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At least 145 records · Page 8

High-resolution emission-line imaging of Seyfert galaxies. I - Observations. II - Evidence for anisotropic ionizing radiation

A CCD direct imaging survey of 11 Seyfert galaxies with a mean seeing of 1.3 arcsec FWHM is presented. It is found that the major axes and spatial scales of the circumnuclear emission-line gas are very similar to those of the radio continuum sources. In the second part, this close connection between thermal and relativistic gases is examined. A scenario is proposed in which the radio jets and plasmoids shock, accelerate, and compress ambient and entrained gas, with the dominant source of ionization being the nonstellar nuclear UV continuum.

Haniff, Christopher A.↗

Star formation in the inner Galaxy - A far-infrared and radio study of two H II regions

Far-infrared and radio continuum maps have been made of two inner-Galaxy H II region complexes, G30.8-0.0 and G25.4-0.2, along with radio and molecular line measurements at selected positions. The far-IR emission from each region is dominated by two sources. For both G25.4 and G30.8, the distribution of the emission is similar to that of the radio emission, indicating that OB stars provide most of the heating. There is evidence that extinction plays an important role in G30.8, even in the far-IR. A near-IR point source has been detected in G30.8 at the position of peak far-IR color temperature. This source may be the ionizing star for the core of G30.8. Measurement of forbidden S III 9532 A from G25.4SE indicates that the extinction toward this source is very low, which is difficult to reconcile with previously determined distance measurements to this source.

Lester, D. F.↗

The peculiar object HD 44179 /'The red rectangle'/

A strong infrared source detected in the AFCRL sky survey is confirmed, and is identified with the binary star HD 44179, embedded in a peculiar nebula. UBVRI and broad-band photometry between 2.2 and 27 microns are combined with blue, red, and near-infrared spectra, polarimetry and spectrophotometry of the star, and a range of direct and image-tube photographs of the nebula, to suggest a composite model of the system. In this model, the infrared radiation derives from thermal emission by dust grains contained in a disklike geometry about the central object, which appears to be of spectral type B9-A0 III and which may be in pre-main-sequence evolution. Two infrared emission features are found, peaking at 8.7 and 11.3 microns, the latter corresponding to the feature seen in the spectrum of the planetary nebula NGC 7027. The complex nebular structure is discussed on the basis of photographs through narrow-band continuum and emission-line filters. The polarization data support the suggestion of a disk containing some large particles. No radio continuum emission is detected.

Cohen, M.↗

On the variability of extragalactic sources in the decimeter range and their correlation with galactic structures

It is shown that all of the extragalactic radio sources presently known are variable in the decimeter range (lambda or = 30 cm) and are projected on the large continuum radio structure of the galaxy: loops, spurs, ridges. Probability that coordinates could coincide is or = 10 to the minus 7 power. The variations in the intensity are explained by scintillations (regime of focusing radiation) on the large-scale irregularities of electron density in the medium of loops, spurs and ridges with the dimension a magnitude of approximately 10 to the 13th power cm. A correlation of the characteristics of radiation of the sources with their position relative to the galactic loop is considered. Based on the known experimental data, it is shown that the angle of scattering of extragalactic radiation and the dispersion measures of pulsars projecting on the loops is considerably larger than those of the sources lying outside the loops.

Shapirovskaya, N. Y.↗

Giant H II regions in M81

H-alpha and VLA radio continuum observations at wavelengths of 6 and 20 cm are used to study the distribution of extinction and the distribution of giant radio H II regions along the spiral arms in M81. The radial distribution of visual extinction Av in the plane of M81 shows no trend, with an upper limit 0.1 mag/kpc for the radial extinction gradient and a mean Av of 1.1 + or - 0.4 mag. Nearly all the giant radio H II regions lie along the spiral arms or the inner H I ring. The radial distribution of the set of giant radio H II regions exhibits a strong maximum at a galactocentric distance R roughly 300 arcsec. Unless molecular hydrogen in M81 is also concentrated near R roughly 300 arcsec, the data disagree with Visser's (1980) model for star formation associated with a density wave. Some suggestions are made about how to change the ballistic particle model of Leisawitz and Bash to agree with the observed radial distribution of giant radio H II regions.

