We have studied the face-on, barred spiral NGC 7424 (site of the rare Type IIb SN 2001ig) with Ch... more We have studied the face-on, barred spiral NGC 7424 (site of the rare Type IIb SN 2001ig) with Chandra, Gemini and the Australia Telescope Compact Array. After giving revised X-ray colours and luminosity of the supernova, here we focus on some other interesting sources in the galaxy: in particular, our serendipitous discovery of two ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs). The brighter one (~ 10^{40} erg/s) has a power-law-like spectrum with photon index Gamma ~ 1.8. The other ULX shows a spectral state transition or outburst between the two Chandra observations, 20 days apart. Optical data show that this ULX is located in a young (age ~ 7-10 Myr), bright complex rich with OB stars and clusters. An exceptionally bright, unresolved radio source (0.14 mJy at 4.79 GHz, implying a radio luminosity twice as high as Cas A) is found slightly offset from the ULX (~ 80 pc). Its radio spectral index alpha ~ -0.7 suggests optically-thin synchrotron emission, either from a young supernova remnant or from a radio lobe powered by a ULX jet. An even brighter, unresolved radio source (0.22 mJy at 4.79 GHz) is found in another young, massive stellar complex, not associated with any X-ray sources: based on its flatter radio spectral index (alpha ~ -0.3), we suggest that it is a young pulsar wind nebula, a factor of 10 more radio luminous than the Crab.
We report a supernova discovery in Ks-band images from the NAOS CONICA adaptive optics (AO) syste... more We report a supernova discovery in Ks-band images from the NAOS CONICA adaptive optics (AO) system on the ESO Very Large Telescope. The images were obtained as part of a near-infrared search for highly obscured supernovae in the nuclear regions of luminous and ultraluminous infrared galaxies. SN 2004ip is located within a circumnuclear starburst at 1.4" (or 500 pc) projected distance from the K-band nucleus of the luminous infrared galaxy IRAS 18293-3413. The supernova luminosity and light curve are consistent with a core-collapse event suffering from a host galaxy extinction of up to about 40 mag in the V band, which is as expected for a circumnuclear starburst environment. This is the first supernova to be discovered making use of AO correction and demonstrates the potential of the current 8 m-class telescopes equipped with AO in discovering supernovae from the innermost nuclear regions of luminous and ultraluminous infrared galaxies.
One nucleus is a regular barred spiral with significant rotation, while another is highly disturb... more One nucleus is a regular barred spiral with significant rotation, while another is highly disturbed with a surface brightness distribution intermediate to that of disk and bulge systems, and hints of remaining arm/bar structure. We derive dynamical masses in the range 3-7x10^10 M_solar for both. The third component appears to be a 1-2x10^10 M_solar mass irregular galaxy. The total system exhibits HII galaxy-like optical line ratios and strengths, and no evidence for AGN activity is found from optical or mid-infrared data. The star formation rate is estimated to be 190 M_solar/yr. We search for SNe, super star clusters, and detect 100-300 km/s outflowing gas from the Bird. Overall, the Bird shows kinematic, dynamical, and emission line properties typical for cool ultra luminous IR galaxies. However, the interesting features setting it apart for future studies are its triple merger nature, and the location of its star formation peak - the strongest star formation does not come from the two major K-band nuclei, but from the third irregular component. Aided by simulations, we discuss scenarios where the irregular component is on its first high-speed encounter with the more massive components.
We describe the technique of absorption line imaging of galaxy disks using the Taurus Tunable Fil... more We describe the technique of absorption line imaging of galaxy disks using the Taurus Tunable Filter on the Anglo-Australian Telescope and demonstrate its sensitivity to the behaviour of spectral features associated with Mg and Fe. Radial profiles of Mg2 and Fe5270 line-strengths are presented for a sample of eight face-on spiral galaxies spanning a range of Hubble types. Signatures of phenomena including merger-induced star formation, HII rings and galactic bars are also reported. This study demonstrates the capacity of tunable filters to measure Mg and Fe line-strengths across the face of spiral galaxies, which can ultimately reveal clues about the star formation history and chemical evolution.
