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: nuclei
Radio continuum: galaxies
Galaxies: active
Galaxies: star formation
Galaxies: jet
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 Manchester
University of Central Lancashire
B. T. Dullo
Complutense University
J. H. Knapen
Instituto Astrofisico 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
CSIC - Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA)
G. J. Bendo
University of Manchester
ALMA Regional Centre Node
S. Corbel
Institut de Recherche sur les Lois Fondamentales de l'Univers
USN - Station de Radioastronomie de Nancay
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, Onsala Space Observatory, Observation Support
C. G. Mundell
University of Bath
F. Panessa
Istituto nazionale di astrofisica (INAF)
A. B. Peck
Gemini Observatory North
M.A. Pérez-Torres
CSIC - Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA)
D. J. Saikia
National Centre for Radio Astrophysics India
P. Saikia
New York University Abu Dhabi
Radboud University
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 3478-3522Subject Categories
Subatomic Physics
Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology
Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics
DOI
10.1093/MNRAS/STY342