Journal article
The environments of z similar to 1 active galactic nuclei at 3.6 mu m
Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, v 405(1), pp 347-358
11 Jun 2010
Abstract
We present an analysis of a large sample of active galactic nuclei (AGN) environments at z similar to 1 using stacked Spitzer data at 3.6 mu m. The sample contains type 1 and type 2 AGN in the form of quasars and radio galaxies, and spans a large range in both optical and radio luminosity. We find, on average, that two to three massive galaxies containing a substantial evolved stellar population lie within a 200-300 kpc radius of the AGN, constituting a > 8 Sigma excess relative to the field. Secondly, we find evidence for the environmental source density to increase with the radio luminosity of AGN, but not with black hole mass. This is shown first by dividing the AGN into their classical AGN types, where we see more significant overdensities in the fields of the radio-loud AGN. If instead we dispense with the classical AGN definitions, we find that the source overdensity as a function of radio luminosity for all our AGN exhibits a positive correlation. One interpretation of this result is that the Mpc-scale environment is in some way influencing the radio emission that we observe from AGN. This could be explained by the confinement of radio jets in dense environments leading to enhance radio emission or, alternatively, may be linked to more rapid black hole spin brought on by galaxy mergers.
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Details
- Title
- The environments of z similar to 1 active galactic nuclei at 3.6 mu m
- Creators
- J. T. Falder - University of HertfordshireJ. A. Stevens - University of HertfordshireMatt J. Jarvis - University of HertfordshireM. J. Hardcastle - University of HertfordshireM. Lacy - California Institute of TechnologyR. J. McLure - University of EdinburghE. Hatziminaoglou - European Southern ObservatoryM. J. Page - Mullard Space Science Laboratory, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6NTG. T. Richards - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, v 405(1), pp 347-358
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 12
- Grant note
- Science and Technology Facilities Council; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) PP/E001173/1 / STFC; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Royal Society; Royal Society of London; European Commission ST/F007280/1 / Science and Technology Facilities Council; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) JPL/Caltech NASA; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Accelerated Career Entry Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN); Physics
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000278313200050
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-77953605366
- Other Identifier
- 991019168136004721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Astronomy & Astrophysics