MRC 0406−244

MRC 0406−244
MRC 0406−244, as seen by ESO
Observation data (J2000.0 epoch)
ConstellationEridanus
Right ascension04h 08m 51.47s
Declination−24° 18′ 16.47″
Redshift2.440000
Heliocentric radial velocity731,494 km/s
Distance10.647 Gly (light travel time distance)
Apparent magnitude (V)0.144
Apparent magnitude (B)0.190
Surface brightness22.4
Notable featuresRadio galaxy, seyfert galaxy, galaxy merger
Other designations
TN J0408−2418, PMN J0408−2418, PGC 2823818, NVSS J040851−241815, TXS 0406−244, LQAC 062-024 001, GLEAM J040851−241817

MRC 0406−244 also known as TN J0408−2418, is a radio galaxy producing an astrophysical jet,[1] located in the constellation of Eridanus. At its redshift of 2.44, it is roughly ten billion light years from Earth.[2]

Characteristics

MRC 0406−244 is one of the most powerful radio galaxies known date-to-date; it was studied extensively by the MRC/1 Jy radio source survey.[3] MRC 0406−244 is also classified a Seyfert type 2 galaxy,[4][5] with a complex morphology with multiple components; of which among them is a point source.[6] Moreover, it contains an ultra-deep spectrum radio source (USS).[7]

Host galaxy

The host galaxy of MRC 0406−244 is categorized as a large early-type galaxy with a dust obscured appearance and has a total star formation rate of 790 ± 75 M☉ per year. The galaxy also contains presence of a single stellar disc, described having an intact appearance.[6]

Galaxy merger

Imaging made with Hubble Space Telescope (HST) have detected several several bright clumps being elongated along the axis of its radio jet. Further images also detected a presence of spatially resolved continuum being associated with the component in the southeast direction aligned along the direction of the radio axis, with a complex morphology, including a double nucleus and tidal tail features.[8] This suggests of a tidal origin, meaning a recent galaxy merger has taken place.[9] It is believed that galaxy mergers play a dominant role in fueling up its supermassive black hole.[10] The black hole located inside the center of MRC 0406−244, is growing at an exponential rate of hundreds to thousands of solar masses per year, so as the luminosity, suggesting the radio galaxy is turning into a quasar.[11][12]

Observations

According from HST and ground-based multiwavelength observations of MRC 0406−244,[13] two components are shown aligning together with its radio source. One of the components has characteristics of both red infrared optical and blue ultraviolet colors while the other component is completely reddened. The line emission based on lyman-alpha imaging is only about 3'' × 5'' extent, with most of the flux being situated away from the nucleus, towards the direction of southeast. Another component is also found extending towards the northwest direction with similar morphology detected through HST images. The total lyman-alpha flux is found to be 1.2 x 10−14 ergs per second per square centimetre.[14] Ionized gas has been detected in the galaxy in form of a superbubble based on a 2009 observation.[15]

Radio Properties

A powerful triple radio source is detected in MRC 0406−244. This radio source has an estimated luminosity of 1.2×1036 ergs/s/Hz and radiating at 6.3×1045 ergs/s in the range between 100 MHz and 100 GHz frequencies. The source is also depicted as having a curved steep radio spectrum. Between 408 MHz and 8.44 GHz, the spectral index of the radio source is shown changing from 1.21 at 1 GHz to 1.49 at 16 GHz. The radio core has a spectral index of 0.80±0.18 and is the one contributing only 2% of the 15 GHz radio emission. The two radio lobes in MRC 0406−244 are notable for their degree of asymmetry in terms of arm length and spectral indices.[14]

