Co-evolution of black hole growth and star formation activity in local luminous infrared galaxies

A. Alonso-Herrero, M. Pereira-Santaella, G. H. Rieke, D. Rigopoulou, A. M. Diamond-Stanic, A. Hernán-Caballero, Y. Wang

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

We use Spitzer spectroscopic and imaging observations to study the co-evolution of black hole (BH) growth and star formation (SF) activity in a complete volume-limited sample of local Luminous Infrared Galaxies (LIRGs). Using a mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectral decomposition method we identify active galactic nuclei (AGN) with Seyfert-like luminosities and relatively small bolometric contributions (median ∼ 5%) in half of the LIRG nuclei. Combining mid-IR and AGN optical detections we obtain a 62% AGN detection rate in local LIRGs. We combine gas velocity dispersions of spectrally resolved [Ne iii]15.56 µm and [O iii]λ5007Å lines and literature stellar velocity dispersions , and we obtain typical BH masses of 3 ×107 M☉ for local LIRGs. We find that the ratios of nuclear and integrated SF rates (SFR) to BH accretion rates are higher in local LIRGs than in optically selected Seyferts. We interpret our results in a scenario where local LIRGs with an AGN represent an early phase of the (possibly episodic) growth of BHs in massive spiral galaxies with high SFR, not necessarily associated with a major merger event.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages103-114
Number of pages12
StatePublished - Jul 9 2012
Event10th Scientific Meeting of the Spanish Astronomical Society - Highlights of Spanish Astrophysics VII, SEA 2012 - Valencia, Spain
Duration: Jul 9 2012Jul 13 2012

Conference

Conference10th Scientific Meeting of the Spanish Astronomical Society - Highlights of Spanish Astrophysics VII, SEA 2012
Country/TerritorySpain
CityValencia
Period7/9/127/13/12

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics

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