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Very Large Baseline Array observations of Mrk 6: probing the jet-lobe connection

Very Large Baseline Array observations of Mrk 6: probing the jet-lobe connection
Very Large Baseline Array observations of Mrk 6: probing the jet-lobe connection
We present the results of high-resolution VLBI (very long baseline interferometry) observations at 1.6 and 4.9 GHz of the radio-loud Seyfert galaxy, Mrk 6. These observations are able to detect a compact radio core in this galaxy for the first time. The core has an inverted spectral index (?1.64.9 = +1.0 ± 0.2) and a brightness temperature of 1 × 108 K. Three distinct radio components, which resemble jet elements and/or hotspots, are also detected. The position angles of these elongated jet elements point not only to a curved jet in Mrk 6, but also towards a connection between the AGN and the kpc-scale radio lobes/bubbles in this galaxy. Firmer constraints on the star formation rate provided by new Herschel observations (SFR < 0.8 M? yr?1) make the starburst-wind-powered bubble scenario implausible. From plasma speeds, obtained via prior Chandra X-ray observations, and ram pressure balance arguments for the interstellar medium and radio bubbles, the north–south bubbles are expected to take 7.5 × 106 yr to form, and the east–west bubbles 1.4 × 106 yr. We suggest that the jet axis has changed at least once in Mrk 6 within the last ?107 yr. A comparison of the nuclear radio-loudness of Mrk 6 and a small sample of Seyfert galaxies with a subset of low-luminosity FR I radio galaxies reveals a continuum in radio properties.
1365-2966
2976-2987
Kharb, P.
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O'Dea, C.P.
13b8cdc5-bd67-4f9a-afb9-b39adec7f013
Baum, S.A.
4bf0f9f8-060e-4ede-8e3e-d7302f0b90bd
Hardcastle, M.J.
23b43806-5ee7-46e3-b29b-98f7442dd263
Dicken, D.
fe1f3704-cc69-4442-b794-a110a0bc79d3
Croston, J.H.
b10aa3fb-620e-4ec2-93e5-8594748d4822
Mingo, B.
72d66265-6364-4146-b6fb-992139f4bc98
Noel-Storr, J.
3b6223af-2326-49d3-b2e5-64daf4b943ed
Kharb, P.
3c137335-5e0e-40f4-b09b-cb330656d98a
O'Dea, C.P.
13b8cdc5-bd67-4f9a-afb9-b39adec7f013
Baum, S.A.
4bf0f9f8-060e-4ede-8e3e-d7302f0b90bd
Hardcastle, M.J.
23b43806-5ee7-46e3-b29b-98f7442dd263
Dicken, D.
fe1f3704-cc69-4442-b794-a110a0bc79d3
Croston, J.H.
b10aa3fb-620e-4ec2-93e5-8594748d4822
Mingo, B.
72d66265-6364-4146-b6fb-992139f4bc98
Noel-Storr, J.
3b6223af-2326-49d3-b2e5-64daf4b943ed

Kharb, P., O'Dea, C.P., Baum, S.A., Hardcastle, M.J., Dicken, D., Croston, J.H., Mingo, B. and Noel-Storr, J. (2014) Very Large Baseline Array observations of Mrk 6: probing the jet-lobe connection. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 440 (4), 2976-2987. (doi:10.1093/mnras/stu421).

Record type: Article

Abstract

We present the results of high-resolution VLBI (very long baseline interferometry) observations at 1.6 and 4.9 GHz of the radio-loud Seyfert galaxy, Mrk 6. These observations are able to detect a compact radio core in this galaxy for the first time. The core has an inverted spectral index (?1.64.9 = +1.0 ± 0.2) and a brightness temperature of 1 × 108 K. Three distinct radio components, which resemble jet elements and/or hotspots, are also detected. The position angles of these elongated jet elements point not only to a curved jet in Mrk 6, but also towards a connection between the AGN and the kpc-scale radio lobes/bubbles in this galaxy. Firmer constraints on the star formation rate provided by new Herschel observations (SFR < 0.8 M? yr?1) make the starburst-wind-powered bubble scenario implausible. From plasma speeds, obtained via prior Chandra X-ray observations, and ram pressure balance arguments for the interstellar medium and radio bubbles, the north–south bubbles are expected to take 7.5 × 106 yr to form, and the east–west bubbles 1.4 × 106 yr. We suggest that the jet axis has changed at least once in Mrk 6 within the last ?107 yr. A comparison of the nuclear radio-loudness of Mrk 6 and a small sample of Seyfert galaxies with a subset of low-luminosity FR I radio galaxies reveals a continuum in radio properties.

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Accepted/In Press date: 28 February 2014
e-pub ahead of print date: 17 April 2014
Published date: 1 June 2014
Organisations: Astronomy Group

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Local EPrints ID: 401984
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/401984
ISSN: 1365-2966
PURE UUID: b0c7a6dd-f006-4108-91fd-48a26e11f5b5

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Date deposited: 26 Oct 2016 13:13
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:03

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Contributors

Author: P. Kharb
Author: C.P. O'Dea
Author: S.A. Baum
Author: M.J. Hardcastle
Author: D. Dicken
Author: J.H. Croston
Author: B. Mingo
Author: J. Noel-Storr

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