A Search for H2O Maser Emission in Southern Active Galactic Nuclei and Star‐forming Galaxies: Discovery of a Maser in the Edge‐on Galaxy IRAS F01063−8034 | Zendy

L. J. Greenhill | Zendy; S. P. Ellingsen | Zendy; R. P. Norris | Zendy; Peter J. McGregor | Zendy; R. G. Gough | Zendy; M. W. Sinclair | Zendy; David Rayner | Zendy; Chris Phillips | Zendy; J. R. Herrnstein | Zendy; J. M. Moran | Zendy

Open Access

A Search for H₂O Maser Emission in Southern Active Galactic Nuclei and Star‐forming Galaxies: Discovery of a Maser in the Edge‐on Galaxy IRAS F01063−8034

Author(s) -

L. J. Greenhill,

S. P. Ellingsen,

R. P. Norris,

Peter J. McGregor,

R. G. Gough,

M. W. Sinclair,

David Rayner,

Chris Phillips,

J. R. Herrnstein,

J. M. Moran

Publication year - 2002

Publication title -

the astrophysical journal

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 2.376

H-Index - 489

eISSN - 1538-4357

pISSN - 0004-637X

DOI - 10.1086/324383

Subject(s) - physics , maser , astrophysics , galaxy , astronomy , active galactic nucleus , luminous infrared galaxy , galactic astronomy , star formation , milky way

We report the cumulative results of five surveys for water maser emission at1.35 cm wavelength in 131 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and star-forminggalaxies, conducted at the Parkes Observatory between 1993 and 1998. Wedetected one new maser, in the edge-on galaxy IRASF01063-8034, which exhibits asingle, about 0.1 Jy spectral feature at 4282+/-6 km/s (heliocentric) with anunusually large 54+/-16 km/s half-power full width. The centroid velocity ofthe emission increased to 4319.6+/-0.6 km/s (38+/-2 km/s width) over the 13days between discovery and confirmation of the detection. A similarly broadlinewidth and large change in velocity has been noted for the maser in NGC1052,wherein jet activity excites the emission. Neither optical spectroscopy,radio-infrared correlations, nor infrared colors provide compelling evidence ofunusual activity in the nucleus of IRASF01063-8034. Since the galaxy appears tobe outwardly normal at optical and infrared wavelengths, detection of a watermaser therein is unique. The maser emission is evidence that the galaxy harborsan AGN that is probably obscured by the edge-on galactic disk. The detectionhighlights the possibility that undetected AGNs could be hidden in otherrelatively nearby galaxies. No other maser emission features have beenidentified at velocities between 3084 km/s and 6181 km/s.Comment: To appear in The Astrophysical Journal, 2002 Jan. 20. 29 pages, 6 figures, 3 table

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