A minor-merger model for NGC 7479

The overall morphology of the barred spiral galaxy NGC 7479 is modelled in numerical simulations of a minor merger. Special attention is paid to the morphology and velocity field of the asymmetric spiral structure and the strong stellar bar. The mass of the satellite galaxy is 1/10 of the mass of the primary disc, or 1/30 of the total mass of the primary. The satellite is placed initially in a circular prograde orbit at six disc scalelengths from the centre of the primary. We follow the evolution of the merger until the secondary galaxy reaches the nuclear region of the primary. A comparison between the modelled and observed morphologies of the stellar and the ionized and neutral gas distributions and velocity fields supports the hypothesis that the transient look of NGC 7479 is a result of a minor merger. We vary several of the initial parameters of the merger and discuss their effects on the resulting morphology. The merging satellite galaxy is likely to lie within the bar of NGC 7479. We identify a possible candidate in the observational data. We discuss briefly the most probable future evolution of NGC 7479 in the light of our minor-merger simulations, and conclude that NGC 7479 is likely to evolve toward an earlier Hubble type.     

Australia Telescope Compact Array H i observations of the NGC 6845 galaxy group

We present the results of Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) H  i line and 20-cm radio continuum observations of the galaxy quartet NGC 6845. The H  i emission extends over all four galaxies but can only be associated clearly with the two spiral galaxies, NGC 6845A and B, which show signs of strong tidal interaction. We derive a total H  i mass of at least  1.8 × 10¹⁰ M_⊙  , most of which is associated with NGC 6845A, the largest galaxy of the group. We investigate the tidal interaction between NGC 6845A and B by studying the kinematics of distinct H  i components and their relation to the known H  ii regions. No H  i emission is detected from the two lenticular galaxies, NGC 6845C and D. A previously uncatalogued dwarf galaxy, ATCA  J2001−4659  , was detected 4.4 arcmin NE from NGC 6845B and has an H  i mass of  ∼5 × 10⁸ M_⊙  . No H  i bridge is visible between the group and its newly detected companion. Extended 20-cm radio continuum emission is detected in NGC 6845A and B as well as in the tidal bridge between the two galaxies. We derive star formation rates of  15–40 M_⊙ yr⁻¹  .     

Neutral hydrogen gas in interacting galaxies: the NGC 1511 galaxy group

We present H  i line and 20-cm radio continuum observations of the NGC 1511 galaxy group obtained with the Australia Telescope Compact Array. The data reveal an extended, rather disturbed H  i distribution for the peculiar starburst galaxy NGC 1511 and a narrow bridge to its small companion galaxy, NGC 1511B, which has been severely distorted by the interaction/collision between the two galaxies. No stellar counterpart to the gaseous bridge has been detected. In addition, we find that the peculiar optical ridge to the east of NGC 1511 is probably the stellar remnant of a galaxy completely disrupted by interactions with NGC 1511. The slightly more distant neighbour, NGC 1511A, shows a regular H  i velocity field and no obvious signs of interactions.
Radio continuum emission from NGC 1511 reveals three prominent sources on top of a more diffuse, extended distribution. We derive an overall star formation rate of  7 M_⊙ yr⁻¹  . The most enhanced star formation is found in the south-eastern part of the disc, coincident with several bright H  ii regions, and closest to the peculiar optical ridge. No continuum emission was detected in the companions, but NGC 1511B appears to show an H  ii region at its faint western edge, closest to NGC 1511. The group displays a prime example of interaction-induced star formation activity.     

H i content and star formation in the interacting galaxy Arp86

We present the results of Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) observations of the interacting system Arp86 in both neutral atomic hydrogen, H  i , and in radio continuum at 240 606 and 1394 MHz. In addition to H  i emission from the two dominant galaxies, NGC 7752 and NGC 7753, these observations show a complex distribution of H  i tails and bridges due to tidal interactions. The regions of highest column density appear related to the recent sites of intense star formation. H  i column densities  ∼1–1.5 × 10²¹ cm⁻²  have been detected in the tidal bridge which is bright in Spitzer image as well. We also detect H  i emission from the galaxy 2MASX J23470758+2926531, which is shown to be a part of this system. We discuss the possibility that this could be a tidal dwarf galaxy. The radio continuum observations show evidence of a non-thermal bridge between NGC 7752 and NGC 7753, and a radio source in the nuclear region of NGC 7753 consistent with it having a low-ionization nuclear emission region nucleus.     

