Connecting MeerKAT Radio Continuum Properties to GAMA Optical Emission-line and WISE Mid-infrared Activity

H. F.M. Yao; M. E. Cluver; T. H. Jarrett; Gyula I.G. Józsa; M. G. Santos; L. Marchetti; M. J.I. Brown; Y. A. Gordon; S. Brough; A. M. Hopkins; B. W. Holwerda; S. P. Driver; E. M. Sadler

doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ac8790

Connecting MeerKAT Radio Continuum Properties to GAMA Optical Emission-line and WISE Mid-infrared Activity

H. F.M. Yao, M. E. Cluver, T. H. Jarrett, Gyula I.G. Józsa, M. G. Santos, L. Marchetti, M. J.I. Brown, Y. A. Gordon, S. Brough, A. M. Hopkins, B. W. Holwerda, S. P. Driver, E. M. Sadler

School of Physics and Astronomy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

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Abstract

The identification of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in large surveys has been hampered by seemingly discordant classifications arising from differing diagnostic methods, usually tracing distinct processes specific to a particular wavelength regime. However, as shown in Yao et al., the combination of optical emission-line measurements and mid-infrared photometry can be used to optimize the discrimination capability between AGN and star formation activity. In this paper we test our new classification scheme by combining the existing GAMA-WISE data with high-quality MeerKAT radio continuum data covering 8 deg2 of the GAMA G23 region. Using this sample of 1841 galaxies (z < 0.25), we investigate the total infrared (derived from 12 μm) to radio luminosity ratio, q(TIR), and its relationship to optical-infrared AGN and star-forming (SF) classifications. We find that while q(TIR) is efficient at detecting AGN activity in massive galaxies generally appearing quiescent in the infrared, it becomes less reliable for cases where the emission from star formation in the host galaxy is dominant. However, we find that the q(TIR) can identify up to 70% more AGNs not discernible at optical and/or infrared wavelengths. The median q(TIR) of our SF sample is 2.57 ± 0.23, consistent with previous local universe estimates.

Original language	English
Article number	26
Number of pages	22
Journal	The Astrophysical Journal
Volume	939
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ac8790
Publication status	Published - 1 Nov 2022

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10.3847/1538-4357/ac8790Licence: CC BY

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Yao, H. F. M., Cluver, M. E., Jarrett, T. H., Józsa, G. I. G., Santos, M. G., Marchetti, L., Brown, M. J. I., Gordon, Y. A., Brough, S., Hopkins, A. M., Holwerda, B. W., Driver, S. P., & Sadler, E. M. (2022). Connecting MeerKAT Radio Continuum Properties to GAMA Optical Emission-line and WISE Mid-infrared Activity. The Astrophysical Journal, 939(1), Article 26. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ac8790

@article{c89cc1d7794e43fdbb9fad91da3c1f56,

title = "Connecting MeerKAT Radio Continuum Properties to GAMA Optical Emission-line and WISE Mid-infrared Activity",

abstract = "The identification of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in large surveys has been hampered by seemingly discordant classifications arising from differing diagnostic methods, usually tracing distinct processes specific to a particular wavelength regime. However, as shown in Yao et al., the combination of optical emission-line measurements and mid-infrared photometry can be used to optimize the discrimination capability between AGN and star formation activity. In this paper we test our new classification scheme by combining the existing GAMA-WISE data with high-quality MeerKAT radio continuum data covering 8 deg2 of the GAMA G23 region. Using this sample of 1841 galaxies (z < 0.25), we investigate the total infrared (derived from 12 μm) to radio luminosity ratio, q(TIR), and its relationship to optical-infrared AGN and star-forming (SF) classifications. We find that while q(TIR) is efficient at detecting AGN activity in massive galaxies generally appearing quiescent in the infrared, it becomes less reliable for cases where the emission from star formation in the host galaxy is dominant. However, we find that the q(TIR) can identify up to 70% more AGNs not discernible at optical and/or infrared wavelengths. The median q(TIR) of our SF sample is 2.57 ± 0.23, consistent with previous local universe estimates.",

