arXiv subjects

R. Cid Fernandes

Publications and source records attributed to R. Cid Fernandes.

100 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

arXiv2002

Stellar population gradients in Seyfert 2 galaxies

We study the variation of the stellar population properties as a function of distance from the nucleus for a sample of 35 Seyfert 2 galaxies using the technique of stellar population synthesis. We sample regions at the galaxies with dimensions in the range 200 x 200 to 400 x 400 pc and compare the synthesis results with those of a control sample of non-Seyfert galaxies. We find that both at the nucleus and up to 3 kpc from it the oldest age component (10 Gyr) presents a smaller contribution to the total flux in the Seyfert than in the non-Seyfert galaxies of the same Hubble type, while the components younger than 100 Myr present a larger contribution in the Seyfert's than in non-Seyferts. In addition, while for the non-Seyferts clear gradients are present, in which the contribution of the oldest components decrease with distance from the nucleus and the contribution of the 1 Gyr component increases -- we do not find such gradients in most Seyferts. These results suggest that the AGN-starburst connection is a large scale phenomenon affecting not only the inner few hundred parsecs, but the inner kiloparsecs.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Stellar population gradients in Seyfert 2 galaxies. Northern sample

We use high signal-to-noise ratio long-slit spectra in the 3600-4700A range of the twenty brightest northern Seyfert 2 galaxies to study the variation of the stellar population properties as a function of distance from the nucleus. In order to characterize the stellar population and other continuum sources (e.g. featureless continuum FC) we have measured equivalent widths Ws of six absorption features, four continuum colours and their radial variations, and performed spectral population synthesis as a function of distance from the nucleus. About half the sample has CaIIK and G-band W values smaller at the nucleus than at 1 kpc from it, due to a younger population and/or FC. The stellar population synthesis shows that, while at the nucleus, 75% of the galaxies present contribution > 20% of ages younger or equal than 100Myr and/or of a FC, this proportion decreases to 45% at 3 kpc. In particular, 55% of the galaxies have contribution > 10% of the 3 Myr/FC component (a degenerate component in which one cannot separate what is due to a FC or to a 3 Myr stellar population) at the nucleus, but only 25% of them have this contribution at 3 kpc. As reference, the stellar population of 10 non-Seyfert galaxies, spanning the Hubble types of the Seyfert (from S0 to Sc) was also studied. A comparison between the stellar population of the Seyferts and that of the non-Seyferts shows systematic differences: the contribution of ages younger than 1 Gyr is in most cases larger in the Seyfert galaxies than in non-Seyferts, not only at the nucleus but up to 1 kpc from it.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

Circumnuclear stellar population, morphology and environment of Seyfert 2 galaxies: an evolutionary scenario

We investigate the relation between the characteristics of the circumnuclear stellar population and both the galaxy morphology and the presence of close companions for a sample of 35 Seyfert 2 nuclei. Fifteen galaxies present unambiguous signatures of recent episodes of star formation within $\approx$300 pc from the nucleus. When we relate this property with the Hubble type of the host galaxy, we find that the incidence of recent circumnuclear star formation increases along the Hubble sequence, and seems to be larger than in non-Seyfert galaxies for the early Hubble types S0 and Sa, but similar to that in non-Seyfert galaxies for later Hubble types. Both in early-type and late-type Seyferts, the presence of recent star-formation is related to the galaxy morphology in the inner few kiloparsecs, as observed in HST images through the filter F606W by Malkan et al., who has assigned a late ``inner Hubble type'' to most Seyfert 2s with recent nuclear star-formation. This new classification is due to the presence of dust lanes and spiral structures in the inner region. The presence of recent star formation in Seyfert 2 nuclei is also related to interactions: among the 13 galaxies of the sample with close companions or in mergers, 9 have recent star formation in the nucleus. These correlations between the presence of companions, inner morphology and the incidence of recent star formation suggest an evolutionary scenario in which the interaction is responsible for sending gas inwards which both feeds the AGN and triggers star-formation. The starburst then fades with time and the composite Seyfert 2 + Starburst nucleus evolves to a ``pure'' Seyfert 2 nucleus with an old stellar population.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

