The First Detection of Near-Infrared CN Bands in Active Galactic Nuclei: Signature of Star Formation | Zendy

Rogério Riffel | Zendy; M. G. Pastoriza | Zendy; A. Rodríguez-Ardila | Zendy; Claudia Maraston | Zendy

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The First Detection of Near-Infrared CN Bands in Active Galactic Nuclei: Signature of Star Formation

Author(s) -

Rogério Riffel,

M. G. Pastoriza,

A. Rodríguez-Ardila,

Claudia Maraston

Publication year - 2007

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 - 10.1086/517999

Subject(s) - astrophysics , physics , active galactic nucleus , star formation , galaxy , stars , infrared , astronomy , context (archaeology) , spectral line , spectral signature , equivalent width , line (geometry) , emission spectrum , geology , paleontology , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics

We present the first detection of the near-infrared CN absorption band in thenuclear spectra of active galactic nuclei (AGN). This feature is a recent starformation tracer, being particularly strong in carbon stars. The equivalentwidth of the CN line correlates with that of the CO at 2.3 microns, as expectedin stellar populations (SP) with ages between ~ 0.2 and ~ 2 Gyr. The presenceof the 1.1 microns CN band in the spectra of the sources is taken as anunambiguous evidence of the presence of young/intermediate SP close to thecentral source of the AGN. Near-infrared bands can be powerful age indicatorsfor star formation connected to AGN, the understanding of which is crucial inthe context of galaxy formation and AGN feedback.Comment: Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. 4 pages, 3 figure

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