Unveiling the 100 pc scale nuclear radio structure of NGC 6217 with e-MERLIN and the VLA

Journal
Date Issued
2019
Author(s)
Williams, D. R. A.
•
McHardy, I. M.
•
•
Beswick, R. J.
•
Pahari, M.
•
Argo, M. K.
•
Beri, A.
•
Boorman, P.
•
Brinks, E.
•
Dullo, B. T.
•
Fenech, D. M.
•
Ineson, J.
•
Kharb, P.
•
Knapen, J. H.
•
Muxlow, T. W. B.
•
Westcott, J.
DOI
Abstract
We present high-sensitivity 1.51 GHz e-MERLIN (e-Multi-Element Radio-Linked Interferometer Network) radio images of the nearby galaxy NGC 6217. We resolve the compact radio source at the centre of NGC 6217 for the first time, finding a twin-lobed structure with a total linear size of ∼4 arcsec (∼400 pc). The radio source does not have a compact central core, but there is an unresolved hotspot near the outer edge of the southern lobe. Combining our e-MERLIN data with new VLA (Very Large Array) A-Array data and archival multiwavelength data, we explore possible scenarios which might explain this complex radio morphology. We conclude that this radio source is most likely powered by a low-luminosity active galactic nucleus but with a possible important contribution from nuclear star formation. We also investigate the origin of a putative X-ray jet in NGC 6217, previously suggested in the literature. This `jet' consists of three X-ray `knots' in a line, pointed away from the nucleus, with a total size of ∼3 arcmin (∼15 kpc). We find no extended radio emission coincident with the `jet'. An additional compact radio source, aligned with the knots but without an X-ray counterpart is detected. We detect infrared/optical sources falling within the X-ray extraction regions of the `knots', but note that these sources could be chance associations due to high source density around the target field and we estimate the probability of three randomly aligned X-ray sources to be 0.3 per cent in this field.
Volume
486
Issue
4
Start page
4962
Uri
Url
Issn Identifier
0035-8711
Ads BibCode
2019MNRAS.486.4962W
Rights
open.access
File(s)
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name

ngc6217.pdf

Description
preprint
Size

2.56 MB

Format

Adobe PDF

Checksum (MD5)

a532f3707e0dfe4f060fc7769a919a7d

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name

stz1135.pdf

Description
Pdf editoriale
Size

3.59 MB

Format

Adobe PDF

Checksum (MD5)

7bf262021f2eb953744a1a86a50193c1