 ± 0.06. The Eddington ratio of the Seyferts is usually 2−4 decades higher than that of the LINERs, ALGs, and HII galaxies, which are mostly detected with Eddington ratios ≲10−3. Using [OIII] line measurements and black hole masses from the literature, we show that LINERs, HII galaxies and ALGs follow similar correlations to low luminosities, suggesting that some ‘inactive’ galaxies may harbour AGN
LeMMINGs - I. The eMERLIN legacy survey of nearby galaxies. 1.5-GHz parsec-scale radio structures and cores
We present the first data release of high-resolution ( arcsec)
1.5-GHz radio images of 103 nearby galaxies from the Palomar sample, observed
with the eMERLIN array, as part of the LeMMINGs survey. This sample includes
galaxies which are active (LINER and Seyfert) and quiescent (HII galaxies and
Absorption line galaxies, ALG), which are reclassified based upon revised
emission-line diagrams. We detect radio emission 0.2 mJy for 47/103
galaxies (22/34 for LINERS, 4/4 for Seyferts, 16/51 for HII galaxies and 5/14
for ALGs) with radio sizes typically of 100 pc. We identify the radio
core position within the radio structures for 41 sources. Half of the sample
shows jetted morphologies. The remaining half shows single radio cores or
complex morphologies. LINERs show radio structures more core-brightened than
Seyferts. Radio luminosities of the sample range from 10 to 10
erg s: LINERs and HII galaxies show the highest and the lowest radio
powers respectively, while ALGs and Seyferts have intermediate luminosities. We
find that radio core luminosities correlate with black hole (BH) mass down to
10 M, but a break emerges at lower masses. Using [O III]
line luminosity as a proxy for the accretion luminosity, active nuclei and
jetted HII galaxies follow an optical fundamental plane of BH activity,
suggesting a common disc-jet relationship. In conclusion, LINER nuclei are the
scaled-down version of FR I radio galaxies; Seyferts show less collimated jets;
HII galaxies may host weak active BHs and/or nuclear star-forming cores; and
recurrent BH activity may account for ALG properties
LeMMINGs - II. The e-MERLIN legacy survey of nearby galaxies. The deepest radio view of the Palomar sample on parsec scale
We present the second data release of high-resolution ( arcsec)
1.5-GHz radio images of 177 nearby galaxies from the Palomar sample, observed
with the e-MERLIN array, as part of the LeMMINGs (Legacy e-MERLIN Multi-band
Imaging of Nearby Galaxy Sample) survey. Together with the 103 targets of the
first LeMMINGs data release, this represents a complete sample of 280 local
active (LINER and Seyfert) and inactive galaxies HII galaxies and Absorption
Line Galaxies, ALG). This large program is the deepest radio survey of the
local Universe, 10 W Hz, regardless of the host and
nuclear type: we detect radio emission 0.25 mJy beam for
125/280 galaxies (44.6 per cent) with sizes of typically 100 pc. Of
those 125, 106 targets show a core which coincides within 1.2 arcsec with the
optical nucleus. Although we observed mostly cores, around one third of the
detected galaxies features jetted morphologies. The detected radio core
luminosities of the sample range between 10 and 10 erg
s. LINERs and Seyferts are the most luminous sources, whereas HII
galaxies are the least. LINERs show FRI-like core-brightened radio structures,
while Seyferts reveal the highest fraction of symmetric morphologies. The
majority of HII galaxies have single radio core or complex extended structures,
which probably conceal a nuclear starburst and/or a weak active nucleus (seven
of them show clear jets). ALGs, which are typically found in evolved
ellipticals, although the least numerous, exhibit on average the most luminous
radio structures, similar to LINERs
The ruff of equatorial emission around the SS433 jets: its spectral index and origin
We present unique radio observations of SS433, using MERLIN, the VLBA, and the VLA, which allow us to, for the first time, properly image and derive a meaningful spectral index for the `ruff' of equatorial emission which surrounds SS433's jet. We interpret this smooth ruff as a wind-like outflow from the binary