Search

The first spectroscopic census of AGNs associated to late-type galaxies in the Virgo cluster is carried on by observing 213 out of a complete set of 237 galaxies more massive than M_dyn>10^{8.5} solar masses. Among them, 77 are classified as AGNs (including 21 transition objects, 47 LINERs and 9 Seyferts), and comprize 32% of the late-type galaxies in Virgo. Due to spectroscopic incompleteness at most 21 AGNs are missed in the survey, so that the fraction would increase up to 41%. Using corollary Near-IR observations, that enable us to estimate galaxies dynamical masses, it is found that AGNs are hosted exclusively in massive galaxies, i.e. M_dyn\gsim 10^{10} solar masses. Their frequency increases steeply with the dynamical mass from zero at M_dyn\approx10^{9.5} solar masses to virtually 1 at M_dyn>10^{11.5} solar masses. These frequencies are consistent with the ones of low luminosity AGNs found in the general field by the SDSS. Massive galaxies that harbor AGNs commonly show conspicuous r-band star-like nuclear enhancements. Conversely they often, but not necessarily contain massive bulges. Few well known AGNs (e.g. M61, M100, NGC4535) are found in massive Sc galaxies with little or no bulge. The AGN fraction seems to be only marginally sensitive to galaxy environment. We infer the black hole masses using the known scaling relations of quiescent black holes. No black holes lighter than $\sim 10^6$ \msol are found active in our sample., The paper contains 13 figures and 5 tables; accepted for publication in MNRAS

We have measured the central structural properties for a sample of S0-Sbc galaxies down to scales of similar to 10 pc using Hubble Space Telescope NICMOS images. Central star clusters are found in 58% of our sample. Their near-infrared luminosities scale with the host bulge luminosities, as reported in 2003 by Balcells and coworkers. In terms of photometric masses, the relation is M-PS = 10(7.75 +/- 0.15) (M-bul/10(10) M-circle dot)(0.76 +/- 0.13). Put together with recent data on bulges hosting supermassive black holes, we infer a nonlinear dependency of the "central massive object'' mass on the host bulge mass such that M-CMO/M-circle dot = 10(7.51 +/- 0.06)(M-bul/10(10)M(circle dot))(0.84 +/- 0.06). The linear relation presented by Ferrarese and co-workers may be biased at the low-mass end by the inclusion of the disk light from cluster lenticular galaxies. Bulge-disk decompositions reaching to the outer disk show that similar to 90% of our galaxies possess central light excesses that can be modeled with an inner exponential and/or an unresolved source. All the extended nuclear components, with sizes of a few hundred parsecs, have disky isophotes, which suggest that they may be inner disks, rings, or bars; their colors are redder than those of the underlying bulge, arguing against a recent origin for their stellar populations. Surface brightness profiles ( of the total galaxy light, and the bulge component on its own) rise inward to the resolution limit of the data, with a continuous distribution of logarithmic slopes from the low values typical of dwarf ellipticals (0.1

We obtained optical imaging polarimetry with the ACS/HRC aboard the HST of the 9 closest radio-galaxies in the 3C catalogue with an FR I morphology. The nuclear sources seen in direct HST images in these galaxies are found to be highly polarized with levels in the range ~2-11 % with a median value of 7 %. We discuss the different mechanisms that produce polarized emission and conclude that the only viable interpretation is a synchrotron origin for the optical nuclei. This idea is strengthened by the analogy with the polarization properties of BL Lac objects, providing also further support to the FRI/BL Lac unified model. This confirms previous suggestions that the dominant emission mechanism in low luminosity radio-loud AGN is related to non-thermal radiation produced by the base of their jets. In addition to the nuclear polarization (and to the large scale optical jets), polarization is detected co-spatially with the dusty circumnuclear disks, likely due to dichroic transmission; the polarization vectors are tangential to the disks as expected when the magnetic field responsible for the grains alignment is stretched by differential rotation. We explored the possibility to detect the polarimetric signature of a misaligned radiation beam in FR I, expected in our sources in the frame of the FR I/ BL Lac unification. We did not find this effect in any of the galaxies, but our the results are not conclusive on whether a misaligned beam is indeed present in FR I., 16 page, 10 figures, accepted for publication in A&A

The majority of nearby early-type galaxies contain detectable amounts of emission-line gas at their centers. The nuclear gas kinematics form a valuable diagnostic of the central black hole (BH) mass. Here we analyze and model Hubble Space Telescope STIS observations of a sample of 27 galaxies; 16 Fanaroff-Riley Type I radio galaxies and 11 (more) normal early-type galaxies. We focus here on what can be learned from the nuclear velocity dispersion (line width) of the gas as a complement to the many studies dealing with gas rotation velocities. We find that the dispersion in a STIS aperture of similar to 0."1-0B2 generally exceeds the large-scale stellar velocity dispersion of the galaxy. This is qualitatively consistent with the presence of central BHs but raises the questions of whether the excess gas dispersion is of gravitational or nongravitational origin and whether the implied BH masses are consistent with our current understanding of BH demography (as predicted by the M-sigma relation between BH mass and stellar velocity dispersion). To address this we construct purely gravitational axisymmetric dynamical models for the gas, both thin-disk models and models with more general axis ratios and velocity anisotropies. For the normal galaxies the nuclear gas dispersions are adequately reproduced assuming disks around the BHs with masses that follow the M-sigma relation. In contrast, the gas dispersions observed for the radio galaxies generally exceed those predicted by any of the models. We attribute this to the presence of nongravitational motions in the gas that are similar to or larger than the gravitational motions. The nongravitational motions are presumably driven by the active galactic nucleus (AGN), but we do not find a relation between the radiative output of the AGN and the nongravitational dispersion. Given the uncertainties about the dynamical state of the gas, it is not possible to uniquely determine the BH mass for each galaxy from its nuclear gas dispersion. However, for the sample as a whole the observed dispersions do not provide evidence for significant deviations from the M-sigma relation.

