Gemini IFU, VLA, and HST observation of the OH Megamaser Galaxy IRAS17526+3253

Dinalva A. Sales; A. Robinson; R. A. Riffel; T. Storchi-Bergmann; J. F. Gallimore; P. Kharb; S. Baum; C. O'Dea; C. Hekatelyne; F. Ferrari

doi:10.1093/mnras/stz196

paper

Gemini IFU, VLA, and HST observation of the OH Megamaser Galaxy IRAS17526+3253

arXiv:1903.04729 · doi:10.1093/mnras/stz196

Abstract

We present a multiwavelength study of the OH megamaser galaxy (OHMG) IRAS17526+3253, based on new Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph Integral Field Unit (GMOS/IFU) observations, Hubble Space Telescope F814W and H $α$ +[N{\sc ii}] images, and archival 2MASS and 1.49GHz VLA data. The HST images clearly reveal a mid-to-advanced stage major merger whose northwestern and southeastern nuclei have a projected separation of $\sim$ 8.5kpc. Our HST/H $α$ +[N{\sc ii}] image shows regions of ongoing star-formation across the envelope on $\sim$ 10kpc scales, which are aligned with radio features, supporting the interpretation that the radio emission originates from star-forming regions. The measured H $α$ luminosities imply that the unobscured star-formation rate is $\sim$ 10-30\,M $_{⊙}$ yr $^{- 1}$ . The GMOS/IFU data reveal two structures in northwestern separated by 850\,pc and by a discontinuity in the velocity field of $\sim$ ~200~km~s $^{- 1}$ . We associate the blue-shifted and red-shifted components with, respectively, the distorted disk of northwestern and tidal debris, possibly a tail originating in southeastern. Star-formation is the main ionization source in both components, which have SFRs of $\sim$ 2.6-7.9\,M $_{⊙}$ yr $^{- 1}$ and $\sim$ 1.5-4.5\,M $_{⊙}$ yr $^{- 1}$ , respectively. Fainter line emission bordering these main components is consistent with shock ionization at a velocity $\sim$ 200~km~s $^{- 1}$ and may be the result of an interaction between the tidal tail and the northwestern galaxy's disk. IRAS17526+3253 is one of only a few systems known to host both luminous OH and H $_{2}$ O masers. The velocities of the OH and H $_{2}$ O maser lines suggest that they are associated with the northwestern and southeastern galaxies, respectively.

arXiv comment19 pages, 13 figures, 3 tables, Accepted for publication in MNRAS

Gemini IFU, VLA, and HST observation of the OH Megamaser Galaxy IRAS17526+3253

Abstract

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