Adaptive optics near-infrared imaging of NGC 2992 – unveiling core structures related to radio figure-of-8 loops

We present near-infrared adaptive optics, Very Large Array (VLA) radio and Hubble Space Telescope ( HST ) optical imaging of the nearby Seyfert galaxy NGC 2992. Spiral structure and an extension to the west are traced down to the core region at the limiting resolution of our near-infrared images. A faint, diffuse loop of near-infrared and radio emission is also observed to the north, embedded within the prominent 2-arcsec radio loop previously observed to the north-west. Near-infrared colour maps and CO narrow-band imaging are then used to identify which regions may not be purely reddened stellar populations. Our new data provide evidence that the VLA radio-loop morphology in the shape of a figure of 8 represents two components superimposed: (1) outflow bubbles out of the plane of the disc, coincident with the extended emission-line region (EELR); (2) star formation along the spiral arm within the galaxy disc and through the dust lane. The near-infrared continuum emission associated with the outflowing radio bubbles suggests that the radio loops are driven by the active nucleus.     

Circumnuclear kinematics in NGC 5248: the origin of nuclear spiral arms

We present for the first time a two-dimensional velocity field of the central region of the grand-design spiral galaxy NGC 5248, at 0.9-arcsec spatial resolution. The H α velocity field is dominated by circular rotation. While no systematic streaming motions are seen in the area of the nuclear grand-design spiral or the circumnuclear ring, the amplitude of residual velocities, after subtracting a model circular velocity field, reaches 20 km s⁻¹ in projection. The rotation curve levels out at around 140 km s⁻¹, after a well-resolved and rather shallow rise. We have generated an analytical model for the nuclear spiral and fitted it to our observations to obtain estimates of the pattern speed of the spiral and the speed of sound in the central region of NGC 5248. Our results are consistent with a low pattern speed, suggesting that the nuclear spiral rotates with the same rate as the main spiral structure in NGC 5248, and thus that the spiral structure is coupled from scales of a few hundred parsecs to several kiloparsecs. We have also compared the observed structure and kinematics between the nuclear regions of NGC 5248 and M100. Several similarities and differences are discussed, including the location of the peak emission regions on major and minor axes, and the spiral arm streaming motions. We find no kinematic evidence for the presence of a nuclear bar in NGC 5248.     

Magnetic and optical spiral arms in the galaxy NGC 6946

The spiral pattern in the nearby spiral galaxy NGC 6946 has been studied using the wavelet transformation technique, applied to galaxy images in polarized and total non-thermal radio emission at λλ 3.5 and 6.2 cm, in broadband red light, in the λ 21.1 cm H  i line and in the optical Hα line. Well-defined, continuous spiral arms are visible in polarized radio emission and red light, where we can isolate a multi-armed pattern in the range of galactocentric distances 1.5–12 kpc, consisting of four long arms and one short spiral segment. The 'magnetic arms' (visible in polarized radio emission) are localized almost precisely between the optical arms. Each magnetic arm is similar in length and pitch angle to the preceding optical arm (in the sense of galactic rotation) and can be regarded as its phase-shifted image. Even details like a bifurcation of an optical arm have their phase-shifted counterparts in the magnetic arms. The average relative amplitude of the optical spiral arms (the stellar density excess over the azimuthal average) grows with galactocentric radius up to 0.3–0.7 at r ≃5 kpc, decreases by a factor of two at r =5–6 kpc and remains low at 0.2–0.3 in the outer parts of the galaxy. By contrast, the magnetic arms have a constant average relative amplitude (the excess in the regular magnetic field strength over the azimuthal average) of 0.3–0.6 in a wide radial range r =1.5–12 kpc. We briefly discuss implications of our findings for theories of galactic magnetic fields.     