We present Sauron 2D spectrography of the central 1.5 kpc of the nearby Sey2 galaxy NGC1068, encompassing the well-known NIR inner bar. We have successively disentangled the respective contributions of the ionized gas and stars, thus deriving their 2D distribution and kinematics. The [OIII] and Hbeta emission lines exhibit very different spatial distribution and kinematics, the latter following inner spiral arms with clumps associated with star formation. Strong inwards streaming motions are observed in both the Hbeta and [OIII] kinematics. The stellar kinematics also exhibit clear signatures of a non-axisymmetric tumbling potential, with a twist in both the velocity and h3 fields. We re-examined the long-slit data of Shapiro et al (2003) using pPXF: a strong decoupling of h3 is revealed, and the central decrease in h4 hinted in the Sauron data is confirmed. These data also suggest that NGC1068 is a good candidate for a so-called sigma-drop. We confirm the possible presence of two pattern speeds. We also examine the stellar kinematics of bars formed in N-body+SPH simulations built from axisymmetric initial conditions. These successfully reproduce a number of properties observed in the 2D kinematics of NGC1068, and the long-slit data, showing that the kinematic signature of the NIR bar is imprinted in the stellar kinematics. The remaining differences between the models and the observed properties are mostly due to the exclusion of star formation and the lack of the primary large-scale oval/bar in the simulations. These models suggest that the inner bar could drive a significant amount of gas down to a scale of ~300 pc. This is consistent with the interpretation of the sigma-drop in NGC1068 being the result of central gas accretion followed by an episode of star formation., Comment: accepted for publication in MNRAS, 20 pages, 17 figures (high res version available at www-obs.univ-lyon1.fr/eric.emsellem/preprints/NGC1068_Emsellemetal_final.pdf)

The SAURON integral field spectrograph was used to observe the central area of the barred spiral galaxy M100 (NGC 4321). M100 contains a nuclear ring of star formation, fueled by gas channeled inward by the galaxy's bar. We present maps of emission line strengths, absorption line strength indices, and the gas velocity dispersion across the field. The H beta emission is strongest in the ring, along two curved bar dustlanes and at the ends of the bar. The Mg b absorption line strength shows a younger population of stars within the ring as compared to the surrounding area. The gas velocity dispersion is notably smaller than elsewhere in the field both in the ring and along the leading edge of the dustlanes. Low gas dispersion is correlated spatially with the H beta emission. We thus see stars being formed from cold (low dispersion) gas which is being channeled inward along the dustlanes under the influence of a large bar, and accumulated into a ring near the location of the inner Lindblad resonances. This lends further strong support to the interpretation of nuclear rings in barred galaxies as resonance phenomena., Comment: 10 pages, 1 figure. Accepted for publication in ApJ Letters. Version with high resolution figure can be found at http://star.herts.ac.uk/~allard/M100_ApJL.ps

LINER nuclei, which are present in many nearby galactic bulges, may be the manifestation of low-rate or low-radiative-efficiency accretion onto supermassive central black holes. However, it has been unclear whether the compact UV nuclear sources present in many LINERs are clusters of massive stars, rather than being directly related to the accretion process. We have used the Hubble Space Telescope to monitor the UV variability of a sample of 17 galaxies with LINER nuclei and compact nuclear UV sources. Fifteen of the 17 galaxies were observed more than once, with two to five epochs per galaxy, spanning up to a year. We detect significant variability in most of the sample, with peak-to-peak amplitudes from a few percent to 50%. In most cases, correlated variations are seen in two independent bands (F250W and F330W). Comparison to previous UV measurements indicates, for many objects, long-term variations by factors of a few over decade timescales. Variability is detected in LINERs with and without detected compact radio cores, in LINERs that have broad H alpha wings detected in their optical spectra ("LINER 1s"), and in those that do not ("LINER 2s"). This variability demonstrates the existence of a nonstellar component in the UV continuum of all types and sets a lower limit to the luminosity of this component. Interestingly, all the LINERs that have detected radio cores have variable UV nuclei, as one would expect from bona fide active galactic nuclei. We note a trend in the UV color (F250W/F330W) with spectral type - LINER 1s tend to be bluer than LINER 2s. This trend may indicate a link between the shape of the nonstellar continuum and the presence or the visibility of a broad-line region. In one target, the poststarburst galaxy NGC 4736, we detect variability in a previously noted UV source that is offset by 2.'' 5 (similar to 60 pc in projection) from the nucleus. This may be the nearest example of a binary active nucleus and of the process leading to black hole merging.

