arXiv subjects

S. Satyapal

Publications and source records attributed to S. Satyapal.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2007

The Discovery of an Active Galactic Nucleus in the Late-type Galaxy NGC 3621: Spitzer Spectroscopic Observations

We report the discovery of an Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) in the nearby SAd galaxy NGC 3621 using Spitzer high spectral resolution observations. These observations reveal the presence of [NeV] 14 um and 24 um emission which is centrally concentrated and peaks at the position of the near-infrared nucleus. Using the [NeV] line luminosity, we estimate that the nuclear bolometric luminosity of the AGN is ~ 5 X 10^41 ergs s^-1, which corresponds based on the Eddington limit to a lower mass limit of the black hole of ~ 4 X 10^3 Msun. Using an order of magnitude estimate for the bulge mass based on the Hubble type of the galaxy, we find that this lower mass limit does not put a strain on the well-known relationship between the black hole mass and the host galaxy's stellar velocity dispersion established in predominantly early-type galaxies. Mutli-wavelength follow-up observations of NGC 3621 are required to obtain more precise estimates of the bulge mass, black hole mass, accretion rate, and nuclear bolometric luminosity. The discovery reported here adds to the growing evidence that a black hole can form and grow in a galaxy with no or minimal bulge.

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arXiv2007

Mid-Infrared Fine Structure Line Ratios in Active Galactic Nuclei Observed with Spitzer IRS: Evidence for Extinction by the Torus

We present the first systematic investigation of the [NeV] (14um/24um) and [SIII] (18um/33um) infrared line flux ratios, traditionally used to estimate the density of the ionized gas, in a sample of 41 Type 1 and Type 2 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) observed with the Infrared Spectrograph on board Spitzer. The majority of galaxies with both [NeV] lines detected have observed [NeV] line flux ratios consistent with or below the theoretical low density limit, based on calculations using currently available collision strengths and ignoring absorption and stimulated emission. We find that Type 2 AGNs have lower line flux ratios than Type 1 AGNs and that all of the galaxies with line flux ratios below the low density limit are Type 2 AGNs. We argue that differential infrared extinction to the [NeV] emitting region due to dust in the obscuring torus is responsible for the ratios below the low density limit and we suggest that the ratio may be a tracer of the inclination angle of the torus to our line of sight. Because the temperature of the gas, the amount of extinction, and the effect of absorption and stimulated emission on the line ratios are all unknown, we are not able to determine the electron densities associated with the [NeV] line flux ratios for the objects in our sample. We also find that the [SIII] emission from the galaxies in our sample is extended and originates primarily in star forming regions. Since the emission from low-ionization species is extended, any analysis using line flux ratios from such species obtained from slits of different sizes is invalid for most nearby galaxies.

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arXiv2005

The PAH Emission Deficit In Low-Metallicity Galaxies - A Spitzer View

Archival observations of 18 starburst galaxies that span a wide range in metallicity reveal for the first time a correlation between the ratio of emission line fluxes of [FeII] at 26 microns and [NeII] at 12.8 microns and the 7.7 micron PAH strength, with the [FeII]/[NeII] flux ratio decreasing with increasing PAH strength. We also find a strong correlation between the [FeII]/[NeII] flux ratio and the host galaxy metallicity, with the flux ratio decreasing with increasing metallicity. Since [FeII] emission has been linked primarily to supernova shocks, we attribute the high [FeII]/[NeII] ratios in low-metallicity galaxies to enhanced supernova activity. We consider this to be a dominant mechanism for PAH destruction, rather than grain destruction in photoionized regions surrounding young massive stars. We also consider whether the extreme youth of the low-metallicity galaxies is responsible for the lack of PAH emission.

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arXiv2005

The Link Between Star Formation and Accretion in LINERs: A Comparison with other AGN Subclasses

We present archival high resolution X-ray imaging observations of 25 nearby LINERs observed by ACIS on board Chandra. This sample builds on our previously published proprietary and archival X-ray observations, and includes the complete set of LINERs with published black hole masses and FIR luminosities that have been observed by Chandra. Of the 82 LINERs observed by Chandra, 41 (50%) display hard nuclear cores consistent with an AGN. The nuclear 2-10 keV luminosities of these AGN-LINERs range from ~ 2 X 10^38 ergs s^-1 to ~ 1 X 10^44 ergs s^-1. Reinforcing our previous work, we find a significant correlation between the Eddington ratio, L bol/LEdd, and the far-IR (FIR) luminosity, LFIR, as well as the IR brightness ratio, LFIR/LB in the host galaxy of AGN-LINERs that extends over seven orders of magnitude in Lbol/LEdd. Combining our AGN-LINER sample with galaxies from other AGN subclasses, we find that this correlation is reinforced in the full sample of 129 AGN, extending over almost nine orders of magnitude in Lbol/LEdd. Using archival and previously published observations of the 6.2 mm PAH feature from the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO), we find that it is unlikely that dust heating by the AGN dominates the FIR luminosity in our sample of AGN. Our results may therefore imply a fundamental link between the mass accretion rate (Mdot), as measured by the Eddington ratio, and the star formation rate (SFR), as measured by the FIR luminosity.

