Mid-infrared spectra of high-redshift (z > 2) radio galaxies

We present the first mid-infrared Spitzer/Infraxed Spectrograph (IRS) observations of powerful radio galaxies at z > 2. These radio galaxies, 4C +23.56 (z = 2.48) and 6C J1908+7220 (z = 3.53), both show strong midinfrared continua, but with 6C J1908+7220 also showing strong PAH emission at re...

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Main Authors: Seymour, Nick, Ogle, P., De Breuck, C., Fazio, G., Galametz, A., Haas, M., Lacy, M., Sajina, A., Stern, D., Willner, S., Vernet, J.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Institute of Physics Publishing 2008
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/21360
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author Seymour, Nick
Ogle, P.
De Breuck, C.
Fazio, G.
Galametz, A.
Haas, M.
Lacy, M.
Sajina, A.
Stern, D.
Willner, S.
Vernet, J.
author_facet Seymour, Nick
Ogle, P.
De Breuck, C.
Fazio, G.
Galametz, A.
Haas, M.
Lacy, M.
Sajina, A.
Stern, D.
Willner, S.
Vernet, J.
author_sort Seymour, Nick
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description We present the first mid-infrared Spitzer/Infraxed Spectrograph (IRS) observations of powerful radio galaxies at z > 2. These radio galaxies, 4C +23.56 (z = 2.48) and 6C J1908+7220 (z = 3.53), both show strong midinfrared continua, but with 6C J1908+7220 also showing strong PAH emission at rest-frame 6.2 and 7.7 µm. In 4C +23.56 we see no obvious PAH features above the continuum. The PAH emission in 6C J1908+7220 is the among the most distant observed to date and implies that there is a large instantaneous star formation rate (SFR). This is consistent with the strong detection of 6C J1908+7220 at far-IR and sub-mm wavelengths, indicative of large amounts of cold dust, ~109 M? Powerful radio galaxies at lower redshifts tend to have weak or undetectable PAH features and typically have lower far-IR luminosities. In addition, 4C +23.56 shows moderate silicate absorption as seen in less luminous radio galaxies, indicating T 9.7 µm = 0.3 ± 0.05. This feature is shifted out of the observed wavelength range for 6C J1908+7220. The correlation of strong PAH features with large amounts of cold dust, despite the presence of a powerful AGN, is in agreement with other recent results and implies that star formation at high redshift is. in some cases at least, associated with powerful, obscured AGN. © 2008, The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-213602023-02-22T06:24:17Z Mid-infrared spectra of high-redshift (z > 2) radio galaxies Seymour, Nick Ogle, P. De Breuck, C. Fazio, G. Galametz, A. Haas, M. Lacy, M. Sajina, A. Stern, D. Willner, S. Vernet, J. We present the first mid-infrared Spitzer/Infraxed Spectrograph (IRS) observations of powerful radio galaxies at z > 2. These radio galaxies, 4C +23.56 (z = 2.48) and 6C J1908+7220 (z = 3.53), both show strong midinfrared continua, but with 6C J1908+7220 also showing strong PAH emission at rest-frame 6.2 and 7.7 µm. In 4C +23.56 we see no obvious PAH features above the continuum. The PAH emission in 6C J1908+7220 is the among the most distant observed to date and implies that there is a large instantaneous star formation rate (SFR). This is consistent with the strong detection of 6C J1908+7220 at far-IR and sub-mm wavelengths, indicative of large amounts of cold dust, ~109 M? Powerful radio galaxies at lower redshifts tend to have weak or undetectable PAH features and typically have lower far-IR luminosities. In addition, 4C +23.56 shows moderate silicate absorption as seen in less luminous radio galaxies, indicating T 9.7 µm = 0.3 ± 0.05. This feature is shifted out of the observed wavelength range for 6C J1908+7220. The correlation of strong PAH features with large amounts of cold dust, despite the presence of a powerful AGN, is in agreement with other recent results and implies that star formation at high redshift is. in some cases at least, associated with powerful, obscured AGN. © 2008, The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. 2008 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/21360 10.1086/590081 Institute of Physics Publishing unknown
spellingShingle Seymour, Nick
Ogle, P.
De Breuck, C.
Fazio, G.
Galametz, A.
Haas, M.
Lacy, M.
Sajina, A.
Stern, D.
Willner, S.
Vernet, J.
Mid-infrared spectra of high-redshift (z > 2) radio galaxies
title Mid-infrared spectra of high-redshift (z > 2) radio galaxies
title_full Mid-infrared spectra of high-redshift (z > 2) radio galaxies
title_fullStr Mid-infrared spectra of high-redshift (z > 2) radio galaxies
title_full_unstemmed Mid-infrared spectra of high-redshift (z > 2) radio galaxies
title_short Mid-infrared spectra of high-redshift (z > 2) radio galaxies
title_sort mid-infrared spectra of high-redshift (z > 2) radio galaxies
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/21360