HST/STIS low dispersion spectroscopy of three Compact Steep Spectrum sources. Evidence for jet-cloud interaction
Capetti, A.;
Koekemoer, A. M.;
Morganti, R.;
Tadhunter, C. N.;
Axon, D. J.;
O'Dea, C. P.;
Labiano, A.;
Fanti, R.;
Baum, S. A.;
de Vries, W. H.;
Barthel, P. D.;
Gelderman, R.
Netherlands, United States, Italy, United Kingdom
Abstract
We present Hubble Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph long-slit spectroscopy of the emission line nebulae in the compact steep spectrum radio sources 3C 67, 3C 277.1, and 3C 303.1. We derive BPT (Baldwin- Philips-Terlevich; Baldwin et al. 1981) diagnostic emission line ratios for the nebulae which are consistent with a mix of shock excitation and photo-ionization in the extended gas. In addition, line ratios indicative of lower ionization gas are found to be associated with higher gas velocities. The results are consistent with a picture in which these galaxy scale radio sources interact with dense clouds in the interstellar medium of the host galaxies, shocking the clouds thereby ionizing and accelerating them.
2005
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Astronomy and Astrophysics
eHST
45
