TY - JOUR
T1 - From galaxy-scale fueling to nuclear-scale feedback
T2 - The merger-state of radio galaxies 3C 293, 3C 305, and 4C 12.50
AU - Emonts, B. H.C.
AU - Morganti, R.
AU - Villar-Martín, M.
AU - Hodgson, J.
AU - Brogt, E.
AU - Tadhunter, C. N.
AU - Mahony, E.
AU - Oosterloo, T. A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© ESO, 2016.
PY - 2016/12/1
Y1 - 2016/12/1
N2 - Powerful radio galaxies are often associated with gas-rich galaxy mergers. These mergers may provide the fuel to trigger starburst and active galactic nuclear (AGN) activity. In this Research Note, we study the host galaxies of three seemingly young or re-started radio sources that drive fast outflows of cool neutral hydrogen (H i) gas, namely 3C 293, 3C 305 and 4C 12.50 (PKS 1345+12). Our aim is to link the feedback processes in the central kpc-scale region with new information on the distribution of stars and gas at scales of the galaxy. For this, we use deep optical V-band imaging of the host galaxies, complemented with H i emission-line observations to study their gaseous environments. We find prominent optical tidal features in all three radio galaxies, which confirm previous claims that 3C 293, 3C 305, and 4C 12.50 have been involved in a recent galaxy merger or interaction. Our data show the complex morphology of the host galaxies and identify the companion galaxies that are likely involved in the merger or interaction. The radio sources appear to be (re-)triggered at a different stage of the merger; 4C 12.50 is a pre-coalescent and possibly multiple merger, 3C 293 is a post-coalescent merger that is undergoing a minor interaction with a close satellite galaxy, while 3C 305 appears to be shaped by an interaction with a gas-rich companion. For 3C 293 and 3C 305, we do not detect H i beyond the inner ~30-45 kpc region, which shows that the bulk of the cold gas is concentrated within the host galaxy, rather than along the widespread tidal features.
AB - Powerful radio galaxies are often associated with gas-rich galaxy mergers. These mergers may provide the fuel to trigger starburst and active galactic nuclear (AGN) activity. In this Research Note, we study the host galaxies of three seemingly young or re-started radio sources that drive fast outflows of cool neutral hydrogen (H i) gas, namely 3C 293, 3C 305 and 4C 12.50 (PKS 1345+12). Our aim is to link the feedback processes in the central kpc-scale region with new information on the distribution of stars and gas at scales of the galaxy. For this, we use deep optical V-band imaging of the host galaxies, complemented with H i emission-line observations to study their gaseous environments. We find prominent optical tidal features in all three radio galaxies, which confirm previous claims that 3C 293, 3C 305, and 4C 12.50 have been involved in a recent galaxy merger or interaction. Our data show the complex morphology of the host galaxies and identify the companion galaxies that are likely involved in the merger or interaction. The radio sources appear to be (re-)triggered at a different stage of the merger; 4C 12.50 is a pre-coalescent and possibly multiple merger, 3C 293 is a post-coalescent merger that is undergoing a minor interaction with a close satellite galaxy, while 3C 305 appears to be shaped by an interaction with a gas-rich companion. For 3C 293 and 3C 305, we do not detect H i beyond the inner ~30-45 kpc region, which shows that the bulk of the cold gas is concentrated within the host galaxy, rather than along the widespread tidal features.
KW - Galaxies: active
KW - Galaxies: evolution
KW - Galaxies: interactions
KW - Galaxies: jets
KW - Galaxies: starburst
KW - ISM: jets and outflows
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84998644044&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1051/0004-6361/201628592
DO - 10.1051/0004-6361/201628592
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84998644044
SN - 0004-6361
VL - 596
JO - Astronomy and Astrophysics
JF - Astronomy and Astrophysics
M1 - A19
ER -