Empirical diagnostics of the starburst-AGN connection

We examine a representative sample of 35 Seyfert 2 nuclei. Previous work has shown that nearly 1/2 of these nuclei show the direct (but difficult-to-detect) spectroscopic signatures at optical-UV wavelengths of the hot massive stars that power circum-nuclear starbursts. In this paper we examine a variety of more-easily-measured quantities for this sample, such as the equivalent widths of strong absorption features, continuum colors, emission line equivalent widths, ratios and profiles, far-IR luminosities and near-UV surface brightness. We compare the composite starburst+Seyfert 2 nuclei to ``pure'' Seyfert 2's, Starburst galaxies and normal galactic nuclei. Our goals are to verify whether these properties in composite nuclei are consistent with the expected impact of a starburst, and to investigate alternative less-demanding methods to infer the presence of starbursts in Seyfert 2's, applicable to larger or more distant samples. We show that starbursts do indeed leave clear and easily quantifiable imprints on the near-UV to optical continuum range. Composite starburst+Seyfert 2 systems can be recognized by: (1) a strong ``Featureless Continuum'' which dilutes the CaII K line from the host's bulge to W_K < 10 A; (2) emission lines whose equivalent widths are intermediate between Starburst galaxies and ``pure'' Seyfert 2's; (3) relatively low excitation line-ratios, which indicate that part of the gas ionization in these Seyfert 2's (typically \sim 50% of Hbeta) is due to photoionization by OB stars; (4) large far IR luminosities (> 10^10 Lsun); (5) High near-UV surface brightness (~10^3 Lsun/pc^2). These characteristics are all consistent with the expected impact of circum-nuclear starbursts on the observed properties of Seyfert 2's. (abridged)

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

Quasar Variability in the Framework of Poissonian Models

In this paper we review the basic Poissonian formulation of quasar variability, using it as a mathematical tool to extract relevant parameters such as the energy, rate and lifetimes of the flares through the analysis of observed light curves. It is shown that in this very general framework the well established anti-correlation between variability amplitude and wavelength can only be understood as an effect of an underlying spectral component which remains stable on long time-scales, and is redder than the variable component. The formalism is applied to the B and R light curves of 42 PG quasars collected by the Wise Observatory group. Variability indices for these data are obtained with a Structure Function analysis. The mean number of living flares is constrained to be in the range between 5 and 100, while their rates are found to be of order 1--100 per yr. Monochromatic optical flare energies of 10^{46-48} erg/A and life-times of 0.5 to 3 yr are derived. Lower limits of typically 25% are established for the contribution of a non-variable component in the R band. The substantial diversity in these properties among quasars invalidates simple versions of the Poissonian model in which flare energies, lifetimes and the background contribution are treated as universal invariants. The good correlation between the EW(H_beta) and the long term variability amplitude is interpreted in a scenario where only the variable component participates in the ionization of the line emitting gas. This idea is consistent with the observed trends of the variability amplitude with lambda, EW(HeII) and the X-ray to optical spectral index (abridged).

astro-ph↗

arXiv1998

The Nature of the UV-Optical Continuum in Seyfert 2 Galaxies

The nature of the UV-Optical continuum in Seyfert 2 galaxies is a matter of current debate, fundamental to which is the issue of characterizing and quantifying the stellar population contribution to the nuclear spectra. Using high S/N long-slit spectroscopy of a sample of 20 Seyfert 2 galaxies, we have applied a novel approach to investigate the nuclear stellar population in these galaxies. Our main results are: (1) the stellar populations in Seyfert 2 galaxies are varied, and in most cases cannot be adequately represented by an elliptical galaxy template, as done in previous works; (2) the central kpc of most Seyfert 2's contain substantially larger proportions of 100 Myr stars than either elliptical galaxies or normal spirals of the same Hubble type. One important consequence of our findings is that the controversial nature of the so called ``second'' featureless continuum (FC2) in Seyfert 2's is most likely a result of inadequate evaluation of the stellar population.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1997