Kaufman, Michele↗

Compact radio cores in three Seyfert galaxies - High resolution studies of Mkn 3, Mkn 231, and Mkn 463

The small-scale morphologies of Mkn 231 and Mkn 463 have been investigated using the European VLBI Network (EVN) at 1.6 GHz and the VLA at 15 and 22 GHz. Mkn 3 has been studied using the EVN at 1.4 and 1.6 GHz. All of the galaxies have a substantial fraction of their core radio flux in linear or elongated structures, typically tens of parsecs in extent. Agreement between the parsec- and kiloparsec-scale position angles of continuum radio emission suggests collimated outflow from the galaxy centers that continues over several orders of magnitude in scale. Supernova rates of order one hundred per year on scales of tens of parsecs are required to explain the nuclear radio emission as the result of bursts of star formation. The luminosities, small extents, and linear morphologies of the radio sources all support the idea that the nuclear radio sources are energized by active galactic nuclei and therefore support the more general picture of Seyfert galaxy nuclei being low-luminosity quasars. All of the galaxies appear to have undergone violent interactions in the recent past.

Neff, S. G.↗

Star formation in the inner galaxy: A far-infrared and radio study of two H2 regions

Far-infrared and radio continuum maps have been made of the central 6' of the inner-galaxy HII regions G30.8-0.0 (in the W43 complex) and G25.4-0.2, along with radio and molecular line measurements at selected positions. The purpose of this study is an effort to understand star formation in the molecular ring at 5 kpc in galactic radius. Measurements at several far infrared wavelengths allow the dust temperature structures and total far infrared fluxes to be determined. Comparison of the radio and infrared maps shows a close relationship between the ionized gas and the infrared-emitting material. There is evidence that parts of G30.8 are substantially affected by extinction, even at far-infrared wavelengths. Using radio recombination line and CO line data for G25.4-0.2, the distance ambiguity for this source is resolved. The large distance previously ascribed to the entire complex is found to apply to only one of the two main components. The confusion in distance determination is found to result from an extraordinary near-superposition of two bright HII regions. Using the revised distances of 4.3 kpc for G25.4SE and 12 kpc for G25.4NW, it is found that the latter, which is apparently the fainter of the two sources, is actually the more luminous. The ratio of total luminosity to ionizing luminosity is very similar to that of HII regions in the solar circle. Assuming a coeval population of ionizing stars, a normal initial mass function is indicated.

Lester, D. F.↗

A circumstellar molecular gas structure associated with the massive young star Cepheus A-HW 2

We report the detection via VLA-D observations of ammonia of a circumstellar high-density molecular gas structure toward the massive young star related to the object Cepheus A-HW 2, a firm candidate for the powering source of the high-velocity molecular outflow in the region. We suggest that the circumstellar molecular gas structure could be related to the circumstellar disk previously suggested from infrared, H2O, and OH maser observations. We consider as a plausible scenario that the double radio continuum source of HW 2 could represent the ionized inner part of the circumstellar disk, in the same way as proposed to explain the double radio source in L1551. The observed motions in the circumstellar molecular gas can be produced by bound motions (e.g., infall or rotation) around a central mass of about 10-20 solar masses (B0.5 V star or earlier).

Torrelles, Jose M.↗

Radiative excitation of molecules near powerful compact radio sources

In a recent paper, Barvainis & Antonucci searched for and failed to detect CO J = 1 goes to 0 absorption from the obscuring torus in the nearby powerful radio galaxy Cygnus A. We show that a plausible explanation for the lack of absorption (assuming that the ionization parameter within the torus is low enough for the gas to be molecular) is that radiative excitation of the CO molecules by the nonthermal radio continuum increases the excitation temperature of the lower rotational levels substantially, reducing the optical depths. The excitation temperature may approach the brightness temperature of the radio source at high enough flux-to-density ratios. Heating of the gas by the nonthermal excitation may also be important. We discuss the region of parameter space in which this excitation mechanism will be important and the implications for observations of obscuring tori.

Maloney, Philip R.↗

High-resolution Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope H I 21 cm Imaging of the Host Galaxy of FRB 20250316A