NGC 7421 is a barred spiral displaced from the centre of its optical envelope, with a "bow-shock"... more NGC 7421 is a barred spiral displaced from the centre of its optical envelope, with a "bow-shock"-like western boundary, both suggestive of interaction with an intracluster medium. We have used 5 configurations of the Australia Telescope Compact Array to map the distribution and kinematics of the Hi in NGC 7421, and find supportive evidence for this scenario in the form of an Hi "wake". The ionised hydrogen kinematics and recent massive star formation have been traced using the Rutgers Fabry-Perot interferometer. From a comparison with ROSAT PSPC observations of the diffuse hot gas in the surrounding group of galaxies, we aim to test the hypothesis that NGC 7421 is interacting in some way with the intergalactic medium.
We present Gemini-South observations of the nuclear starburst region of M83, using the CIRPASS ne... more We present Gemini-South observations of the nuclear starburst region of M83, using the CIRPASS near-IR integral-field spectrograph. Spectroscopic diagnostics are used to overcome many of the uncertainties inherent to photometric studies of the star-formation history of the central region of M83. We use Pabeta and [Fe II] emission, and absorption in the CO(6,3) band head, to infer an age gradient, as opposed to stochastic star formation, across the nuclear star-forming region of M83.
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 2013
ABSTRACT SN 2001ja was observed twice in three months using the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. The X-... more ABSTRACT SN 2001ja was observed twice in three months using the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. The X-ray flux could be due to interaction with the circumstellar medium, perhaps dominated by the reverse shock heated thermal plasma, or from inverse Compton scattering at the forward shock. In both cases, for a steady wind-like circumstellar density profile, the X-ray flux is expected to fall off as a power law or faster. But the flux from the position of SN 2011ja, increased by a factor of three between these observations. In this presentation, we investigated possible reasons, including contamination from other astrophysical sources such as a X-Ray Binary, within the Chandra's resolution, in the host galaxy using our observations, modelling and pre-explosion Chandra/XMM data.
We have studied the face-on, barred spiral NGC 7424 (site of the rare Type IIb SN 2001ig) with Ch... more We have studied the face-on, barred spiral NGC 7424 (site of the rare Type IIb SN 2001ig) with Chandra, Gemini and the Australia Telescope Compact Array. After giving revised X-ray colours and luminosity of the supernova, here we focus on some other interesting sources in the galaxy: in particular, our serendipitous discovery of two ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs). The brighter one (~ 10^{40} erg/s) has a power-law-like spectrum with photon index Gamma ~ 1.8. The other ULX shows a spectral state transition or outburst between the two Chandra observations, 20 days apart. Optical data show that this ULX is located in a young (age ~ 7-10 Myr), bright complex rich with OB stars and clusters. An exceptionally bright, unresolved radio source (0.14 mJy at 4.79 GHz, implying a radio luminosity twice as high as Cas A) is found slightly offset from the ULX (~ 80 pc). Its radio spectral index alpha ~ -0.7 suggests optically-thin synchrotron emission, either from a young supernova remnant or from a radio lobe powered by a ULX jet. An even brighter, unresolved radio source (0.22 mJy at 4.79 GHz) is found in another young, massive stellar complex, not associated with any X-ray sources: based on its flatter radio spectral index (alpha ~ -0.3), we suggest that it is a young pulsar wind nebula, a factor of 10 more radio luminous than the Crab.
We report a supernova discovery in Ks-band images from the NAOS CONICA adaptive optics (AO) syste... more We report a supernova discovery in Ks-band images from the NAOS CONICA adaptive optics (AO) system on the ESO Very Large Telescope. The images were obtained as part of a near-infrared search for highly obscured supernovae in the nuclear regions of luminous and ultraluminous infrared galaxies. SN 2004ip is located within a circumnuclear starburst at 1.4" (or 500 pc) projected distance from the K-band nucleus of the luminous infrared galaxy IRAS 18293-3413. The supernova luminosity and light curve are consistent with a core-collapse event suffering from a host galaxy extinction of up to about 40 mag in the V band, which is as expected for a circumnuclear starburst environment. This is the first supernova to be discovered making use of AO correction and demonstrates the potential of the current 8 m-class telescopes equipped with AO in discovering supernovae from the innermost nuclear regions of luminous and ultraluminous infrared galaxies.
