E+A galaxies with blue cores: Active galaxies in transition

Yujin Yang, Christy A. Tremonti, Ann I. Zabludoff, Dennis Zaritsky

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hubble Space Telescope (HST) ACS images reveal blue cores in four E+A, or post-starburst, galaxies. Follow-up spectroscopy shows that these cores have LINER spectra. The existence of LINERs, consistent with those in many elliptical galaxies, is yet one more piece of evidence that these postmerger, post-starburst, bulge-dominated galaxies will evolve into normal elliptical galaxies. More interestingly, if LINERs are powered by low-luminosity active galactic nuclei (AGNs), their presence in these E+A's suggests that any rapid growth phase of the central black hole ended in rough concert with the cessation of star formation. This result emphasizes the importance of E+A's for exploring how the evolution of black holes and AGNs may be tied to that of galactic bulges.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)L33-L36
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume646
Issue numberII
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 20 2006

Keywords

  • Galaxies: active
  • Galaxies: evolution
  • Galaxies: starburst

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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