Patterns and Coincidences in the Light Curves of Active Galaxies

We draw attention to some intriguing coincident patterns in the optical light curves of NGC 4151 and NGC 5548. Inspecting the light curves of these two classic Seyferts, we find evidence for at least five occurrences of a similar sequence of variations. This pattern consists of a ~ 2 yr long sequence of shorter flares, with a total energy of 3--5 10^{50} ergs in the B-band. We predict that the on-going monitoring campain on NGC 5548 should soon reveal more occurrences of this general pattern if it is truly recurrent. We speculate on the possibility that this pattern is associated with a fundamental/universal `unit' of variability in active galaxies, and discuss a possible connection with the variability properties of QSOs.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1996

The Starburst Model for AGN: Past, Present & Future

It is now eleven years since Terlevich \& Melnick first proposed an `AGN without black-holes' model, an idea which since then evolved into what is now called the starburst model for AGN. This model has been the subject of much debate in the last decade, with observational evidence both for and against it further fuelling the controversy. Can we after all these years reach a veredictum on whether starbursts can power AGN? This contribution tries to answer this question reviewing the main achievements of the starburst model, its current status and future prospects.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1996

The QSO variability-luminosity-redshift relation

The relationship between variability, luminosity and redshift in the South Galactic Pole QSO sample is examined in an effort to disentangle the effects of luminosity and redshift in the amplitude of the optical variations. The anticorrelation between variability and luminosity found by other authors is confirmed. Our analysis also supports claims that variability increases with redshift, most likely due to an anticorrelation between variability and wavelength. In particular, our parametric fits show that the QSO variability-wavelength relation is consistent with that observed in low-luminosity nearby active galactic nuclei. The results are used to constrain Poissonian-type models. We find that if QSO variability results from a random superposition of pulses, then the individual events must have B-band energies between $\sim 10^{50}$ and a few times $10^{51}$ erg and time-scales of $\sim 2$ yr. Generalized Poissonian models in which the pulse energy and lifetime scale with luminosity are also discussed.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1995

Unresolved Wind-Driven Shells and the Supersonic Velocity Dispersion in Giant HII Regions

The presence of giant shells or loops in giant HII regions are clear witness of the mechanical energy input from massive stars. Here we evaluate the impact that winds may have on the structure of giant nebulae and on their supersonic velocity dispersion. We follow the suggestion from Chu \& Kennicutt (1994) to see if a combination of a large number of unresolved wind-driven shells caused by massive stars could produce the integrated broad Gaussian profiles typical of giant HII regions. The results, accounting for a wide range of energies, densities and velocity or age of the expanding shells, show that supersonic Gaussian profiles may arise only from a collection of unresolved wind-driven shells if the shells present a peculiar velocity distribution which implies a strongly peaked age distribution leading to an awkward star formation history. On the other hand, a uniform distribution of ages originates profiles with a flat-topped core defined by the terminal shell velocity and a steep decay as $v^{-6}$ up to the largest detectable shell speed. Thus, supersonic profiles can arise only if the final speed of the unresolved shells is supersonic. This implies an equally supersonic random speed of motions in the ionized gas disrupting the shells before they slow down to subsonic speeds. It also implies a mechanism, independent of the shells caused by massive stars, responsible for the supersonic stirring of the background medium. These facts together with the conditions for shells to remain unresolved to present day devices (energies, final speeds and ages), indicate that the winds may be produced by low-mass stars. In this latter case, if the sources move supersonically in the gravitational potential of the whole system they could stir the gas, with their

astro-ph↗