Deep spectroscopy of 9C J1503+4528: a very young CSS radio source at z=0.521

Abstract

9C J1503+4528 is a very young CSS radio galaxy, with an age of order 10^4 years. This source is therefore an ideal laboratory for the study ofthe intrinsic host galaxy/IGM properties, interactions between the radio source and surrounding ISM, links between star formation and AGN activity and the radio source triggering mechanism. Here we present the results of a spectroscopic analysis of this source, considering each of these aspects of radio source physics. We find that shock ionization by the young radio source is important in the central regions of the galaxy on scales similar to that of the radio source itself, whilst evidence for an AGN ionization cone is observed at greater distances. Line and continuum features require the presence of a young stellar population, the best-fit model for which implies an age of 5x10^6 years, significantly older than the radio source. Most interestingly, the relative sizes of radio source and extended emission line region suggest that both AGN and radio source are triggered at approximately the same time. If both the triggering of the radio source activity and the formation of the young stellar population had the same underlying cause, this source provides a sequence for the events surrounding the triggering process. We propose that the AGN activity in 9C J1503+4528 was causedby a relatively minor interaction, and that a super-massive black hole powering the radio jets must have been in place before the AGN was triggered.