When galaxies collide: understanding the broad absorption-line radio galaxy 4C +72.26
We present a range of new observations of the "broad absorption line radio galaxy" 4C +72.26 (z = 3.5), including sensitive rest-frame ultraviolet integral field spectroscopy using the Gemini/GMOS-N instrument and Subaru/CISCO K-band imaging and spectroscopy. We show that 4C +72.26 is a sy...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2010
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| _version_ | 1797056790793289728 |
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| author | Smith, D Simpson, C Swinbank, A Rawlings, S Jarvis, M |
| author_facet | Smith, D Simpson, C Swinbank, A Rawlings, S Jarvis, M |
| author_sort | Smith, D |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | We present a range of new observations of the "broad absorption line radio galaxy" 4C +72.26 (z = 3.5), including sensitive rest-frame ultraviolet integral field spectroscopy using the Gemini/GMOS-N instrument and Subaru/CISCO K-band imaging and spectroscopy. We show that 4C +72.26 is a system of two vigorously star-forming galaxies superimposed along the line of sight separated by ~1300 +/- 200 km/s in velocity, with each demonstrating spectroscopically resolved absorption lines. The most active star-forming galaxy also hosts the accreting supermassive black hole which powers the extended radio source. We conclude that the star formation is unlikely to have been induced by a shock caused by the passage of the radio jet, and instead propose that a collision is a more probable trigger for the star formation. Despite the massive starburst, the UV-mid-infrared spectral energy distribution suggests that the pre-existing stellar population comprises ~10^12 Msolar of stellar mass, with the current burst only contributing a further ~2%, suggesting that 4C +72.26 has already assembled most of its final stellar mass. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-06T19:27:27Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:1c3f79d7-0e6d-49a2-900a-7119ef229df4 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-06T19:27:27Z |
| publishDate | 2010 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:1c3f79d7-0e6d-49a2-900a-7119ef229df42022-03-26T11:04:40ZWhen galaxies collide: understanding the broad absorption-line radio galaxy 4C +72.26Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:1c3f79d7-0e6d-49a2-900a-7119ef229df4EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2010Smith, DSimpson, CSwinbank, ARawlings, SJarvis, MWe present a range of new observations of the "broad absorption line radio galaxy" 4C +72.26 (z = 3.5), including sensitive rest-frame ultraviolet integral field spectroscopy using the Gemini/GMOS-N instrument and Subaru/CISCO K-band imaging and spectroscopy. We show that 4C +72.26 is a system of two vigorously star-forming galaxies superimposed along the line of sight separated by ~1300 +/- 200 km/s in velocity, with each demonstrating spectroscopically resolved absorption lines. The most active star-forming galaxy also hosts the accreting supermassive black hole which powers the extended radio source. We conclude that the star formation is unlikely to have been induced by a shock caused by the passage of the radio jet, and instead propose that a collision is a more probable trigger for the star formation. Despite the massive starburst, the UV-mid-infrared spectral energy distribution suggests that the pre-existing stellar population comprises ~10^12 Msolar of stellar mass, with the current burst only contributing a further ~2%, suggesting that 4C +72.26 has already assembled most of its final stellar mass. |
| spellingShingle | Smith, D Simpson, C Swinbank, A Rawlings, S Jarvis, M When galaxies collide: understanding the broad absorption-line radio galaxy 4C +72.26 |
| title | When galaxies collide: understanding the broad absorption-line radio
galaxy 4C +72.26 |
| title_full | When galaxies collide: understanding the broad absorption-line radio
galaxy 4C +72.26 |
| title_fullStr | When galaxies collide: understanding the broad absorption-line radio
galaxy 4C +72.26 |
| title_full_unstemmed | When galaxies collide: understanding the broad absorption-line radio
galaxy 4C +72.26 |
| title_short | When galaxies collide: understanding the broad absorption-line radio
galaxy 4C +72.26 |
| title_sort | when galaxies collide understanding the broad absorption line radio galaxy 4c 72 26 |
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