A MERLIN neutral hydrogen absorption study of the luminous infrared merger NGC 6240

We present neutral hydrogen absorption observations of the luminous infrared merger NGC 6240 using MERLIN with a resolution of 0.2 arcsec. Broad absorption (a few hundred km s⁻¹) has been found against two compact radio sources within the central kpc providing dynamical information about the neutral gas components in front of these sources. A narrow absorption component is also detected superimposed upon this broad absorption and additionally against some of the extended L -band continuum. From these results we deduce that the broad component is a result of absorption by a highly disturbed disc-like structure of neutral gas aligned along the position angle of the two compact radio sources, similar to the model previously proposed by Tacconi et al. at the end of the last century based on spectral CO emission data. The narrow component is likely to arise from absorption by less disturbed neutral gas at much larger scales within the system.
Continuum observations presented here at 1.4 and 5 GHz support the view that NGC 6240 contains a double nucleus resulting from a galactic merger event and show these as two compact radio sources separated by 1.52 arcsec. We have also applied luminosity and morphological considerations to the continuum results to determine the most feasible source of radio emission for this luminous merger galaxy. We conclude that the most likely source of the radio flux found in NGC 6240 is a combination of starburst emission from radio luminous supernova remnants, similar to those found in Arp 220, and emission from a weak AGN probably triggered by a merger event.     

Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope observations of NGC 3079

We present new observations at three frequencies (326, 615 and 1281 MHz) of the radio lobe spiral galaxy, NGC 3079, using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope. These observations are consistent with previous data obtained at other telescopes and reveal the structure of the nuclear radio lobes in exquisite detail. In addition, new features are observed, some with H  i counterparts, showing broad-scale radio continuum emission and extensions. The galaxy is surrounded by a radio halo that is at least 4.8 kpc in height. Two giant radio extensions/loops are seen on either side of the galaxy out to ∼11 kpc from the major axis, only slightly offset from the direction of the smaller nuclear radio lobes. If these are associated with the nuclear outflow, then the galaxy has experienced episodic nuclear activity. Emission along the southern major axis suggests motion through a local intergalactic medium (not yet detected), and it may be that NGC 3079 is itself creating this local intergalactic gas via outflows. We also present maps of the minimum energy parameters for this galaxy, including cosmic ray energy density, electron diffusion length, magnetic field strength, particle lifetime and power.     

The 3.4-μm absorption feature towards three obscured active galactic nuclei

The results of 3–4-μm spectroscopy towards the nuclei of NGC 3094, 7172, and 7479 are reported. In ground-based 8–13-μm spectra, all the sources have strong absorption-like features at ∼10 μm, but they do not have detectable polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission features. The 3.4-μm carbonaceous dust absorption features are detected towards all nuclei. NGC 3094 shows a detectable 3.3-μm PAH emission feature, while NGC 7172 and 7479 do not. Nuclear emission whose spectrum shows dust absorption features but no PAH emission features, is thought to be dominated by highly obscured active galactic nuclei (AGNs) activity. For NGC 7172, 7479, and three other such nuclei in the literature, we investigate the optical depth ratios between the 3.4-μm carbonaceous dust and 9.7-μm silicate dust absorption     The     ratios towards three highly obscured AGNs with face-on host galaxies are systematically larger than the ratios in the Galactic diffuse interstellar medium or the ratios for two highly obscured AGNs with edge-on host galaxies. We suggest that the larger ratios can be explained if the obscuring dust is so close to the central AGNs that a temperature gradient occurs in it. If this idea is correct, our results may provide spectroscopic evidence for the presence of the putative 'dusty tori' in the close vicinity of AGNs.     