We report Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) H I 21 cm imaging of NGC 4141, the host galaxy of FRB 20250316A at z = 0.0063. Our GMRT H I 21 cm images have spatial resolutions, at z ≈ 0.0063, of ≈0.48–8.0 kpc, and provide evidence for (i) a companion galaxy, LEDA 2582852, to the southwest, (ii) a nearby (27 kpc distant) H i cloud to the southwest, (iii) disturbances in the H I distributions of both NGC 4141 and LEDA 2582852, and (iv) high H I column densities in the southwestern outskirts of NGC 4141. A Sloan Digital Sky Survey spectrum yields a low metallicity and a high star formation rate (SFR) surface density in the southwestern disk of NGC 4141, and an Hα-based SFR estimate that is significantly higher than that at the same location from the Galaxy Evolution Explorer near-ultraviolet image, indicating a recent burst of star formation. The total SFR of NGC 4141 is also found to be higher via the Hα line than from the 1.4 GHz radio continuum. The above evidence indicates that NGC 4141 has recently (within the last ≈3 Myr) acquired metal-poor gas, via either a merger or accretion, that resulted in the southwestern starburst and that may also have triggered large-scale star-formation activity in NGC 4141, resulting in the formation of the stellar progenitor of FRB 20250316A and the other transients. Our highest-resolution (480 pc) GMRT H I 21 cm image finds no H I 21 cm emission from the location of FRB 20250316A or the nearby star-forming region, suggesting that most of the H I here has been either ionized or converted into the molecular phase. Our nondetection of continuum emission at the location of FRB 20250316A yields the 3σ upper limit νL 1.38 GHz < 4.4 × 10 34 erg s −1 on the 1.38 GHz radio luminosity of a putative persistent radio source associated with FRB 20250316A, one of the strongest constraints on the radio luminosity of such an associated persistent radio source.

Kaur, Balpreet [Pune University (India)] (ORCID:00↗

Star formation in the inner galaxy: A far-infrared and radio study of two H2 regions

Far-infrared and radio continuum maps have been made of the central 6' of the inner-galaxy H II regions G30.8-0.0 (in the W43 complex) and G25.4-02., along with radio and molecular line measurements at selected positions. An effort is made to understand far infrared wavelingths allow the dust temperature structures and total far infrared fluxes to be determined. Comparison of the radio and infrared maps shows a close relationship between the ionized gas and the infrared-emitting material. There is evidence that parts of G30.8 are substantially affected by extinction, even at far-infrared wavelengths. For G25.4-0.2, the radio recombination line and CO line data permit resolution of the distance ambiguity for this source. The confusion in distance determination is found to result from an extraordinary near-superposition of two bright H II regions. Using revised distances of 4.3 kpc for G26.4SE and 12 kpc for G25.4NW, that the latter, which is apparently the fainter of the two sources, is actually the more luminous. Though it is not seen on the Palomar Sky Survey, G25.4SE is easily visible in the 9532A line of S III and is mapped in this line. The ratio of total luminosity to ionizing luminosity is very similar to that of H II regions in the solar circle. Assuming a coeval population of ionizing stars, a normal initial mass function is indicated.

Lester, D. F.↗

The radio-far infrared correlation: Spiral and blue compact dwarf galaxies opposed

The recently established correlation between radio continuum and far infrared emission in galaxies was further investigated by comparing normal spiral and blue compact dwarf galaxies. The puzzling result is that the ratio of radio to far infrared luminosity and its dispersion is the same for both samples, although their ratios of blue to far infrared luminosity, their radio spectral indices and their dust temperatures exhibit markedly different mean values and dispersions. This suggests that the amount of energy radiated in the two regimes is enhanced in the same way although the mechanisms responsible for the two components are rather different and complex. The fact that the blue light does not increase at the same proportion shows that both the radio and the far infrared emission are connected with the recent star formation history.

Klein, U.↗

Hubble Space Telescope Planetary Camera observations of Arp 220

Planetary Camera images of peculiar galaxy Arp 220 taken with V, R, and I band filters reveal a very luminous object near the position of the western radio continuum source, assumed to be the major nucleus, ans seven lesser objects within 2 sec of this position. The most luminous object is formally coincident with the radio source to within the errors of Hubble Space Telescope (HST) pointing accuracy, but we have found an alternate, more compelling alignment of maps in which the eastern radio source coincides with one of the lesser objects and the OH radio sources reside near the surfaces of other optical objects. The proposed centering places the most luminous object 150 pc (0.4 sec) away from the western radio source. We explore the possibilities that the objects are either holes in the dense dust distribution, dusty clouds reflecting a hidden bright nucleus, or associations of bright young stars. We favor the interpretation that at least the brightest two objects are massive young star associations with luminosities 10(exp 9) to 10(exp 11) solar luminosity, but highly extinguished by intervening dust. These massive associations should fall into the nucleus on a time scale of 10(exp 8) yr. About 10% of the enigmatic far-IR flux arises from the observed objects. In addition, if the diffuse starlight out to a radius of 8 sec is dominated by stars with typical ages of order 10(exp 8) yr (the time since the alleged merger of two galaxies), as indicated by the blue colors at larger radius, then the lower limit to the reradiation of diffuse starlight contributes 3 x 10(exp 11) solar luminosity to the far-infrared flux, or greater than or equal to 25% of the total far-IR flux. Three additional bright objects (M(sub V) approximately equals -13) located about 6 sec from the core are likely young globular clusters, but any of these could be recently exploded supernovae instead. The expected supernovae rate, if the dominant energy source is young stars, is about one per month for the region where the intense far-infrared flux originates. Also, individual giant dust clouds are visible in these images. Their typical size is 300 pc (1 sec).