author = "Yao, {H. F.M.} and Cluver, {M. E.} and Jarrett, {T. H.} and J{\'o}zsa, {Gyula I.G.} and Santos, {M. G.} and L. Marchetti and Brown, {M. J.I.} and Gordon, {Y. A.} and S. Brough and Hopkins, {A. M.} and Holwerda, {B. W.} and Driver, {S. P.} and Sadler, {E. M.}",

note = "Funding Information: GAMA is a joint European-Australasian project based around a spectroscopic campaign using the Anglo-Australian Telescope. The GAMA input catalog is based on data taken from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey. Complementary imaging of the GAMA regions is being obtained by a number of independent survey programs including GALEX MIS, VST KIDS, VISTA VIKING, WISE, Herschel- ATLAS, GMRT, and ASKAP, providing UV to radio coverage. GAMA is funded by the STFC (UK), the ARC (Australia), the AAO, and the participating institutions. Based on observations made with ESO Telescopes at the La Silla Paranal Observatory under program ID 177.A-3016. The GAMA website is http://www.gama-survey.org/ . Funding Information: H.F.M.Y. would like to acknowledge the support given by the NRF (South Africa) through the Centre for Radio Cosmology (CRC). M.C. is a recipient of an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (project number FT170100273) funded by the Australian Government. T.H.J. acknowledges support from the National Research Foundation (South Africa). This publication makes use of data products from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, which is a joint project of the University of California, Los Angeles, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology, funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The MeerKAT telescope is operated by the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory, which is a facility of the National Research Foundation, an agency of the Department of Science and Innovation. GAMA is a joint European-Australasian project based around a spectroscopic campaign using the Anglo-Australian Telescope. The GAMA input catalog is based on data taken from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey. Complementary imaging of the GAMA regions is being obtained by a number of independent survey programs including GALEX MIS, VST KIDS, VISTA VIKING, WISE, Herschel- ATLAS, GMRT, and ASKAP, providing UV to radio coverage. GAMA is funded by the STFC (UK), the ARC (Australia), the AAO, and the participating institutions. Based on observations made with ESO Telescopes at the La Silla Paranal Observatory under program ID 177.A-3016. The GAMA website is http://www. gama-survey.org/. Funding Information: H.F.M.Y. would like to acknowledge the support given by the NRF (South Africa) through the Centre for Radio Cosmology (CRC). M.C. is a recipient of an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (project number FT170100273) funded by the Australian Government. T.H.J. acknowledges support from the National Research Foundation (South Africa). This publication makes use of data products from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, which is a joint project of the University of California, Los Angeles, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology, funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The MeerKAT telescope is operated by the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory, which is a facility of the National Research Foundation, an agency of the Department of Science and Innovation. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022. The Author(s).",

year = "2022",

month = nov,

day = "1",

doi = "10.3847/1538-4357/ac8790",

language = "English",

volume = "939",

journal = "The Astrophysical Journal",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Connecting MeerKAT Radio Continuum Properties to GAMA Optical Emission-line and WISE Mid-infrared Activity

AU - Yao, H. F.M.

AU - Cluver, M. E.

AU - Jarrett, T. H.

AU - Józsa, Gyula I.G.

AU - Santos, M. G.

AU - Marchetti, L.

AU - Brown, M. J.I.

AU - Gordon, Y. A.

AU - Brough, S.

AU - Hopkins, A. M.

AU - Holwerda, B. W.

AU - Driver, S. P.

AU - Sadler, E. M.

