arXiv subjects

A. Paswan

Publications and source records attributed to A. Paswan.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2020

A Multi-wavelength Study of the Dual Nuclei in Mrk 212

We present radio observations of the galaxy merger remnant Mrk 212 with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) and the upgraded Giant Meter Radio Telescope (uGMRT). Mrk 212 has two previously known radio sources associated with the two optical nuclei, S1 and S2, with a projected separation of ~6 kpc, making it a dual active galactic nuclei (AGN) candidate. Our new 15 GHz VLA observations reveal that S1 is a double radio source centred around the optical nucleus; its total extent is ~750 parsec and its average 1.4-8.5 GHz spectral index is -0.81 +/- 0.06. S1 therefore, resembles a compact symmetric object (CSO). The 15 GHz VLA image identifies the radio source at S2 to be a compact core. Our radio observations therefore strongly support the presence of a dual AGN in Mrk 212. The optical emission line flux ratios obtained from the Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT) observations however, show that S1 and S2 both fall in the AGN + SF (star formation) region of the BPT diagram. Weak AGN lying in the SF or AGN + SF intermediate regions in the BPT diagram have indeed been reported in the literature; our sources clearly fall in the same category. We find an extended radio structure in our newly reduced 8.5 GHz VLA data, that is offset by ~1" from the optical nucleus S2. New deep FUV and NUV observations with the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) aboard AstroSat reveal SF knots around S2 as well as kpc-scale tidal tails; the SF knots around S2 coincide with the extended radio structure detected at 8.5 GHz. The radio spectral indices are consistent with SF. Any possible association with the AGN in S2 is unclear at this stage.

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arXiv2019

Narrowband H$α$ imaging of nearby Wolf-Rayet galaxies

We present narrowband H$α$ imaging of nearby Wolf-Rayet (WR) galaxies known as a subset of starburst galaxies. The H$α$ images have been used to show morphology of star-forming regions in galaxies, which leads to speculate that the studied galaxies have most likely experienced merger or interaction with low luminous dwarf galaxies or \HI clouds. We further derive the H$α$ based star formation rates (SFRs) in galaxies using our H$α$ observations. These SFRs are well-correlated with SFRs derived using other indicators at far-ultraviolet, far-infrared and 1.4-GHz radio wavebands. It is noticed that the infrared excess (IRX) method gives the best SFR estimates, consistent with different models predication. These models also predict that the sample galaxies have probably gone through a continuous star formation at least for 1 Gyr over which the recent (< 10 Myr) star formation has taken place in WR phase. This study presents Main-Sequence (MS) relation for nearby WR galaxies for the first time. This derived MS relation is found to be similar to previously known MS relation for normal nearby star-forming galaxies, suggesting that WR systems evolve in a similar fashion as normal star-forming galaxies evolve.

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arXiv2019

Optical detection of a GMRT-detected candidate high-redshift radio galaxy with 3.6-m Devasthal optical telescope

We report optical observations of TGSS J1054+5832, a candidate high-redshift ($z=4.8\pm2$) steep-spectrum radio galaxy, in $r$ and $i$ bands using the faint object spectrograph and camera mounted on 3.6-m Devasthal Optical Telescope (DOT). The source previously detected at 150 MHz from Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope and at 1420 MHz from Very Large Array has a known counterpart in near-infrared bands with $K$-band magnitude of AB 22. The source is detected in $i$-band with AB$24.3\pm0.2$ magnitude in the DOT images presented here. The source remains undetected in the $r$-band image at a 2.5$σ$ depth of AB 24.4 mag over an $1.2''\times1.2''$ aperture. An upper limit to $i-K$ color is estimated to be $\sim$2.3, suggesting youthfulness of the galaxy with active star formation. These observations highlight the importance and potential of the 3.6-m DOT for detections of faint galaxies.

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arXiv2018

Optical spectroscopy of star-forming regions in dwarf Wolf-Rayet galaxies

We present here spatially-resolved optical spectroscopic observations of four nearby dwarf Wolf-Rayet (WR) galaxies. The ages of the most recent starburst events in these galaxies are found between 3 and 10 Myr. The gas-phase metallicities [12+log(O/H)] for the spatially-resolved star-forming regions are derived using several indicators. The star-forming regions within the galaxies are found chemically homogeneous within the uncertainties in the estimates. Nitrogen-enrichment as expected in the WR regions is not detected. This implies that metal-enrichment due to supernovae explosions in the most recent star-forming episode is not being detected here. It is suggested that the newly synthesized metals still reside in hot gas-phase. The metals from the previous episodes, cooled by now and well mixed across the whole extent of galaxies, are making galaxies chemically homogeneous with normal N/O ratio. These galaxies are residing in dense environments with galaxy density in the range of $8-80$ Mpc$^{-3}$.