Shaya, Edward J.↗

An X-ray study of M51 (NGC 5194) and its companion (NGC 5195)

Observations of NGC 5194/95 with the Einstein HRI show a very strong nuclear X-ray source, surrounded by a diffuse flux, three point sources, and the companion. The diffuse flux, which correlates well with the radio continuum, is likely to originate from the disk population with an age of approximately 2.1 billion yrs. The large luminosity from the nuclear source, together with optical and radio observations, shows that it belongs to the low luminosity active nuclei, thus extending this class to luminosities of less than about 10 to the 40th erg/s.

Palumbo, G. G. C.↗

Radio emission from rapidly-rotating cool giant stars

The results of a VLA program are reported to examine the radio continuum emission from 11 rapidly-rotating cool giant stars, all of which were originally believed to be single stars. Six of the 11 stars were detected as radio sources, including FK Com and HR 9024, for which there exist multifrequency observations. HD 199178, UZ Lib (now known to be a binary system), and HD 82558, for which there is only 6-cm data. The radio properties of these stars are compared with those of the active, rapidly rotating evolved stars found in the RS CVn binary systems.

Drake, Stephen A.↗

Radio science and the International Halley Watch

The radio observations planned for the perihelion passage of Halley's comet in 1986 within the framework of the International Halley Watch (IHW) are reviewed. The roles of radar astronomy, continuum radio astronomy, and spectral-line radio astronomy in investigating the size and surface characteristics of the cometary nucleus, the nature and kinematics of the parent molecules sublimating into the coma, the properties of the coma particulate matter, and the cometary plasma are examined. Problems related to the inaccuracy of comet position data and lacks of background-source information, simultaneous submillimeter observations, and Southern-Hemisphere radio observing time are discussed; and the observatories participating in the IHW network are listed in tables with their instrument parameters.

Irvine, W. M.↗

'Hidden' millisecond pulsars

The radiative and hydrodynamical processes occurring near the region where the pulsar wind interacts with the material outflowing from the illuminated companion star atmosphere are addressed. The emphasis is placed on the properties of a class of 'hidden' millisecond pulsars. Attention is given to three different classes of star-vaporizing pulsars (SVPs) characterized by a radio-emission which turns out to be sharply defined (type I), loosely defined (type II), and absent (type III), respectively. It is suggested that even though the pulsed and continuum radio emission of hidden SVPs is probably completely blocked, they can be visible in the X-ray band, gamma-ray band, and indirectly. It is shown how a class of blue stragglers might contain a rapidly spinning neutron star. Since the radiation spectrum originating from the bubble surrounding an SVP can be either relatively soft or a power-law extending up energy about 100 GeV, hidden SVPs can be important for the interpretation of X-ray and gamma-ray sources already known or to be discovered by ongoing missions such as Rosat and GRO.

Tavani, Marco↗

The spatial variation of the infrared-to-radio ratio in spiral galaxies

We have produced two-dimensional maps of the intensity ratio, Q(sub 60), of 60 micron infrared to 20 cm radio continuum emission, for a set of 25 nearby galaxies, mostly spirals. The ratio maps were obtained from infrared images made using IRAS data with the maximum correlation method, and radio images made using VLA data. Before taking the ratio, the radio images were processed so as to have the same resolution properties as the infrared images; the final spatial resolution in all cases is approximately 1 min, corresponding to 1 - 2 kpc for most galaxies. This resolution represents a significant improvement over previous studies. Our new high-resolution maps confirm the slow decrease of Q(sub 60) with increasing radial distance from the nucleus, but show additional structure which is probably associated with separate sites of active star formation in the spiral arms. The maps show Q(sub 60) to be more closely related to infrared surface brightness than to the radial distance r in the galaxy disk. We note also that the Q(sub 60) gradients are absent (or at least reduced) for the edge-on galaxies, a property which can be attributed to the dilution of contrast due to the averaging of the additional structure along the line of sight. The results are all in qualitative agreement with the suggestion that the radio image represents a smeared version of the infrared image, as would be expected on the basis of current models in which the infrared-radio correlation is driven by the formation of massive stars, and the intensity distribution of radio emission is smeared as a result of the propagation of energetic electrons accelerated during the supernova phase.

Marsh, K. A.↗