Neutral hydrogen absorption observations of the central region of NGC 5929

We present 0.15-arcsec (25-pc) resolution MERLIN observations of neutral hydrogen absorption detected towards the nuclear region of the type 2 Seyfert galaxy NGC 5929. Absorption is detected only towards the north-eastern radio component with a column density of (6.5 ± 0.6) × 10²¹ cm⁻². Based on comparison with an HST WFPC2 continuum image, we propose that the absorption is caused by a 1.5-arcsec structure of neutral gas and dust offset 0.3 arcsec south-east of the nucleus and running NE–SW. A separate cloud of dust is apparent 1.5 arcsec to the south-west of the nucleus in the HST image. A comparison of the centroid velocity (2358 ± 5 km s⁻¹) and full width at half-maximum (43 ± 6 km s⁻¹) of the absorbing gas with previous [O  III ] observations suggests that both the neutral and ionized gas are undergoing galactic rotation towards the observer in the north-east and away from the observer in the south-west. The main structure is consistent with an inclined ring of gas and dust encircling the active galactic nucleus (AGN); alternatively it may be a bar or inner spiral arm. We do not detect neutral hydrogen absorption or dust obscuration against the radio nucleus (column density < 3.1 × 10²¹ cm⁻²) expected by a torus of neutral gas and dust in unified models of AGNs for a type 2 Seyfert galaxy.     

Detection of an H92α recombination line in the starburst galaxy NGC 660

We have used the Very Large Array (VLA) to search for the H92α radio recombination line (RRL) in four starburst galaxies. In NGC 660, the line was detected over a 17Å‐8 arcsec² region near its starburst nucleus. The line and continuum emission indicate that the RRL-emitting gas is most likely in the form of a cluster of H ii regions with a small filling factor. Using a simple model we find that the total ionized mass in the nuclear region is in the range 2–8Å‐10⁴ M⊙ and the rate of production of UV photons N _Lyc∼1–3Å‐10⁵³ s⁻¹. The ratio of H92α and Brγ line intensities in NGC 660 indicates that extinction is significant even at λ=2 μm. The velocity field of the ionized gas is consistent with a rotating disc with an average velocity gradient of ∼15 km s⁻¹ arcsec⁻¹. The dynamical mass within the central 500 pc is ∼4Å‐10⁸ M⊙ and may be about ∼6Å‐10⁷ M⊙ within the central 120 pc. No line was detected in the other galaxies (NGC 520, NGC 1614 and NGC 6946) to a 3σ limit of 300 μJy. In the starburst galaxies in which RRLs have been detected, we find that there is a rough correlation between the integrated H92α line flux density and both the total far-infrared flux density and the radio continuum emission from the central region.     

Spiral patterns with straight arm segments

The phenomenon of 'rows', which are straight geometrical segments in the spiral arms of galaxies, is studied. The Whirlpool nebula, Messier 51 (NGC 5194) in Canes Venatici, is considered to be an example of a giant grand design galaxy. Optical photographs, H α , ultraviolet and far-ultraviolet images, CO, 21-cm and synchrotron emission maps, and a K _s-band mosaic of M51 are studied. With this observational material, multiple rows can be recognized in the spiral arms of the galaxy. The rows comprise a major part of the arms. The lengths of the rows increase almost linearly with distance from the centre. They intersect one another at an (average) angle ≈2π/3. A possible physical explanation of the phenomenon of rows is discussed on the basis of the assumption that the formation of straight arm segments might be due to the gas-dynamical effect of stability of flat shock fronts, and the tendency of a slightly curved shock front to become flat. A quantitative flattening criterion enables an explanation of the geometrical properties of the arm patterns found in M51 and also in M101. A brief list of spirals with rows is given.     

Pattern speed of the stellar bar in NGC 7479

We study the pattern speed of the bar in NGC 7479 by comparing observations with numerical simulations of gas flow in a two-dimensional gravitational potential, derived from observations. The best agreement between the observations and the modelling is achieved for the fast bar pattern speed of 27 km s⁻¹ kpc⁻¹, when the corotation radius is at 50 arcsec, i.e. 1.1 times the radial length of the bar. This result is supported by the gas and dust lane morphologies, star formation distribution, projected velocity field and overall morphology. We find that star formation is most likely to be triggered close to the large-scale shocks and dust lanes in the bar. The net gas inflow rate in the simulations at 1-kpc radius is 4–6 M⊙ yr⁻¹ at intermediate times.     