We present the completed results of a high resolution radio imaging survey of all (similar to 200) low-luminosity active galactic nuclei (LLAGNs) and AGNs in the Palomar Spectroscopic Sample of all (similar to 488) bright northern galaxies. The high incidences of pc-scale radio nuclei, with implied brightness temperatures greater than or similar to 10(7) K, and sub-parsec jets argue for accreting black holes in greater than or similar to 50% of all LINERs and low-luminosity Seyferts; there is no evidence against all LLAGNs being mini-AGNs. The detected parsec-scale radio nuclei are preferentially found in massive ellipticals and in type 1 nuclei (i.e. nuclei with broad Ha emission). The radio luminosity function (RLF) of Palomar Sample LLAGNs and AGNs extends three orders of magnitude below, and is continuous with, that of "classical" AGNs. We find marginal evidence for a low-luminosity turnover in the RLF; nevertheless LLAGNs are responsible for a significant fraction of present day mass accretion. Adopting a model of a relativistic jet from Falcke & Biermann, we show that the accretion power output in LLAGNs is dominated by the kinetic power in the observed jets rather than the radiated bolometric luminosity. The Palomar LLAGNs and AGNs follow the same scaling between jet kinetic power and narrow line region (NLR) luminosity as the parsec to kilo-parsec jets in powerful radio galaxies. Eddington ratios l(Edd) (= L(Emitted)/ L(Eddington)) of

We present the first near-infrared (K'-band) homogeneous observations of a complete sub-sample of the 3CR radio catalogue comprising all High Excitation Galaxies (HEGs) at z, Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A; high resolution version can be downloaded at http://www.astro.yale.edu/danilom/

We present results from Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) observations of the 1667 and 1665 MHz OH lines in two OH megamaser galaxies, IRAS 12032+1707 and IRAS 14070+0525. For IRAS 12032+1707 we also present Arecibo H I absorption data. Almost all OH emission previously detected by single-dish observations has been recovered in IRAS 12032+1707 and is found on a compact scale of

We present evidence for the presence of a transition in the accretion properties of radio-loud sources. For a sample of radio galaxies and radio-loud quasars, selected based on their extended radio properties, the accretion rate is estimated from the black hole mass and nuclear luminosity. The inferred distribution is bimodal, with paucity of sources at accretion rates, in Eddington units, of order ~ 10^{-2} - assuming a radiative efficiency of 10 per cent - and possibly spanning one-two orders of magnitude. Selection biases are unlikely to be responsible for such behavior; we discuss possible physical explanations, including a fast transition to low accretion rates, a change in the accretion mode/actual accretion rate/radiative efficiency, the lack of stable disc solutions at intermediate accretion rates or the inefficiency of the jet formation processes in geometrically thin flows. This transition might be analogous to spectral states (and jet) transitions in black hole binary systems., 14 pages, 4 figures - Accepted for publication in MNRAS

A fraction of active galactic nuclei do not show the classical Seyfert-type signatures in their optical spectra, i.e. they are optically "elusive". X-ray observations are an optimal tool to identify this class of objects. We combine new Chandra observations with archival X-ray data in order to obtain a first estimate of the fraction of elusive AGN in local galaxies and to constrain their nature. Our results suggest that elusive AGN have a local density comparable to or even higher than optically classified Seyfert nuclei. Most elusive AGN are heavily absorbed in the X-rays, with gas column densities exceeding 10^24 cm^-2, suggesting that their peculiar nature is associated with obscuration. It is likely that in elusive AGN, the nuclear UV source is completely embedded and the ionizing photons cannot escape, which prevents the formation of a classical Narrow Line Region. Elusive AGN may contribute significantly to the 30 keV bump of the X-ray background., Comment: accepted for publication in MNRAS Letters, 6 pages, 3 figures, typos and references corrected

The composition of ice grains provides an important tool for the study of the molecular environment of star forming regions. Using ISAAC at the VLT to obtain spectra around 4.65 microns we have detected for the first time `XCN' and CO ice in an extragalactic environment: the nuclear region of the nearby dusty starburst/AGN galaxy NGC4945. The profile of the solid CO band reveals the importance of thermal processing of the ice while the prominence of the XCN band attests to the importance of energetic processing of the ice by FUV radiation and/or energetic particles. In analogy to the processing of ices by embedded protostars in our Galaxy, we attribute the processing of the ices in the center of NGC4945 to ongoing massive star formation. Our M-band spectrum also shows strong HI Pfund-beta and H2 0-0 S(9) line emission and gas phase CO absorption lines. The HI, H2, PAH, gas phase CO and the ices seem to be embedded in a rotating molecular disk which is undergoing vigorous star formation. Recently, strong OCN- absorption has been detected in the spectrum of the Galactic center star GC:IRS19. The most likely environment for the OCN- absorption is the strongly UV-exposed GC molecular ring. The presence of processed ice in the center of NGC4945 and our Galactic center leads us to believe that processed ice may be a common characteristic of dense molecular material in star forming galactic nuclei., 9 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in A&A. Also available at this http://www.astro.rug.nl/~spoon/publications.html

Arcsecond-resolution VLA observations newly obtained as well as published of 40 nearby galaxies are discussed, completing a study of the radio properties of a magnitude-limited sample of nearby galaxies of the composite LINER/H II type. Our results reveal an overall detection rate of at least 25% active galactic nucleus ( AGN) candidates among these composite sources. The general properties of these AGN candidates, as compared to non-AGN composite sources and H II galaxies, are discussed.

