Open AccessPost‐starburst–active galactic nucleus connection: spatially resolved spectroscopy of Hδ‐strong active galactic nuclei
Author(s) -
Goto Tomotsugu
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2006.10413.x
Subject(s) - physics , active galactic nucleus , astrophysics , galaxy , balmer series , spectroscopy , astronomy , luminous infrared galaxy , connection (principal bundle) , emission spectrum , spectral line , structural engineering , engineering
Ever since the coexistence of an active galactic nucleus (AGN) and a starburst was observationally discovered, there has been a significant controversy over whether there is a physical connection between starbursts and AGN. If yes, it is a subject of interest to reveal which one triggers another. Here, we bring a unique insight into the subject by identifying 840 galaxies with both a post‐starburst signature (strong Balmer absorption lines) and an AGN (based on the emission‐line ratio). These post‐starburst AGN account for the 4.2 per cent of all the galaxies in a volume‐limited sample. The presence of a post‐starburst phase with an active AGN itself is of importance, suggesting that AGN may outlive starbursts in the starburst–AGN connection. In addition, we have performed spatially resolved spectroscopy of three of our post‐starbusrst AGN galaxies, obtaining some evidence that the post‐starburst region is more extended, but sharply centred around the central AGN, confirming a spatial connection between the post‐starburst and AGN.