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arXiv2004

A Chandra Snapshot Survey of IR-bright LINERs: A Possible Link Between Star Formation, AGN Fueling, and Mass Accretion

We present results from a high resolution X-ray imaging study of nearby LINERs observed by Chandra. This study complements and extends previous X-ray studies of LINERs, focusing on the under-explored population of nearby dust-enshrouded infrared-bright LINERs. The sample consists of 15 IR-bright LINERs (L_FIR/L_B > 3), with distances that range from 11 to 26 Mpc. Combining our sample with previous Chandra studies we find that ~ 51% (28/55) of the LINERs display compact hard X-ray cores. The nuclear 2-10 keV luminosities of the galaxies in this expanded sample range from ~ 2 X 10^38 ergs s^-1 to ~ 2 X 10^44 ergs s^-1. We find an intriguing trend in the Eddington ratio vs. L_FIR and L_FIR/L_B for the AGN-LINERs in the expanded sample that extends over seven orders of magnitude in L/L_Edd. This correlation may imply a link between black hole growth, as measured by the Eddington ratio, and the star formation rate (SFR), as measured by the far-IR luminosity and IR-brightness ratio. If the far-IR luminosity is an indicator of the molecular gas content in our sample of LINERs, our results may further indicate that the mass accretion rate scales with the host galaxy's fuel supply. We discuss the potential implications of our results in the framework of black hole growth and AGN fueling in low luminosity AGN. (Abridged)

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arXiv2003

A Joint Mid-Infrared Spectroscopic and X-Ray Imaging Investigation of Liner Galaxies

We present a comprehensive comparative high resolution mid-IR spectroscopic and X-ray imaging investigation of LINERs using archival observations from the ISO-SWS and the Chandra Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer. Although the sample is heterogenous and incomplete, this is the first comprehensive study of the mid-infrared fine structure line emission of LINERs. These results have been compared with similar observations of starburst galaxies and AGN. We find that LINERs very clearly fall between starbursts and AGN in their mid-IR fine structure line spectra, showing L_[OIV]26um/L_FIR and L_[OIV]26um/L_[NeII]12.8um ratios, both measures of the dominant nuclear energy source in dust-enshrouded galaxies, intermediate between those of AGN and starbursts. Chandra imaging observations of the LINERs reveal hard nuclear point sources morphologically consistent with AGN in most (67%) of the sample, with a clear trend with IR-brightness. Most LINERs that show a single dominant hard compact X-ray core are IR-faint ((L_FIR/L_B < 1), whereas most LINERs that show scattered X-ray sources are IR-bright. A comparative X-ray/mid-IR spectroscopic investigation of LINERs reveals some puzzling results. Objects that display strong hard nuclear X-ray cores should also display high excitation lines in the IR. However, we find two LINERs disagree with this expectation. The galaxy NGC 404 shows weak soft X-ray emission consistent with a starburst but has the most prominent highest excitation mid-IR spectrum of our entire sample. Using IR emission line diagnostics alone, this galaxy would be classified as hosting a dominant AGN. Conversely, the IR luminous LINER NGC 6240 has an extremely luminous binary AGN as revealed by the X-rays but shows weak IR emission lines.

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arXiv2003

The [CII] 158 um Line Deficit in Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies Revisited