We present VLBI and MERLIN data at 1.66 and 4.99 GHz on the central component coincident with the nucleus of the giant radio galaxy, 3C 236. The nuclear radio structure is composed of two complexes of emission which are resolved on scales from 1 milli-arcsec (mas) to 1 arcsec. Oscillations with an amplitude of similar to5 degrees can be seen in the compact radio structure. Spectral index distributions are plotted at angular resolutions of 10 and 25 mas and allow us to identify the core component in the south-east emission complex. Re-examination of the HST WFPC-2 image of 3C 236 by de Koff et al. (2000), shows that the normal to the dust disk in the nucleus is similar to 30 degrees from the plane of the sky and within 12 degrees of parallel to the overall orientation of the radio source. We suggest that the radio axis is also at an angle of similar to 30 degrees to the plane of the sky and that the north-west jet is on the approaching side. This orientation implies an overall size of 4.5 Mpc (H-0 = 75 kms(-1) Mpc(-1), q(0) = 0.5) for 3C 236. The coincidence of a dust feature and the south-east compact jet, within the astrometric errors, leads us to suggest that the dust may be in the form of a cloud encountered by the jet in the first similar to 400 pc of its journey out from the nucleus. One-sided emission at 5 GHz on 1 mas scales would suggest that the jets are ejected initially at less than or equal to 35 degrees to the line of sight, but this is difficult to reconcile with the obvious orientation stability of the jet system as a whole. Free-free absorption of the counter-jet may be an alternative explanation for the one-sideness. At the resolution of WSRT data at 327 MHz, the jet to the south-east is apparently continuous over a distance of 2.5 Mpc, making this the largest jet known in the universe. It is likely, however, that activity in the nucleus of 3C 236 is episodic but with a shorter duty cycle than in the double-double sources studied by Schoenmakers et al. (2000) and Kaiser et al. (2000).

We present near-infrared J- and K-band imaging of a sample of powerful radio source host galaxies with the Hubble Space Telescope NICMOS2 camera. These sources have been selected on their double-lobed radio structure and include a wide range of projected radio source sizes. The largest projected linear sizes range from the compact gigahertz peaked spectrum (GPS; 20 kpc) classical doubles (FR II radio sources). We investigate the dependence of host galaxy properties (including near-IR surface brightness profiles) on radio source size, using both our own and published data. The absolute magnitudes and surface brightness profiles are consistent with the host galaxies being regular giant elliptical galaxies rather than brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs). We find that the GPS, CSS, and FR II host galaxies are a uniform class of objects, consistent with a scenario in which a powerful radio source evolves along this size sequence.

This paper concerns the relationship of BL Lacs and flat-spectrum weak emission-line galaxies. We compare the weak emission-line galaxies and the BL Lacs in a sample of 57 flat-spectrum objects (Marcha et al. 1996), using high-frequency radio and non-thermal optical flux densities, spectral indices and polarization properties. We consider whether objects which are not 'traditional' BL Lacs - due to their larger emission line strengths, and larger Ca II spectral breaks - are simply starlight diluted BL Lacs. Their broad-band spectral properties are consistent with this interpretation, but their radio polarization may indicate more subtle effects.. Comparison of the weak emission-line galaxies and the BL Lacs shows that, on average, the former have steeper spectra between 8 and 43 GHz, and are less polarized at 8.4 GHz. This is consistent with many of the weak-lined objects being at larger angles to the line of sight than the BL Lacs. In addition to this population, we indicate a number of the weak emission-line galaxies which may be 'hidden BL Lacs': relativistically boosted objects very close to the line of sight with an apparently weak AGN.

A sample of 37 nearby galaxies displaying composite LINER/H II and pure H II spectra was observed with the VLA in an investigation of the nature of their weak radio emission. The resulting radio contour maps overlaid on optical galaxy images are presented here, together with an extensive literature list and discussion of the individual galaxies. Radio morphological data permit assessment of the "classical active galactic nucleus (AGN)" contribution to the global activity observed in these "transition" LINER galaxies. One in five of the latter objects display clear AGN characteristics: these occur exclusively in bulge-dominated hosts.

The interstellar medium of Centaurus A (NGC 5128) has been studied extensively in recent years, using mostly molecular lines tracing low to medium density gas (500 to several 10(3) cm(-3)). The amount and distribution of the dense molecular gas was largely unknown. Here we present new millimeter data of the HCN(1-0), CS(2-1), and CS(3-2) rotational transitions towards the nearby radio galaxy Centaurus A observed with the SEST on La Silla, Chile. We obtained spectra of the HCN(1-0) emission which traces dense 10(4) cm-3 molecular gas at the center and along the prominent dust lane at offset positions +/-60 " and +/-100 ". We also obtained a few spectra of CS(2-1) and (3-2) tracing densities of similar to 10(5) cm(-3). The emission in these lines is weak and reaches a few mK at the available angular resolutions of 53 " - 36 ". At the central position, the integrated intensity ratio I(HCN)/I(CO) peaks at 0.064, and decreases to similar to 0.02 to 0.04 in the dust lane.Using the new high density tracer data, we estimate the amount, distribution and physical conditions of the dense molecular gas in the dust lane of Centaurus A. We find that Cen A and the Milky Way are comparable in their HCN(1-0) line luminosity. However, towards the nucleus the fraction of dense molecular gas measured via the line luminosity ratio L(HCN)/L(CO) as well as the star formation efficiency L-FIR/L-CO is comparable to ultra-luminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs). Within the off-nuclear dust lane and for Cen A as a whole these quantities are between those of ULIRGs and normal and infrared luminous galaxies. This suggests that most of the FIR luminosity of Centaurus A originates in regions of very dense molecular gas and high star formation efficiency.

