LeMMINGs - I. The eMERLIN legacy survey of nearby galaxies. 1.5-GHz parsec-scale radio structures and cores
Journal article, 2018

We present the first data release of high-resolution (≤0.2 arcsec) 1.5-GHz radio images of 103 nearby galaxies from the Palomar sample, observed with the eMERLIN array, as part of the LeMMINGs survey. This sample includes galaxies which are active (low-ionization nuclear emission-line regions [LINER] and Seyfert) and quiescent (H II galaxies and absorption line galaxies, ALGs), which are reclassified based upon revised emission-line diagrams.We detect radio emission ≳0.2 mJy for 47/103 galaxies (22/34 for LINERS, 4/4 for Seyferts, 16/51 for HII galaxies, and 5/14 for ALGs) with radio sizes typically of ≲100 pc. We identify the radio core position within the radio structures for 41 sources. Half of the sample shows jetted morphologies. The remaining half shows single radio cores or complex morphologies. LINERs show radio structures more core-brightened than Seyferts. Radio luminosities of the sample range from 1032to 1040erg s-1: LINERs and HII galaxies show the highest and lowest radio powers, respectively, while ALGs and Seyferts have intermediate luminosities. We find that radio core luminosities correlate with black hole (BH) mass down to ~107M⊙, but a break emerges at lower masses. Using [OIII] line luminosity as a proxy for the accretion luminosity, active nuclei and jetted HII galaxies follow an optical Fundamental Plane of BH activity, suggesting a common disc-jet relationship. In conclusion, LINER nuclei are the scaled-down version of FR I radio galaxies; Seyferts show less collimated jets; HII galaxies may host weak active BHs and/or nuclear star-forming cores; and recurrent BH activity may account for ALG properties.

Galaxies: jet

Galaxies: active

Galaxies: star formation

Galaxies: nuclei

Radio continuum: galaxies

Author

R. D. Baldi

University of Southampton

D. R.A. Williams

University of Southampton

I. M. McHardy

University of Southampton

R. J. Beswick

University of Manchester

M. K. Argo

University of Central Lancashire

University of Manchester

B. T. Dullo

Complutense University

J. H. Knapen

Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias

University of La Laguna

E. Brinks

University of Hertfordshire

T. Muxlow

University of Manchester

Susanne Aalto

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Astronomy and Plasmaphysics

Antxon Alberdi

Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA)

G. J. Bendo

ALMA Regional Centre Node

University of Manchester

S. Corbel

Institut de Recherche sur les Lois Fondamentales de l'Univers

Station de Radioastronomie de Nançay

R. Evans

Cardiff University

D. M. Fenech

University College London (UCL)

D. A. Green

University of Cambridge

H. R. Klockner

Max Planck Society

E. Körding

Radboud University

P. Kharb

National Centre for Radio Astrophysics India

T. J. Maccarone

Texas Tech University at Lubbock

Ivan Marti-Vidal

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Onsala Space Observatory

C. G. Mundell

University of Bath

F. Panessa

Istituto nazionale di astrofisica (INAF)

A. B. Peck

Gemini Observatory North

M.A. Pérez-Torres

Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA)

D. J. Saikia

National Centre for Radio Astrophysics India

P. Saikia

Radboud University

New York University Abu Dhabi

F. Shankar

University of Southampton

R. E. Spencer

University of Manchester

I. R. Stevens

University of Birmingham

P. Uttley

University of Amsterdam

J. Westcott

University of Hertfordshire

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

0035-8711 (ISSN) 1365-2966 (eISSN)

Vol. 476 3 3478-3522

Subject Categories

Subatomic Physics

Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology

Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics

DOI

10.1093/MNRAS/STY342

More information

Latest update

4/1/2021 1