Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2007-03-12
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. 4 pages, 3 figures
Scientific paper
10.1086/517999
We present the first detection of the near-infrared CN absorption band in the nuclear spectra of active galactic nuclei (AGN). This feature is a recent star formation tracer, being particularly strong in carbon stars. The equivalent width of the CN line correlates with that of the CO at 2.3 microns, as expected in stellar populations (SP) with ages between ~ 0.2 and ~ 2 Gyr. The presence of the 1.1 microns CN band in the spectra of the sources is taken as an unambiguous evidence of the presence of young/intermediate SP close to the central source of the AGN. Near-infrared bands can be powerful age indicators for star formation connected to AGN, the understanding of which is crucial in the context of galaxy formation and AGN feedback.
Maraston Claudia
Pastoriza Miriani Griselda
Riffel Rogério
Rodriguez-Ardila Alberto
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