EMU/GAMA: A Technique for Detecting Active Galactic Nuclei in Low Mass Systems

Article

Prathap, Jahang, Hopkins, Andrew M., Robotham, Aaron S.G., Bellstedt, Sabine, Afonso, José, Ahmed, Ummee T., Bilicki, Maciej, Bremer, Malcolm N., Brough, Sarah, Brown, Michael J.I., Gordon, Yjan, Holwerda, Benne W., Leahy, Denis, Lopez-Sanchez, Angel R., Marvil, Joshua R., Mukherjee, Tamal, Prandoni, Isabella, Shabala, Stanislav S., Vernstrom, Tessa and Zafar, Tayyaba. 2024. "EMU/GAMA: A Technique for Detecting Active Galactic Nuclei in Low Mass Systems." Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia. 41. https://doi.org/10.1017/pasa.2024.9
Article Title

EMU/GAMA: A Technique for Detecting Active Galactic Nuclei in Low Mass Systems

ERA Journal ID40237
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsPrathap, Jahang, Hopkins, Andrew M., Robotham, Aaron S.G., Bellstedt, Sabine, Afonso, José, Ahmed, Ummee T., Bilicki, Maciej, Bremer, Malcolm N., Brough, Sarah, Brown, Michael J.I., Gordon, Yjan, Holwerda, Benne W., Leahy, Denis, Lopez-Sanchez, Angel R., Marvil, Joshua R., Mukherjee, Tamal, Prandoni, Isabella, Shabala, Stanislav S., Vernstrom, Tessa and Zafar, Tayyaba
Journal TitlePublications of the Astronomical Society of Australia
Journal Citation41
Article Numbere016
Number of Pages14
Year2024
PublisherCambridge University Press
Place of PublicationUnited Kingdom
ISSN1323-3580
1448-6083
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1017/pasa.2024.9
Web Address (URL)https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/publications-of-the-astronomical-society-of-australia/article/emugama-a-technique-for-detecting-active-galactic-nuclei-in-low-mass-systems/41620F898F6465898E911CA06B7C6C81
AbstractWe propose a new method for identifying active galactic nuclei (AGN) in low mass (M∗ ≤ 1010M☉) galaxies. This method relies on spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting to identify galaxies whose radio flux density has an excess over that expected from star formation alone. Combining data in the Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA) G23 region from GAMA, Evolutionary Map of the Universe (EMU) early science observations, and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), we compare this technique with a selection of different AGN diagnostics to explore the similarities and differences in AGN classification. We find that diagnostics based on optical and near-infrared criteria (the standard BPT diagram, the WISE colour criterion, and the mass-excitation, or MEx diagram) tend to favour detection of AGN in high mass, high luminosity systems, while the “PROSPECT” SED fitting tool can identify AGN efficiently in low mass systems. We investigate an explanation for this result in the context of proportionally lower mass black holes in lower mass galaxies compared to higher mass galaxies and differing proportions of emission from AGN and star formation dominating the light at optical and infrared wavelengths as a function of galaxy stellar mass. We conclude that SED-derived AGN classification is an efficient approach to identify low mass hosts with low radio luminosity AGN.
KeywordsGalaxies active; galaxies: evolution; galaxies: nuclei; galaxies: spectral energy distribution; galaxies: radio AGN
Contains Sensitive ContentDoes not contain sensitive content
ANZSRC Field of Research 20205101. Astronomical sciences
Byline AffiliationsMacquarie University
ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions, Australia
International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, Australia
University of Lisbon, Portugal
Centre for Astrophysics
Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland
University of Bristol, United Kingdom
University of New South Wales
Monash University
University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States
University of Louisville, United States
University of Calgary, Canada
National Radio Astronomy Observatory, United States
INAF Institute for Radioastronomy, Italy
University of Tasmania
University of Western Australia
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