We present ASCA SIS and GIS observations of two GHz peaked spectrum (GPS) radio galaxies, PKS 1345 + 125 (4C12.50, z = 0.122) and 2352+495 (z = 0.237). In the energy band 2-10 keV, 1345+125 is detected with about 2 x 10(43) ergs s(-1), while 2352+495 is not detected with an upper limit

We derive the mass function of the relic black holes and compared with that of the Massive Dark Objects in galaxies. Under the assumption that accretion onto massive BH's powers the Active Galactic Nuclei, the mass function of the BH responsibile for the past activity of QSO/AGN is computed. Our results support the scenario in which the QSO phase has exclusively occurred in every proto-elliptical., Comment: 10 pages, 8 Figures. Version improved with referee comments. J. Accepted on MNRAS

The pattern speed is a defining parameter of any barred galaxy. A large number of model-dependent techniques have therefore been developed to derive the pattern speed. However, the only model-independent technique for measuring this quantity - the Tremaine-Weinberg method - has hitherto been applied to just one case, the SB0 galaxy NGC 936. In this paper, we apply the technique to a second system, the SBa galaxy NGC 4596. The resulting estimate for the pattern speed is Omega(p) = 52 +/- 13 km s(-1) kpc(-1). This result is corroborated by a spectrum obtained along the major axis of the bar in this system. The corotation radius associated with this pattern speed lies just beyond the end of the bar indicating a fast bar. Combining the bar major-axis spectra with data obtained from a Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 image, we also find strong evidence for a nuclear disc.

The location of the gas responsible for the absorption-line system toward the nucleus of Centaurus A is a puzzle. It is generally accepted that the line features close to the systemic velocity originate in the disk. The redshifted line features in particular, however, are usually thought to be due to gas close to the nucleus or even falling toward it. We present new (CO)-C-12 (1-0), HCO+ (1-0) and HCN (1-0) absorption-line measurements, as well as an alternative interpretation of the line system. Previous papers have demonstrated that the distribution of line emission of the inner molecular and outer atomic hydrogen disk can be accounted for by a system of tilted rings with varying inclination. Using the same model, but assuming that corotating absorbing gas is located at high altitudes above the disk, one can account for all major features of the absorption-line system. In this model, the absorption takes place in high-altitude clouds that are up to about 160 pc above the molecular disk of Centaurus A at radii between 1.7 and 1.9 kpc, accounting for the two strongest central line features. In our model, the redshifted line features are due to gas associated with disk material up to about 300 pc above the disk at radii of 0.4-0.6 kpc orbiting in the non-spherically symmetric potential of the Centaurus A galaxy. In this model, the systemic velocity is at 546 km s(-1), which is the velocity of the sharp spectral feature about 6 km s(-1) to the blue of the deepest absorption line. Our new model provides a natural explanation for the general structure of the complex absorption-line system, based on a tilted-ring model that already explains the disk line emission. In this model, no significant absorbing gas component closer than 200 pc to the nonthermal radio continuum nucleus is required, and the peculiar velocity structure of the absorption-line system is due to the kinematics of the molecular gas disk.

In this paper we present the data from our J-, H-, and K-band imaging program of powerful radio sources. The sample consists of radio galaxies classified as either compact (20 kpc) radio sources. Source images, photometry results, radial profiles, and profile fits are presented. Source decomposition of total flux into point-spread function (PSF) and extended contributions indicate all sources are nucleated to roughly the same level at J, H, and K bands, arguing against the notion that the suspected higher nuclear absorption in the most compact class would render those sources relatively more nucleated at the longer wavelengths. No significant differences in near-IR host galaxy properties have been found. In a companion paper we discuss color-color properties, comparisons with predictions made by a stellar synthesis code, and near-IR broadband spectral properties.

By means of KPNO 2.1 m J-, H-, and K-band data on samples of gigahertz peaked spectrum (GPS, radio size 20 kpc), we have constructed mean broadband spectral energy distributions (SEDs) for each of the object classes and compared these with synthetic SEDs. The host galaxies of the compact and extended radio sources appear to have similar near-IR broadband SEDs, implying similar stellar populations and active galactic nuclei (AGNs). These SEDs are best fitted with a mean metallicity similar to solar and fairly old stellar populations implying formation redshifts of greater than or similar to 5. Redshift evolution of the sources is consistent with a passive evolutionary model. In addition, an extra IR component is needed that can be modeled by emission from dust at a temperature of 900-1300 K, perhaps produced by the putative obscuring torus. All of our results are consistent with the hypothesis that the GPS and CSS are the progenitors of the large-scale 3CR radio galaxies.