One nucleus is a regular barred spiral with significant rotation, while another is highly disturb... more One nucleus is a regular barred spiral with significant rotation, while another is highly disturbed with a surface brightness distribution intermediate to that of disk and bulge systems, and hints of remaining arm/bar structure. We derive dynamical masses in the range 3-7x10^10 M_solar for both. The third component appears to be a 1-2x10^10 M_solar mass irregular galaxy. The total system exhibits HII galaxy-like optical line ratios and strengths, and no evidence for AGN activity is found from optical or mid-infrared data. The star formation rate is estimated to be 190 M_solar/yr. We search for SNe, super star clusters, and detect 100-300 km/s outflowing gas from the Bird. Overall, the Bird shows kinematic, dynamical, and emission line properties typical for cool ultra luminous IR galaxies. However, the interesting features setting it apart for future studies are its triple merger nature, and the location of its star formation peak - the strongest star formation does not come from the two major K-band nuclei, but from the third irregular component. Aided by simulations, we discuss scenarios where the irregular component is on its first high-speed encounter with the more massive components.
We describe the technique of absorption line imaging of galaxy disks using the Taurus Tunable Fil... more We describe the technique of absorption line imaging of galaxy disks using the Taurus Tunable Filter on the Anglo-Australian Telescope and demonstrate its sensitivity to the behaviour of spectral features associated with Mg and Fe. Radial profiles of Mg2 and Fe5270 line-strengths are presented for a sample of eight face-on spiral galaxies spanning a range of Hubble types. Signatures of phenomena including merger-induced star formation, HII rings and galactic bars are also reported. This study demonstrates the capacity of tunable filters to measure Mg and Fe line-strengths across the face of spiral galaxies, which can ultimately reveal clues about the star formation history and chemical evolution.
NGC 7421 is a barred spiral displaced from the centre of its optical envelope, with a "bow-shock"... more NGC 7421 is a barred spiral displaced from the centre of its optical envelope, with a "bow-shock"-like western boundary, both suggestive of interaction with an intracluster medium. We have used 5 configurations of the Australia Telescope Compact Array to map the distribution and kinematics of the Hi in NGC 7421, and find supportive evidence for this scenario in the form of an Hi "wake". The ionised hydrogen kinematics and recent massive star formation have been traced using the Rutgers Fabry-Perot interferometer. From a comparison with ROSAT PSPC observations of the diffuse hot gas in the surrounding group of galaxies, we aim to test the hypothesis that NGC 7421 is interacting in some way with the intergalactic medium.
We present Gemini-South observations of the nuclear starburst region of M83, using the CIRPASS ne... more We present Gemini-South observations of the nuclear starburst region of M83, using the CIRPASS near-IR integral-field spectrograph. Spectroscopic diagnostics are used to overcome many of the uncertainties inherent to photometric studies of the star-formation history of the central region of M83. We use Pabeta and [Fe II] emission, and absorption in the CO(6,3) band head, to infer an age gradient, as opposed to stochastic star formation, across the nuclear star-forming region of M83.
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 2013
ABSTRACT SN 2001ja was observed twice in three months using the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. The X-... more ABSTRACT SN 2001ja was observed twice in three months using the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. The X-ray flux could be due to interaction with the circumstellar medium, perhaps dominated by the reverse shock heated thermal plasma, or from inverse Compton scattering at the forward shock. In both cases, for a steady wind-like circumstellar density profile, the X-ray flux is expected to fall off as a power law or faster. But the flux from the position of SN 2011ja, increased by a factor of three between these observations. In this presentation, we investigated possible reasons, including contamination from other astrophysical sources such as a X-Ray Binary, within the Chandra's resolution, in the host galaxy using our observations, modelling and pre-explosion Chandra/XMM data.
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