A statistical study of SDSS radio-emitters

Abstract

The cross-correlation of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7 with the Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty-Centimeters survey allows for a multiwavelength statistical study of radio-optical galaxy properties on a very large number of sources. The correlation we find between $L_{[20 cm]}/L_{[Hα]}$ and optical emission line ratios suggests that the origin of the emission in powerful radio-galaxies is of nuclear rather than of stellar origin. In particular, the spectroscopic classification in Seyferts, Low Ionization Narrow Emission Regions (LINERs) and star-forming galaxies provided by emission-line diagnostic diagrams peaks on the AGN region for higher $L_{[20 cm]}/L_{[Hα]}$ values. The trend differs from Seyferts to LINERs. The [NII]/H$α$ vs. equivalent width of the H$α$ line diagram confirms the LINER classification for most of those that have been identified with the traditional diagnostic diagrams. A small fraction of sources seem to be powered by post-AGB stars instead.

8 pages, 4 figures, Proceedings of Nuclei of Seyfert galaxies and QSOs - Central engine \& conditions of star formation