In 1996, a major radio flux-density outburst occured in the broad-line radio galaxy 3C111. It was followed by a particularly bright plasma ejection associated with a superluminal jet component, which has shaped the parsec-scale structure of 3C111 for almost a decade. Here, we present results from 18 epochs of Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) observations conducted since 1995 as part of the VLBA 2 cm Survey and MOJAVE monitoring programs. This major event allows us to study a variety of processes associated with outbursts of radio-loud AGN in much greater detail than has been possible in other cases: the primary perturbation gives rise to the formation of a leading and a following component, which are interpreted as a forward and a backward-shock. Both components evolve in characteristically different ways and allow us to draw conclusions about the work flow of jet-production events; the expansion, acceleration and recollimation of the ejected jet plasma in an environment with steep pressure and density gradients are revealed; trailing components are formed in the wake of the primary perturbation possibly as a result of coupling to Kelvin-Helmholtz instability pinching modes from the interaction of the jet with the external medium. The interaction of the jet with its ambient medium is further described by the linear-polarization signature of jet components traveling along the jet and passing a region of steep pressure/density gradients., Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal; a reference is updated

We have used archival Chandra and XMM- Newton observations of quasars hosting intrinsic narrow UV absorption lines (intrinsic NALs) to carry out an exploratory survey of their X- ray properties. Our sample consists of three intrinsic NAL quasars and one '' mini- BAL'' quasar, plus four quasars without intrinsic absorption lines for comparison. These were drawn in a systematic manner from an optical / UV- selected sample. The X- ray properties of intrinsic NAL quasars are indistinguishable from those of ''normal'' quasars. We do not find any excess absorption in quasars with intrinsic NALs, with upper limits of NH less than or similar to few x 10(22) cm(-2). We compare the X- ray and UV properties of our sample quasars by plotting the equivalent width and blueshift velocity of the intrinsic NALs and the X- ray spectral index against the `` optical - to - X- ray'' slope, alpha(ox). When BAL quasars and other AGNs with intrinsic NALs are included, the plots suggest that intrinsic NAL quasars form an extension of the BAL sequences and tend to bridge the gap between BAL and normal quasars. Observations of larger samples of intrinsic NAL quasars are needed to verify these conclusions. We also test two competing scenarios for the location of the NAL gas in an accretion disk wind. Our results strongly support a location of the NAL gas at high latitudes above the disk, closer to the disk axis than the dense BAL wind. We detect excess X- ray absorption only in Q0014+ 8118, which does not host intrinsic NALs. The absorbing medium very likely corresponds to an intervening system at z = 1.1, which also produces strong absorption lines in the rest- frame UV spectrum of this quasar. In an appendix we discuss the connection between UV and X- ray attenuation and its effect on alpha(ox)., Article, The Astrophysical Journal. 677:863-879 (2008)

WeestimatedblackholemassesandEddingtonratiosforasampleof X-ray-selectedactivegalacticnuclei(AGNs) inthefieldscoveredbytheGreatObservatoryOriginsDeepSurvey(GOODS).Thespannedrangesinredshift(0:4 < z < 1) and hard X-ray luminosity(10 42 PLX P4 ; 10 43 ergss � 1 )allowus tostudy arepresentative subsampleofthe main contributors to the 2Y10 keV X-ray background. Nuclear and bulge magnitudes in four bands have been measured via a two-dimensional decomposition applied toHSTACS images. Using the black hole versus bulge luminosity relation and the intrinsic nuclear emission, we derived the black hole mass and the AGN bolometric luminosity. Wefindinoursamplethat(1)theX-rayYtoYopticalindicesarelargerthaninopticallyselectedQSOs,asexpecteddue to the X-ray selection); (2) the X-ray bolometric corrections are generally small, suggesting a decrease with the nuclear luminosity; (3) the Eddington ratios are about a factor 10 below the values found at higher redshift and luminosity; (4) the central black holes have rather largemasses; and (5) at least for z P0:8, a scarceness of black holes with

We give two examples of spiral galaxies that show non-circular gas motions in the inner kiloparsecs, from SAURON integral field spectroscopy. We use harmonic decomposition of the velocity field of the ionized gas to study the underlying mass distribution, employing linear theory. The higher order harmonic terms and the main kinematic features of the observed data are consistent with an analytically constructed simple bar model. We also present maps of a number of strong absorption lines in M 100, derive simple stellar populations and correlate them with features in the gas kinematics., 7 pages, 3 figures, to be published in 'The Fate of Gas in Galaxies', editors R. Morganti et al., New Astronomy Review (Elsevier). needs the elsart.cls style-file. A higher resolution version available at http://www.astro.rug.nl/~peletier/Research.html

