Broadband Observations of the Compton-thick Nucleus of NGC 3393

We present new NuSTAR and Chandra observations of NGC 3393, a galaxy reported to host the smallest separation dual AGN resolved in the X-rays. While past results suggested a 150 pc separation dual AGN, three times deeper Chandra imaging, combined with adaptive optics and radio imaging suggest a single, heavily obscured, radio-bright AGN. Using VLA and VLBA data, we find an AGN with a two-sided jet rather than a dual AGN and that the hard X-ray, UV, optical, NIR, and radio emission are all from a single point source with a radius <0.2". We find that the previously reported dual AGN is most likely a spurious detection resulting from the low number of X-ray counts (<160) at 6-7 keV and Gaussian smoothing of the data on scales much smaller than the PSF (0.25" vs. 0.80" FWHM). We show that statistical noise in a single Chandra PSF generates spurious dual peaks of the same separation (0.55$\pm$0.07" vs. 0.6") and flux ratio (39$\pm$9% vs. 32% of counts) as the purported dual AGN. With NuSTAR, we measure a Compton-thick source (NH=$2.2\pm0.4\times10^{24}$ cm$^{-2}$) with a large torus half-opening angle, {\theta}=79 which we postulate results from feedback from strong radio jets. This AGN shows a 2-10 keV intrinsic to observed flux ratio of 150. Using simulations, we find that even the deepest Chandra observations would severely underestimate the intrinsic luminosity of NGC 3393 above z>0.2, but would detect an unobscured AGN of this luminosity out to high redshift (z=5).Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. 15 Figures and 4 table

Shutting down or powering up a (U)LIRG? Merger components in distinctly different evolutionary states in IRAS 19115-2124 (the Bird)

We present new SINFONI near-infrared (NIR) integral field unit (IFU) spectroscopy and Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) optical long-slit spectroscopy characterizing the history of a nearby merging luminous infrared galaxy, dubbed the Bird (IRAS19115-2124). TheNIR line-ratio maps of the IFU data cubes and stellar population fitting of the SALT spectra now allow dating of the star formation (SF) over the triple system uncovered from our previous adaptive optics data. The distinct components separate clearly in line-ratio diagnostic diagrams, both thermal and non-thermal excitation is present. An off-nuclear starburst dominates the current SF of the Bird with 60-70 per cent of the total, with a 4-7 Myr age. The most massive nucleus, in contrast, is quenched with a starburst age of >40 Myr and shows hints of budding active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity. The secondary massive nucleus is at an intermediate stage. The two major components have signs of an older stellar population, consistent with a starburst triggered 1 Gyr ago in a first encounter. The simplest explanation of the history is that of a triple merger, where the strongly star-forming component has joined later. We detect multiple gas flows. The Bird offers an opportunity to witness multiple stages of galaxy evolution in the same system; triggering as well as very recent quenching of SF, and, perhaps, an early appearance of AGN activity. It also serves as a cautionary note on interpretations of observations with lower spatial resolution and/or without infrared data. At high redshift the system would look like a clumpy starburst with crucial pieces of its puzzle hidden in danger of misinterpretations

Unveiling the AGN in IC 883: discovery of a parsec-scale radio jet

IC 883 is a luminous infrared galaxy (LIRG) classified as a starburst-active galactic nucleus (AGN) composite. In a previous study we detected a low-luminosity AGN (LLAGN) radio candidate. Here we report on our radio follow-up at three frequencies which provides direct and unequivocal evidence of the AGN activity in IC 883. Our analysis of archival X-ray data, together with the detection of a transient radio source with luminosity typical of bright supernovae, give further evidence of the ongoing star formation activity, which dominates the energetics of the system. At sub-parsec scales, the radio nucleus has a core-jet morphology with the jet being a newly ejected component showing a subluminal proper motion of 0.6–1 c. The AGN contributes less than two per cent of the total IR luminosity of the system. The corresponding Eddington factor is ∼ 10−3, suggesting this is a low-accretion rate engine, as often found in LLAGNs. However, its high bolometric luminosity (∼ 1044 erg s−1) agrees better with a normal AGN. This apparent discrepancy may just be an indication of the transition nature of the nucleus from a system dominated by star-formation, to an AGN-dominated system. The nucleus has a strongly inverted spectrum and a turnover at ∼ 4.4 GHz, thus qualifying as a candidate for the least luminous (L5.0 GHz ∼ 6.3 × 1028 erg s−1 Hz−1) and one of the youngest (∼ 3 × 103 yr) gigahertz-peaked spectrum (GPS) sources. If the GPS origin for the IC 883 nucleus is confirmed, then advanced mergers in the LIRG category are potentially key environments to unveil the evolution of GPS sources into more powerful radio galaxies