References

  1. ↑ Liu, F. K.; Zhang, Y. H. (2002-01-01). "A new list of extra-galactic radio jets". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 381 (3): 757–760. arXiv:astro-ph/0212477. Bibcode:2002A&A...381..757L. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20011572. ISSN 0004-6361.
  2. ↑ "NED Search Results for LQAC 062-024 001". NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database.
  3. ↑ McCarthy, P. J.; van Breughel, W.; Kapahi, V. K.; Subrahmanya, C. R. (1991-08-01). "High Redshift Radio Galaxies From the Molonglo Catalogue.II". The Astronomical Journal. 102: 522. Bibcode:1991AJ....102..522M. doi:10.1086/115891. ISSN 0004-6256.
  4. ↑ Véron-Cetty, M. -P.; Véron, P. (2006-08-01). "A catalogue of quasars and active nuclei: 12th edition". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 455 (2): 773–777. Bibcode:2006A&A...455..773V. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20065177. ISSN 0004-6361.
  5. ↑ Kruper, J. S.; Urry, C. M.; Canizares, C. R. (1990-10-01). "Soft X-Ray Properties of Seyfert Galaxies. I. Spectra". The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. 74: 347. Bibcode:1990ApJS...74..347K. doi:10.1086/191503. ISSN 0067-0049.
  6. 1 2 Hatch, N. A.; Röttgering, H. J. A.; Miley, G. K.; Rigby, E.; De Breuck, C. (2013). "The host galaxy of the z = 2.4 radio-loud AGN MRC 0406−244 as seen by HST". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 436 (3): 2244–2253. arXiv:1309.5954. doi:10.1093/mnras/stt1734.
  7. ↑ De Breuck, C.; van Breugel, W.; Röttgering, H. J. A.; Miley, G. (2000-04-01). "A sample of 669 ultra steep spectrum radio sources to find high redshift radio galaxies". Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series. 143 (2): 303–333. arXiv:astro-ph/0002297. Bibcode:2000A&AS..143..303D. doi:10.1051/aas:2000181. ISSN 0365-0138.
  8. ↑ Rush, Brian; McCarthy, Patrick J.; Athreya, Ramana M.; Persson, S. E. (1997-07-20). "The High-Redshift Radio Galaxy MRC 0406−244". The Astrophysical Journal. 484 (1): 163–179. Bibcode:1997ApJ...484..163R. doi:10.1086/304307. ISSN 0004-637X.
  9. ↑ Pentericci, L.; McCarthy, P. J.; Röttgering, H. J. A.; Miley, G. K.; Breugel, W. J. M. van; Fosbury, R. (2001-07-01). "NICMOS Observations of High-Redshift Radio Galaxies:Witnessing the Formation of Bright Elliptical Galaxies?". The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. 135 (1): 63. arXiv:astro-ph/0102323. Bibcode:2001ApJS..135...63P. doi:10.1086/321781. ISSN 0067-0049.
  10. ↑ Ivison, R. J.; Smail, Ian; Amblard, A.; Arumugam, V.; Breuck, C. De (2012). "Gas-rich mergers and feedback are ubiquitous amongst starbursting radio galaxies, as revealed by the VLA, IRAM PdBI and Herschel". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 425 (2): 1320–1331. arXiv:1206.4046. Bibcode:2012MNRAS.425.1320I. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2012.21544.x.
  11. ↑ Barthel, Peter; Haas, Martin; Leipski, Christian; Wilkes, Belinda (2012-10-01). "Extreme Host Galaxy Growth in Powerful Early-epoch Radio Galaxies". The Astrophysical Journal. 757 (2): L26. arXiv:1209.0324. Bibcode:2012ApJ...757L..26B. doi:10.1088/2041-8205/757/2/L26. ISSN 0004-637X.
  12. ↑ Seymour, N.; Altieri, B.; De Breuck, C.; Barthel, P.; Coia, D.; Conversi, L.; Dannerbauer, H.; Dey, A.; Dickinson, M.; Drouart, G.; Galametz, A.; Greve, T. R.; Haas, M.; Hatch, N.; Ibar, E. (2012-08-01). "Rapid Coeval Black Hole and Host Galaxy Growth in MRC 1138-262: The Hungry Spider". The Astrophysical Journal. 755 (2): 146. arXiv:1206.5821. Bibcode:2012ApJ...755..146S. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/755/2/146. ISSN 0004-637X.
  13. ↑ information@eso.org. "Radio galaxy MRC 0406-244". www.eso.org. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  14. 1 2 Rush, Brian; J. McCarthy, Patrick; M. Athreya, Ramana; Persson, S. E. (1997). "The High-Redshift Radio Galaxy MRC 0406-244". The Astrophysical Journal. 484 (1). Bibcode:1997ApJ...484..163R. doi:10.1086/304307.
  15. ↑ Humphrey, A.; Iwamuro, F.; Villar-Martin, M.; Binette, L.; Sung, E. C. (2009-07-14). "The extended ionized gas around the z = 2.44 radio galaxy MRC 0406–244: The nature of the superbubbles and the optical line brightness asymmetries". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters. 399 (1): L34–L38. arXiv:0907.2436. Bibcode:2009MNRAS.399L..34H. doi:10.1111/j.1745-3933.2009.00719.x.
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