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arXiv2018

Far-infrared - radio correlation and magnetic field strength in star-forming early-type galaxies

A tight far-infrared - radio correlation similar to that in star-forming late-type galaxies is also indicated in star-forming blue early-type galaxies, in which the nuclear optical-line emissions are primarily due to star-forming activities without a significant contribution from active galactic nuclei. The average value of far-infrared to 1.4 GHz radio flux-ratio commonly represented as the $'q'$ parameter is estimated to be $2.35\pm0.05$ with a scatter of 0.16 dex. The average star formation rate estimated using 1.4 GHz radio continuum is $\sim6$ M$_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$ in good agreement with those estimated using far-infrared and H$α$ luminosities. The radio emission is detected mainly from central region which could be associated with the star-forming activities, most likely triggered by recent tidal interactions. The average thermal contribution to total radio flux is estimated to be $\sim12$ per cent. The average value of the magnetic field strengths in the star-forming early-type galaxies is estimated to be 12$^{+11}_{-4}$ $μ$G. These magnetic fields are very likely generated via fast amplification in small-scale turbulent dynamos acting in the star-bursting regions.

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arXiv2017

Tidal interaction, star formation and chemical evolution in blue compact dwarf galaxy Mrk 22

The optical spectroscopic and radio interferometric HI 21 cm-line observations of the blue compact dwarf galaxy Mrk 22 are presented. The Wolf-Rayet (WR) emission line features corresponding to high ionization lines of HeII $λ$4686 and CIV $λ$5808 from young massive stars are detected. The ages of two prominent star forming regions in the galaxy are estimated as $\sim$10 Myr and $\sim$ 4 Myr. The galaxy has non-thermal radio deficiency, which also indicates a young star-burst and lack of supernovae events from the current star formation activities, consistent with the detection of WR emission lines features. A significant N/O enrichment is seen in the fainter star forming region. The gas-phase metallicities [12 + log(O/H)] for the bright and faint regions are estimated as 7.98$\pm$0.07 and 7.46$\pm$0.09 respectively. The galaxy has a large diffuse HI envelop. The HI images reveal disturbed gas kinematics and HI clouds outside the optical extent of the galaxy, indicating recent tidal interaction or merger in the system. The results strongly indicate that Mrk 22 is undergoing a chemical and morphological evolution due to ongoing star formation, most likely triggered by a merger.

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arXiv2016

Radio continuum detection in blue early-type weak emission line galaxies

The star formation rates (SFRs) in weak emission line (WEL) galaxies in a volume-limited ($0.02 < z < 0.05$) sample of blue early-type galaxies (ETGs) identified from SDSS, are constrained here using 1.4 GHz radio continuum emission. The direct detection of 1.4 GHz radio continuum emission is made in 8 WEL galaxies and a median stacking is performed on 57 WEL galaxies using VLA FIRST images. The median stacked 1.4 GHz flux density and luminosity are estimated as 79 $\pm$ 19 $μ$Jy and 0.20 $\pm$ 0.05 $\times$ 10$^{21}$ W Hz$^{-1}$ respectively. The radio far-infrared correlation in 4 WEL galaxies suggests that the radio continuum emission from WEL galaxies is most likely due to star formation activities. The median SFR for WEL galaxies is estimated as 0.23 $\pm$ 0.06 M$_{\odot}$yr$^{-1}$, which is much less compared to SFRs ($0.5 - 50$ M$_{\odot}$yr$^{-1}$) in purely star forming blue ETGs. The SFRs in blue ETGs are found to be correlated with their stellar velocity dispersions ($σ$) and decreasing gradually beyond $σ$ of $\sim 100$ km s$^{-1}$. This effect is most likely linked with the growth of black hole and suppression of star formation via AGN feedback. The color differences between SF and WEL sub-types of blue ETGs appear to be driven to large extent by the level of current star formation activities. In a likely scenario of an evolutionary sequence between sub-types, the observed color distribution in blue ETGs can be explained best in terms of fast evolution through AGN feedback.

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