In order to determine the incidence of black hole accretion-driven nuclear activity in nearby galaxies, as manifested by their radio emission, we have carried out a high-resolution Multi-Element Radio-Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) survey of LINERs and composite LINER/H{\sc ii} galaxies from a complete magnitude-limited sample of bright nearby galaxies (Palomar sample) with unknown arcsecond-scale radio properties. There are fifteen radio detections, of which three are new subarcsecond-scale radio core detections, all being candidate AGN. The detected galaxies supplement the already known low-luminosity AGN -- low-luminosity Seyferts, LINERs and composite LINER/H{\sc ii} galaxies -- in the Palomar sample. Combining all radio-detected Seyferts, LINERs and composite LINER/H{\sc ii} galaxies (LTS sources), we obtain an overall radio detection rate of 54% (22% of all bright nearby galaxies) and we estimate that at least $\sim$50% ($\sim$20% of all bright nearby galaxies) are true AGN. The radio powers of the LTS galaxies allow the construction of a local radio luminosity function. By comparing the luminosity function with those of selected moderate-redshift AGN, selected from the 2dF/NVSS survey, we find that LTS sources naturally extend the RLF of powerful AGN down to powers of about 10 times that of Sgr A*., accpeted for publication in A&A

(abridged) We analyze and model HST /STIS observations of a sample of 27 galaxies; 16 Fanaroff & Riley Type I radio galaxies and 11 (more) normal early-type galaxies. We focus here on what can be learned from the nuclear velocity dispersion (line width) of the gas as a complement to the many studies dealing with gas rotation velocities. We find that the dispersion in a STIS aperture of ~0.1''-0.2'' generally exceeds the large-scale stellar velocity dispersion of the galaxy. This is qualitatively consistent with the presence of central BHs, but raises the question whether the excess gas dispersion is of gravitational or non-gravitational origin and whether the implied BH masses are consistent with our current understanding of BH demography(as predicted by the M-sigma relation between BH mass and stellar velocity dispersion). To address this we construct dynamical models for the gas, both thin disk models and models with more general axis ratios and velocity anisotropies. For the normal galaxies the nuclear gas dispersions are adequately reproduced assuming disks around BHs with masses that follow the M-sigma relation. In contrast, the gas dispersions observed for the radio galaxies generally exceed those predicted by any of the models. We attribute this to the presence of non-gravitational motions in the gas that are similar to or larger than the gravitational motions. The non- gravitational motions are presumably driven by the active galactic nucleus (AGN), but we do not find a relation between the radiative output of the AGN and the non-gravitational dispersion. It is not possible to uniquely determine the BH mass for each galaxy from its nuclear gas dispersion. However, for the sample as a whole the observed dispersions do not provide evidence for significant deviations from the M-sigma relation., accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal

We show that Eddington-limited black hole luminosities can be sufficient to deplete a galaxy bulge of gas through radiation pressure, when the ionization state of the gas and the presence of dust are properly taken into account. Once feedback starts to be effective it can consistently drive all the gas out of the whole galaxy. We estimate the amount by which the effect of radiation pressure on dusty gas boosts the mass involved in the Eddington limit and discuss the expected column density at which the gas is ejected. An example is shown of the predicted observed nuclear spectrum of the system at the end of an early, obscured phase of growth when the remaining column density NH ~ f * 1e24 cm^-2 where f is the gas fraction in the bulge., Comment: correct corrupted figures in pdf version, MNRAS accepted, 5 pages, 3 figures

(Abridged) Star-forming nuclear rings in barred galaxies are common in nearby spirals, and their detailed study can lead to important insights into the evolution of galaxies, their bars, and their central regions. We present integral field spectroscopic observations obtained with SAURON of the bar and circumnuclear region of the barred spiral galaxy M100, complemented by new {\it Spitzer Space Telescope} imaging of the region. We use these data to enhance our understanding of the formation, evolution, and current properties of the bar and ring. We derive the kinematics of the gas and the stars and quantify circular and non-circular motions using kinemetry. We analyse this in conjunction with the optical and infrared morphology, and our previously published dynamical modelling. By comparing line indices to simple stellar population models we estimate the ages and metallicities of the stellar populations present within the region, especially in and around the ring. Our kinematic and morphological results all confirm the picture in which the nuclear ring in M100, considered typical, is fed by gas flowing in from the disc under the action of the bar, is slowed down near a pair of resonances, and forms significant amounts of massive stars. Detailed stellar population modelling shows how the underlying bulge and disc were put in place a number of Gyr ago, and that the nuclear ring has been forming stars since about 500~Myr ago in a stable succession of bursts. This confirms that nuclear rings of this kind can form under the influence of a resonant structure set up by a bar, and proves that they are stable features of a galaxy rather than one-off starburst events., Comment: 21 pages, accepted for publication in MNRAS, minor corrections included

LINER nuclei, which are present in many nearby galactic bulges, may be the manifestation of low-rate or low-radiative-efficiency accretion onto supermassive central black holes. However, it has been unclear whether the compact UV nuclear sources present in many LINERs are clusters of massive stars, rather than being directly related to the accretion process. We have used HST to monitor the UV variability of a sample of 17 galaxies with LINER nuclei and compact nuclear UV sources. Fifteen of the 17 galaxies were observed more than once, with two to five epochs per galaxy, spanning up to a year. We detect significant variability in most of the sample, with peak-to-peak amplitudes from a few percent to 50%. In most cases, correlated variations are seen in two independent bands (F250W and F330W). Comparison to previous UV measurements indicates, for many objects, long-term variations by factors of a few over decade timescales. Variability is detected in LINERs with and without detected compact radio cores, in LINERs that have broad H-alpha wings detected in their optical spectra (``LINER 1's''), and in those that do not (``LINER 2s''). This variability demonstrates the existence of a non-stellar component in the UV continuum of all types, and sets a lower limit to the luminosity of this component. We note a trend in the UV color (F250W/F330W) with spectral type - LINER 1s tend to be bluer than LINER 2s. This trend may indicate a link between the shape of the nonstellar continuum and the presence or the visibility of a broad-line region. In one target, the post-starburst galaxy NGC 4736, we detect variability in a previously noted UV source that is offset by 2.5" (60 pc in projection) from the nucleus. This may be the nearest example of a binary active nucleus, and of the process leading to black hole merging., Comment: accepted to ApJ