We present a study of the [CII] 157.74 um fine-structure line in a sample of 15 ultraluminous infrared (IR) galaxies (L_IR>10^12 Lsun; ULIRGs) using the Long Wavelength Spectrometer (LWS) on the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO). We confirm the observed order of magnitude deficit (compared to normal and starburst galaxies) in the strength of the [CII] line relative to the far-IR dust continuum emission found in our initial report (Luhman et al. 1998), but here with a sample that is twice as large. This result suggests that the deficit is a general phenomenon affecting 4/5 ULIRGs. We present an analysis using observations of generally acknowledged photodissociation region (PDR) tracers ([CII], [OI] 63 and 145 um, and FIR continuum emission), which suggests that a high UV flux G_o incident on a moderate density n PDR could explain the deficit. However, comparisons with other ULIRG observations, including CO (1-0), [CI] (1-0), and 6.2 um polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission, suggest that high G_o/n PDRs alone cannot produce a self-consistent solution that is compatible with all of the observations. We propose that non-PDR contributions to the FIR continuum can explain the apparent [CII] deficiency. Here, unusually high G_o and/or n physical conditions in ULIRGs as compared to those in normal and starburst galaxies are not required to explain the [CII] deficit. Dust-bounded photoionization regions, which generate much of the FIR emission but do not contribute significant [CII] emission, offer one possible physical origin for this additional non-PDR component. Such environments may also contribute to the observed suppression of FIR fine-structure emission from ionized gas and PAHs, as well as the warmer FIR colors found in ULIRGs. The implications for observations at higher redshifts are also revisited.

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arXiv2000

ISO-LWS spectroscopy of Centaurus A: extended star formation

We present the first full FIR spectrum of Centaurus A (NGC 5128) from 43 - 196.7 um. The data was obtained with the ISO Long Wavelength Spectrometer (LWS). We conclude that the FIR emission in a 70 arcsec beam centred on the nucleus is dominated by star formation rather than AGN activity. The flux in the far-infrared lines is ~ 1 % of the total FIR: the [CII] line flux is ~ 0.4 % FIR and the [OI] line is ~ 0.2 %, with the remainder arising from [OIII], [NII] and [NIII] lines. These are typical values for starburst galaxies. The ratio of the [NIII]/[NII] line intensities from the HII regions in the dust lane can be modelled as a ~ 6 million year old starburst. This suggests that the galaxy underwent either a recent merger or a merger which triggered a series of bursts. We estimate that < 5 % of the observed [CII] arises in the cold neutral medium (CNM) and that ~ 10 % arises in the warm ionized medium (WIM). The main contributors to the [CII] emission are the PDRs, which are located throughout the dust lane and in regions beyond where the bulk of the molecular material lies. On scales of ~ 1 kpc the average physical properties of the PDRs are modelled with a gas density, n ~ 1000 cm^-3, an incident far-UV field, G ~ 100 times the local Galactic field, and a gas temperature of ~ 250 K.

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arXiv1999

ISO Far-IR Spectroscopy of IR-Bright Galaxies and ULIRGs

Based on far-infrared spectroscopy of a small sample of nearby infrared-bright and ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) with the ISO Long Wavelength Spectrometer, we find a dramatic progression in ionic/atomic fine-structure emission line and molecular/atomic absorption line characteristics in these galaxies extending from strong [O III]52,88 and [N III]57 micron line emission to detection of only faint [C II]158 micron line emission from gas in photodissociation regions in the ULIRGs. The molecular absorption spectra show varying excitation as well, extending from galaxies in which the molecular population mainly occupies the ground state to galaxies in which there is significant population in higher levels. In the case of the prototypical ULIRG, the merger galaxy Arp 220, the spectrum is dominated by absorption lines of OH, H2O, CH, and [O I]. Low [O III]88 micron line flux relative to the integrated far-infrared flux correlates with low excitation and does not appear to be due to far-infrared extinction or to density effects. A progression toward soft radiation fields or very dusty HII regions may explain these effects.

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arXiv1998

ISO LWS Spectroscopy of M82: A Unified Evolutionary Model

We present the first complete far-infrared spectrum (43 to 197 um) of M82, the brightest infrared galaxy in the sky, taken with the Long Wavelength Spectrometer of the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO). We detected seven fine structure emission lines, [OI] 63 and 145 um, [OIII] 52 and 88 um, [NII] 122 um, [NIII] 57 um and [CII] 158 um, and fit their ratios to a combination starburst and photo-dissociation region (PDR) model. The best fit is obtained with HII regions with n = 250 cm^{-3} and an ionization parameter of 10^{-3.5} and PDRs with n = 10^{3.3} cm^{-3} and a far-ultraviolet flux of G_o = 10^{2.8}. We applied both continuous and instantaneous starburst models, with our best fit being a 3-5 Myr old instantaneous burst model with a 100 M_o cut-off. We also detected the ground state rotational line of OH in absorption at 119.4 um. No excited level OH transitions are apparent, indicating that the OH is almost entirely in its ground state with a column density ~ 4x10^{14} cm^{-2}. The spectral energy distribution over the LWS wavelength range is well fit with a 48 K dust temperature and an optical depth, tau_{Dust} proportional to lambda^{-1}.

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