Ionized gas in the nuclear regions of nearby non-Seyfert spiral galaxies

Journal Article · Wed Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Astrophysical Journal, Supplement Series; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/191381· OSTI ID:7242360

Pogge, R W ^[1]

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1. Lick Observatory, Santa Cruz, CA (USA) McDonald Observatory, Austin, TX (USA)

A study of the distribution of ionized gas in the nuclear regions of a statistically significant sample of 91 non-Seyfert spirals is reported. CCD interference band images isolating the bright emission-lines of H-alpha + forbidden N II (6548, 6583 A) have been used to map the distribution of ionized gas in the inner 1-2 kpc of these galaxies. The galaxies exhibit a rich variety of nuclear and circumnuclear emission-line structures ranging from no-detectable emission to bright stellar nuclei with complicated circumnuclear emission regions extending for many kiloparsecs. Trends with Hubble-type and low-ionization nuclear emission-line spectral type (LINER or H II region) have been discerned. In galaxies with nuclear H II regions, those regions are on average the brightest H II regions in their host galaxies. It appears that nonthermal nuclear activity and nuclear star formation prefer different nuclear environments, with active nuclei tending to be found in intermediate-type galaxies, and nuclear H II regions preferring late-type spirals. It is speculated that this preference may be related to the dynamical properties of the host galaxies. 53 refs.

• OSTI ID: 7242360
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Supplement Series; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal, Supplement Series; (USA) Vol. 71; ISSN APJSA; ISSN 0067-0049
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CHARGE-COUPLED DEVICES
CONFIGURATION
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
DISTRIBUTION
DYNAMICS
EMISSION SPECTRA
FLUIDS
GALAXIES
GALAXY NUCLEI
GASES
H2 REGIONS
IONIZED GASES
MECHANICS
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
SPECTRA
SPECTROSCOPY
SPIRAL CONFIGURATION
STAR EVOLUTION