Bibcode
DOI
Ramos Almeida, C.; Pérez García, A. M.; Acosta-Pulido, J. A.; Rodríguez Espinosa, J. M.
Bibliographical reference
The Astronomical Journal, Volume 134, Issue 5, pp. 2006-2019 (2007).
Advertised on:
11
2007
Citations
36
Refereed citations
35
Description
We present mid-infrared data of a sample of 57 AGNs obtained with the
instrument ISOCAM on board the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO)
satellite. The images were obtained through the LW2 (6.75 μm) and LW7
(9.62 μm) filters. This is a new analysis of the Clavel et al. galaxy
sample, which is divided into 26 type 1 (<=1.5) and 28 type 2
(>1.5) Seyfert galaxies, plus three QSOs. The spatial resolution of
the images allows us to separate the nuclear and the extended
contributions to the total emission after decomposing the brightness
profiles into different morphological components. The most common
components are a central point source (identified as the active nucleus)
and an exponential disk. In some cases a bulge, a bar, or a ring are
needed. The relative contribution of the nucleus to the total emission
appears larger in Seyfert 1 than in Seyfert 2 types. This result
confirms that both types of Seyfert galaxies are different in the
mid-infrared wavelength range and supports the existence of a structure
which produces anisotropic emission in this wavelength range. We have
also explored correlations between the mid-infrared and the radio and
X-ray wavelength ranges. The well-established radio/infrared correlation
is maintained in our sample for the global emission of the galaxies. If
only the nuclear infrared emission is considered, then a nonlinear
correlation is apparent in the luminosity-luminosity scatter diagram.
The ratio between the intrinsic hard X-ray and the nuclear mid-infrared
emission presents large scatter and slightly larger values for type 2
Seyfert galaxies. These results seem to be consistent with the presence
of a clumpy dusty torus surrounding the active nucleus.
Based on observations with the Infrared Space Observatory, an ESA
project with instruments funded by the ESA member states (especially the
PI countries: France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom)
and with the participation of ISAS and NASA.