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

First results from GeMS/GSAOI for project SUNBIRD: Supernovae UNmasked By Infra-Red Detection

Core collapse supernova (CCSN) rates suffer from large uncertainties as many CCSNe exploding in regions of bright background emission and significant dust extinction remain unobserved. Such a shortfall is particularly prominent in luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs), which have high star formation (and thus CCSN) rates and host bright and crowded nuclear regions, where large extinctions and reduced search detection efficiency likely lead to a significant fraction of CCSNe remaining undiscovered. We present the first results of project SUNBIRD (Supernovae UNmasked By Infra-Red Detection), where we aim to uncover CCSNe that otherwise would remain hidden in the complex nuclear regions of LIRGs, and in this way improve the constraints on the fraction that is missed by optical seeing-limited surveys. We observe in the near-infrared 2.15 mu m Ks-band, which is less affected by dust extinction compared to the optical, using the multiconjugate adaptive optics imager GeMS/GSAOI on Gemini South, allowing us to achieve a spatial resolution that lets us probe close in to the nuclear regions. During our pilot program and subsequent first full year we have discovered three CCSNe and one candidate with projected nuclear offsets as small as 200 pc. When compared to the total sample of LIRG CCSNe discovered in the near-IR and optical, we show that our method is singularly effective in uncovering CCSNe in nuclear regions and we conclude that the majority of CCSNe exploding in LIRGs are not detected as a result of dust obscuration and poor spatial resolution

Discovery of a very highly extinguished supernova in a luminous infrared galaxy

We report the discovery of a confirmed supernova (SN) and a supernova-candidate in near-infrared images from the ALTAIR/NIRI adaptive optics system on the Gemini-North Telescope and NICMOS on the Hubble Space Telescope. The Gemini images were obtained as part of a near-infrared K-band search for highly-obscured SNe in the nuclear regions of luminous infrared galaxies. SN 2008cs apparent in the Gemini images is the first SN discovered using laser guide star adaptive optics. It is located at 1500 pc projected distance from the nucleus of the luminous infrared galaxy IRAS 17138-1017. The SN luminosity, JHK colors and light curve are consistent with a core-collapse event suffering from a very high host galaxy extinction of 15.7 +- 0.8 magnitudes in V-band which is to our knowledge the highest yet measured for a SN. The core-collapse nature of SN 2008cs is confirmed by its radio detection at 22.4 GHz using our Very Large Array observations 28 days after the SN discovery, indicating a prominent interaction of the SN ejecta with the circumstellar medium. An unconfirmed SN apparent in the NICMOS images from 2004 is located in the same galaxy at 660 pc projected distance from the nucleus and has a lower extinction.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, ApJ Letters in press. The SN candidate from 2004 has been assigned the designation SN 2004iq (Kankare et al. 2008, CBET 1569, 1

SN 2011hs: a fast and faint Type IIb supernova from a supergiant progenitor

Observations spanning a large wavelength range, from X-ray to radio, of the Type IIb supernova (SN) 2011hs are presented, covering its evolution during the first year after explosion. The optical light curve presents a narrower shape and a fainter luminosity at peak than previously observed for Type IIb SNe. High expansion velocities are measured from the broad absorption H I and He I lines. From the comparison of the bolometric light curve and the time evolution of the photospheric velocities with hydrodynamical models, we found that SN 2011hs is consistent with the explosion of a 3–4 M⊙ He-core progenitor star, corresponding to a main-sequence mass of 12–15 M⊙, that ejected a mass of 56Ni of about 0.04 M⊙, with an energy of E = 8.5 × 1050 ERG. Such a low-mass progenitor scenario is in full agreement with the modelling of the nebular spectrum taken at ∼215 d from maximum. From the modelling of the adiabatic cooling phase, we infer a progenitor radius of ≈500–600 R⊙, clearly pointing to an extended progenitor star. The radio light curve of SN 2011hs yields a peak luminosity similar to that of SN 1993J, but with a higher mass-loss rate and a wind density possibly more similar to that of SN 2001ig. Although no significant deviations from a smooth decline have been found in the radio light curves, we cannot rule out the presence of a binary companion star

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