N1 - Funding Information: GAMA is a joint European-Australasian project based around a spectroscopic campaign using the Anglo-Australian Telescope. The GAMA input catalog is based on data taken from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey. Complementary imaging of the GAMA regions is being obtained by a number of independent survey programs including GALEX MIS, VST KIDS, VISTA VIKING, WISE, Herschel- ATLAS, GMRT, and ASKAP, providing UV to radio coverage. GAMA is funded by the STFC (UK), the ARC (Australia), the AAO, and the participating institutions. Based on observations made with ESO Telescopes at the La Silla Paranal Observatory under program ID 177.A-3016. The GAMA website is http://www.gama-survey.org/ . Funding Information: H.F.M.Y. would like to acknowledge the support given by the NRF (South Africa) through the Centre for Radio Cosmology (CRC). M.C. is a recipient of an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (project number FT170100273) funded by the Australian Government. T.H.J. acknowledges support from the National Research Foundation (South Africa). This publication makes use of data products from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, which is a joint project of the University of California, Los Angeles, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology, funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The MeerKAT telescope is operated by the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory, which is a facility of the National Research Foundation, an agency of the Department of Science and Innovation. GAMA is a joint European-Australasian project based around a spectroscopic campaign using the Anglo-Australian Telescope. The GAMA input catalog is based on data taken from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey. Complementary imaging of the GAMA regions is being obtained by a number of independent survey programs including GALEX MIS, VST KIDS, VISTA VIKING, WISE, Herschel- ATLAS, GMRT, and ASKAP, providing UV to radio coverage. GAMA is funded by the STFC (UK), the ARC (Australia), the AAO, and the participating institutions. Based on observations made with ESO Telescopes at the La Silla Paranal Observatory under program ID 177.A-3016. The GAMA website is http://www. gama-survey.org/. Funding Information: H.F.M.Y. would like to acknowledge the support given by the NRF (South Africa) through the Centre for Radio Cosmology (CRC). M.C. is a recipient of an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (project number FT170100273) funded by the Australian Government. T.H.J. acknowledges support from the National Research Foundation (South Africa). This publication makes use of data products from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, which is a joint project of the University of California, Los Angeles, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology, funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The MeerKAT telescope is operated by the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory, which is a facility of the National Research Foundation, an agency of the Department of Science and Innovation. Publisher Copyright: © 2022. The Author(s).

PY - 2022/11/1

Y1 - 2022/11/1

N2 - The identification of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in large surveys has been hampered by seemingly discordant classifications arising from differing diagnostic methods, usually tracing distinct processes specific to a particular wavelength regime. However, as shown in Yao et al., the combination of optical emission-line measurements and mid-infrared photometry can be used to optimize the discrimination capability between AGN and star formation activity. In this paper we test our new classification scheme by combining the existing GAMA-WISE data with high-quality MeerKAT radio continuum data covering 8 deg2 of the GAMA G23 region. Using this sample of 1841 galaxies (z < 0.25), we investigate the total infrared (derived from 12 μm) to radio luminosity ratio, q(TIR), and its relationship to optical-infrared AGN and star-forming (SF) classifications. We find that while q(TIR) is efficient at detecting AGN activity in massive galaxies generally appearing quiescent in the infrared, it becomes less reliable for cases where the emission from star formation in the host galaxy is dominant. However, we find that the q(TIR) can identify up to 70% more AGNs not discernible at optical and/or infrared wavelengths. The median q(TIR) of our SF sample is 2.57 ± 0.23, consistent with previous local universe estimates.

AB - The identification of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in large surveys has been hampered by seemingly discordant classifications arising from differing diagnostic methods, usually tracing distinct processes specific to a particular wavelength regime. However, as shown in Yao et al., the combination of optical emission-line measurements and mid-infrared photometry can be used to optimize the discrimination capability between AGN and star formation activity. In this paper we test our new classification scheme by combining the existing GAMA-WISE data with high-quality MeerKAT radio continuum data covering 8 deg2 of the GAMA G23 region. Using this sample of 1841 galaxies (z < 0.25), we investigate the total infrared (derived from 12 μm) to radio luminosity ratio, q(TIR), and its relationship to optical-infrared AGN and star-forming (SF) classifications. We find that while q(TIR) is efficient at detecting AGN activity in massive galaxies generally appearing quiescent in the infrared, it becomes less reliable for cases where the emission from star formation in the host galaxy is dominant. However, we find that the q(TIR) can identify up to 70% more AGNs not discernible at optical and/or infrared wavelengths. The median q(TIR) of our SF sample is 2.57 ± 0.23, consistent with previous local universe estimates.

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DO - 10.3847/1538-4357/ac8790

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JO - The Astrophysical Journal

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ER -

Connecting MeerKAT Radio Continuum Properties to GAMA Optical Emission-line and WISE Mid-infrared Activity

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Connecting MeerKAT Radio Continuum Properties to GAMA Optical Emission-line and WISE Mid-infrared Activity

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