A GMRT study of Seyfert galaxies NGC 4235 and NGC 4594: evidence of episodic activity?

Abstract

Low-frequency observations at 325 and 610 MHz have been carried out for two ‘radio-loud’ Seyfert galaxies, NGC 4235 and NGC 4594 (Sombrero galaxy), using the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (GMRT). The 610 MHz total intensity and 325–610 MHz spectral index images of NGC 4235 tentatively suggest the presence of a ‘relic’ radio lobe, most likely from a previous episode of active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity. This makes NGC 4235 only the second known Seyfert galaxy after Mrk 6 to show signatures of episodic activity. Spitzer and Herschel infrared spectral energy distribution (SED) modelling using the CLUMPYDREAM code predicts star formation rates (SFRs) that are an order of magnitude lower than those required to power the radio lobes in these Seyferts ( ∼ 0.13–0.23 M

yr − 1 compared to the required SFR of ∼ 2.0–2.7 M

yr − 1 in NGC 4594 and NGC 4235, respectively). This finding along with the detection of parsec and sub-kpc radio jets in both Seyfert galaxies, that are roughly along the same position angles as the radio lobes, strongly support the suggestion that Seyfert lobes are AGN powered. SED modelling supports the ‘true’ type 2 classification of NGC 4594: this galaxy lacks significant dust obscuration as well as a prominent broad-line region. Between the two Seyfert galaxies, there is an inverse relation between their radio-loudness and Eddington ratio and a direct relation between their Eddington-scaled jet power and bolometric power.