Stellar populations in the nuclear regions of nearby radio galaxies

We present optical spectra of the nuclei of seven luminous (P178MHz ≳ 1025 W Hz-1 Sr-1 ) nearby (z < 0.08) radio galaxies, which mostly correspond to the FR II class. In two cases, Hydra A and 3C 285, the Balmer and λ4000-Å break indices constrain the spectral types and luminosity classes of...

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Main Authors: Aretxaga, I, Terlevich, E, Terlevich, R, Cotter, G, Diaz, A
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2001
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author Aretxaga, I
Terlevich, E
Terlevich, R
Cotter, G
Diaz, A
author_facet Aretxaga, I
Terlevich, E
Terlevich, R
Cotter, G
Diaz, A
author_sort Aretxaga, I
collection OXFORD
description We present optical spectra of the nuclei of seven luminous (P178MHz ≳ 1025 W Hz-1 Sr-1 ) nearby (z < 0.08) radio galaxies, which mostly correspond to the FR II class. In two cases, Hydra A and 3C 285, the Balmer and λ4000-Å break indices constrain the spectral types and luminosity classes of the stars involved, revealing that the blue spectra are dominated by blue supergiant and/or giant stars. The ages derived for the last burst of star formation in Hydra A are between 7 and 40Myr, and in 3C 285 about 10 Myr. The rest of the narrow-line radio galaxies (four) have a λ4000-Å break and metallic indices consistent with those of elliptical galaxies. The only broad-line radio galaxy in our sample, 3C 382, has a strong featureless blue continuum and broad emission lines that dilute the underlying blue stellar spectra. We are able to detect the Ca II triplet in absorption in the seven objects, with good quality data for only four of them. The strengths of the absorptions are similar to those found in normal elliptical galaxies, but these values are consistent both with stellar populations of roughly similar ages (as derived from the Balmer absorption and break strengths) and with mixed young+old populations.
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spelling oxford-uuid:286d8cec-1b67-48ad-89e4-94ea2364b6632022-03-26T12:12:49ZStellar populations in the nuclear regions of nearby radio galaxiesJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:286d8cec-1b67-48ad-89e4-94ea2364b663EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2001Aretxaga, ITerlevich, ETerlevich, RCotter, GDiaz, AWe present optical spectra of the nuclei of seven luminous (P178MHz ≳ 1025 W Hz-1 Sr-1 ) nearby (z < 0.08) radio galaxies, which mostly correspond to the FR II class. In two cases, Hydra A and 3C 285, the Balmer and λ4000-Å break indices constrain the spectral types and luminosity classes of the stars involved, revealing that the blue spectra are dominated by blue supergiant and/or giant stars. The ages derived for the last burst of star formation in Hydra A are between 7 and 40Myr, and in 3C 285 about 10 Myr. The rest of the narrow-line radio galaxies (four) have a λ4000-Å break and metallic indices consistent with those of elliptical galaxies. The only broad-line radio galaxy in our sample, 3C 382, has a strong featureless blue continuum and broad emission lines that dilute the underlying blue stellar spectra. We are able to detect the Ca II triplet in absorption in the seven objects, with good quality data for only four of them. The strengths of the absorptions are similar to those found in normal elliptical galaxies, but these values are consistent both with stellar populations of roughly similar ages (as derived from the Balmer absorption and break strengths) and with mixed young+old populations.
spellingShingle Aretxaga, I
Terlevich, E
Terlevich, R
Cotter, G
Diaz, A
Stellar populations in the nuclear regions of nearby radio galaxies
title Stellar populations in the nuclear regions of nearby radio galaxies
title_full Stellar populations in the nuclear regions of nearby radio galaxies
title_fullStr Stellar populations in the nuclear regions of nearby radio galaxies
title_full_unstemmed Stellar populations in the nuclear regions of nearby radio galaxies
title_short Stellar populations in the nuclear regions of nearby radio galaxies
title_sort stellar populations in the nuclear regions of nearby radio galaxies
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