We present the completed results of a high resolution radio imaging survey of all (~200) low-luminosity active galactic nuclei (LLAGNs) and AGNs in the Palomar Spectroscopic Sample. The high incidences of pc-scale radio nuclei, with T(brightness) >=10^7 K, and sub-parsec jets argue for accreting black holes in >=50% of all LINERs and low-luminosity Seyferts; there is no evidence against all LLAGNs being mini-AGNs. The radio luminosity function (RLF) of Palomar Sample LLAGNs and AGNs extends three orders of magnitude below, and is continuous with, that of `classical' AGNs. We find marginal evidence for a low-power turnover in the RLF; nevertheless LLAGNs are responsible for a significant fraction of present day mass accretion. Adopting the jet model of Falcke & Biermann, we show that the accretion energy output in LLAGNs is dominated by the energy in the observed jets rather than the radiated bolometric luminosity. The Palomar LLAGNs and AGNs follow the same scaling between jet power and narrow line region (NLR) luminosity as the pc to kpc jets in powerful radio galaxies. Eddington ratios of, Results and content same as pervious submission; language and wording updated for clarity. To appear in A&A

We present results from VLBA observations of the 1667 and 1665 MHz OH lines in the two OH megamaser galaxies IRAS12032+1707 and IRAS14070+0525. For IRAS12032+1707 we also present Arecibo HI absorption data. Almost all OH emission previously detected by single dish observations has been recovered in IRAS12032+1707 and is found on a compact scale of, 10 pages, 7 Postscript figures, accepted by ApJ

We argue that the observed `accretion rate gap' - between black holes in radio-loud active galactic nuclei (AGN) accreting at close to the Eddington limit and those accreting at considerably lower rates - can be explained in terms of the adiabatic inflow-outflow (ADIOS) scenario for radiatively inefficient accretion. Whenever the accretion rate falls below a threshold value (corresponding to a luminosity L_crit) that depends on the viscosity parameter, alpha, the inner region of the accretion disk - extending from the marginally stable orbit to ~ 1000 Schwarzschild radii - is susceptible to becoming hot and radiatively inefficient. If this happens, the disk luminosity decreases by a factor of ~100, as most of the matter originally destined to be swallowed is instead expelled in a wind. According to our conjecture, accretion flows onto black holes never radiate steadily in the range ~ 0.01 L_crit < L < L_crit, hence the inferred accretion rate gap. We expect the gap to exist also for black holes in X-ray binaries, where it may be responsible for state transitions and the luminosity fluctuations associated with X-ray nova outbursts., 4 pages, 1 figure; MNRAS Letter, accepted

We have performed a detailed analysis of the local super-massive black-hole (SMBH) mass function based on both kinematic and photometric data and derived an accurate analytical fit in the range 10^6 1.5), while the lower mass BHs responsible for most of the hard X-ray background have mostly grown at z= 10^9 M_sun. The mass accreted during luminous phases is >= 25-30% even if we assume extreme values of \epsilon (\epsilon \~0.3-0.4). An unlikely fine tuning of the parameters would be required to account for the local SMBH mass function accomodating a dominant contribution from 'dark' BH growth (due, e.g., to BH coalescence)., Comment: 12 pages, 14 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS, minor changes following referee's comments

We have analyzed new, archival and published high resolution radio and X-ray observations of a sample of composite LINER/HII galaxies known to exhibit AGN-like properties. Five of the 16 AGN candidates have milliarcsecond-scale detections and are found to display a compact, flat spectrum, high brightness temperature radio core, four of which also exhibit extended radio emission. Five of the eight AGN candidates with available high resolution X-ray observations were found to possess a hard X-ray nuclear source, two of which have no milliarcsecond radio detection. The combined high resolution radio and X-ray data yield a 50% detection rate of low luminosity AGN among the AGN candidates, which translates into a 12% detection rate for the entire composite LINER/HII sample. In the sources where the AGN has been unambiguously detected, the ionizing power of the AGN is not sufficient to generate the observed emission lines, unless the hard X-rays are heavily obscured. We attempt to apply a canonical advection-dominated accretion flow (ADAF) and jet model to the sample sources in order to explain the observed radio and X-ray emission. While ADAFs may be responsible for the observed emission in submillijansky radio cores like NGC 7331, they do not appear consistent with the radio emission observed in the milliarcsecond-scale radio detected cores; the latter sources are more likely to have an energetically important contribution from a radio-emitting jet., Comment: 16 pages, accepted for publication in A&A