Cosmic ray propagation and the star formation history of NGC 1961

We present new radio continuum data at four frequencies for the supermassive, peculiar galaxy NGC 1961. These observations allow us to separate the thermal and non-thermal radio emission and to determine the non-thermal spectral index distribution. This spectral index distribution in the galactic disc is unusual: at the maxima of the radio emission the synchrotron spectrum is very steep, indicating aged cosmic ray electrons. Away from the maxima the spectrum is much flatter. The steep spectrum of the synchrotron emission at the maxima indicates that a strong decline of the star formation rate has taken place at these sites. The extended radio emission is a sign of recent cosmic ray acceleration, probably by recent star formation. We suggest that a violent event in the past, most likely a merger or a collision with an intergalactic gas cloud, has caused the various unusual features of the galaxy.     

A spectroscopic study of NGC 6251 and its companion galaxies

Measurements of the velocities of galaxies thought to be associated with the giant radio galaxy NGC 6251 confirm the presence of a poor cluster with a systemic redshift of and a line-of-sight velocity dispersion of _z =283(+109,52) km s¹. This suggests a cluster atmosphere temperature of T =0.7(+0.6,0.2) keV, which is not enough to confine the radio jet by gas pressure. The core of NGC 6251 shows strong emission lines of [O  iii ] and H +[N  ii ], but there is no evidence for line emission from the jet (detected in optical continuum by Keel).     

UV and optical emission lines from the z∼ 2.6 radio galaxy 0828+193: spatially resolved measurements

We present an investigation into the spatial variation of the rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) and optical line and continuum emission along the radio axis of the z ∼ 2.6 radio galaxy 0828+193, using long-slit spectra from the Keck II and Subaru telescopes. Line brightnesses, line ratios and electron temperatures are examined, and their relationship with the arm-length asymmetry of the radio source is also investigated. We find that on the side of the nucleus with the shortest radio lobe, the gas covering factor is higher, and the ionization parameter is lower. The contrasts in environmental density required to explain the asymmetries in the line brightness and the radio arm-length asymmetries are in fair agreement with each other. These results add further weight to the conclusion of McCarthy, van Breugel & Kapahi – lobe distance asymmetries in powerful radio sources are the result of an asymmetry in the environmental density.
We also note that the brightness of both the UV and optical continuum emission shows a similar spatial asymmetry to that shown by the line emission. While the UV continuum asymmetry can be wholly explained by the expected asymmetry in the nebular continuum, the optical continuum asymmetry cannot. We argue that, at least at optical wavelengths, the starlight and/or the scattered light must also be strongly spatially asymmetric.     

A high-resolution radio study of neutral gas in the starburst galaxy NGC 520

We present subarcsec angular resolution observations of the neutral gas in the nearby starburst galaxy NGC 520. The central kpc region of NGC 520 contains an area of significantly enhanced star formation. The radio continuum structure of this region resolves into ∼10 continuum components. By comparing the flux densities of the brightest of these components at 1.4 GHz with published 15-GHz data we infer that these components detected at 1.4 and 1.6 GHz are related to the starburst and are most likely to be collections of several supernova remnants within the beam. None of these components is consistent with emission from an active galactic nuclei. Both neutral hydrogen (H  i ) and hydroxyl (OH) absorption lines are observed against the continuum emission, along with a weak OH maser feature probably related to the star formation activity in this galaxy. Strong H  i absorption  ( N _H∼ 10²² atoms cm⁻²)  traces a velocity gradient of 0.5 km s⁻¹ pc⁻¹ across the central kpc of NGC 520. The H  i absorption velocity structure is consistent with the velocity gradients observed in both the OH absorption and in CO emission observations. The neutral gas velocity structure observed within the central kpc of NGC 520 is attributed to a kpc-scale ring or disc. It is also noted that the velocity gradients observed for these neutral gas components appear to differ with the velocity gradients observed from optical ionized emission lines. This apparent disagreement is discussed and attributed to the extinction of the optical emission from the actual centre of this source hence implying that optical ionized emission lines are only detected from regions with significantly different radii to those sampled by the observations presented here.     

NGC 1365

Summary. The aim of the present review is to give a global picture of the supergiant barred galaxy NGC 1365. This galaxy with its strong bar and prominent spiral structure displays a variety of nuclear activity and ongoing star formation. The kinematics of the galaxy has been mapped in detail by optical long slit and Fabry–Perot observations as well as radio observations of Hi and CO interstellar lines. From these observations a combined velocity field has been derived, describing the circulation of interstellar gas in the symmetry plane of the galaxy. With a gravitational potential based on near infrared photometry of the bar and the shape of the apparent rotation curve, computer simulations of the dynamics of the interstellar gas have been made with the aim to reproduce both the morphology of the interstellar matter as well as the observed velocity field. The simulations demonstrate the role of the bar and the importance of resonances between the bar rotation and the rotation of the galaxy for the formation of the spiral structure. Polarization of radio radiation reveals magnetic fields concentrated to the dust lanes along and across the bar, where they are aligned with the flow pattern of the gas, and along the spiral arms. The kinematics of the outer region of the galaxy with a fairly unique decline of the rotation curve leads to the conclusion that NGC 1365 lacks a very massive dark matter halo, which may permit the formation of a very strong bar. The galaxy contains an active nucleus with both broad and narrow components of the permitted spectral emission lines. The nucleus is surrounded by a molecular torus, numerous star forming regions and continuum radio sources. The star forming regions are, as seen with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), resolved into a large number of super star clusters suggested to be young globular clusters. A very compact radio source, seen at high spatial resolution with the Very Large Array (VLA), has been claimed to coincide with one of the super star clusters. This compact source has a radio brightness of the order of 100 times that of the bright galactic supernova remnant Cas A and is suggested to be a so called ‘radio supernova’. Two other such compact radio sources, positioned in the prominent dark dust lane penetrating the nuclear region, are identified as strong infrared sources by observations with the Very Large Telescope (VLT). The cause of this infrared radiation may be dust heated by the objects that drive the radio sources. The X-ray radiation from the nucleus is interpreted to consist of hard continuum radiation from the active nucleus itself, Fe-K line emission from a rotating disk, and thermal emission from the surrounding star burst activity. A secondary, highly variable source has been discovered close to the nuclear region. It seems to be one of the most luminous and most highly variable off-nuclear X-ray sources known. The higher excitation optical emission lines in the nuclear region, primarily from [Oiii], reveal a velocity field quite different from that described by the galactic rotation. The deviating [Oiii] morphology and velocity field in the nuclear region is interpreted in terms of a high excitation outflow double-cone with its apex at the nucleus and symmetry axis perpendicular to the symmetry plane of the galaxy. One of the circumnuclear radio sources seems to be a one-sided jet emerging from the nucleus aligned with the cone axis. According to the model, the outward flow within the cone is accelerated and the flow velocity highest at the cone axis. Received 15 January 1999     

BeppoSAX observations of the Seyfert 2 galaxies NGC 7172 and ESO 103-G35

We investigate the X-ray spectra of the type 2 Seyfert galaxies NGC 7172 and ESO 103-G35, using BeppoSAX observations, separated by approximately one year. We find that the X-ray spectra of both NGC 7172 and ESO 103-G35 can be well fitted using a power-law model with an Fe K α emission line at 6.4 keV. We did not find any statistically significant evidence for the existence of a reflection component in the X-ray spectra of these two galaxies. The continuum flux has decreased by a factor of approximately 2 during this period, in both objects. However, the spectral index as well as the absorption column have remained constant. We find weak evidence for the decrease of the normalization of the Fe K α emission line in a similar manner to the continuum in NGC 7172. We also report tentative evidence for a broad Fe K α line in agreement with previous ASCA observations. In contrast, in the case of ESO 103-G35 the line flux does not change while its width remains unresolved.