We present Gemini/GNIRS spectroscopy of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 4388, with simultaneous coverage from 0.85 - 2.5 \(\mu\)m. Several spatially-extended emission lines are detected for the first time, ...both in the obscured and unobscured portion of the optical narrow line region (NLR), allowing us to assess the combined effects of the central continuum source, outflowing gas and shocks generated by the radio jet on the central 280 pc gas. The HI and FeII lines allow us to map the extinction affecting the NLR. We found that the nuclear region is heavily obscured, with E(B-V) ~1.9 mag. To the NE of the nucleus and up to ~150 pc, the extinction remains large, ~1 mag or larger, consistent with the system of dust lanes seen in optical imaging. We derived position-velocity diagrams for the most prominent lines as well as for the stellar component. Only the molecular gas and the stellar component display a well-organized pattern consistent with disk rotation. Other emission lines are kinematically perturbed or show little evidence of rotation. Extended high-ionization emission of sulfur, silicon and calcium is observed to distances of at least 200 pc both NE and SW of the nucleus. We compared flux ratios between these lines with photoionization models and conclude that radiation from the central source alone cannot explain the observed high-ionization spectrum. Shocks between the radio-jet and the ambient gas are very likely an additional source of excitation. We conclude that NGC 4388 is a prime laboratory to study the interplay between all these mechanisms.
Mid-infrared (MIR) spectra observed with Gemini/Michelle were used to study the nuclear region of the Compton-thick Seyfert 2 (Sy 2) galaxy Mrk 3 at a spatial resolution of \(\sim\)200 pc. No ...polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) emission bands were detected in the N-band spectrum of Mrk 3. However, intense Ar III 8.99 \(\mu\)m, S IV 10.5 \(\mu\)m and Ne II 12.8 \(\mu\)m ionic emission-lines, as well as silicate absorption feature at 9.7\(\mu\)m have been found in the nuclear extraction (\(\sim\)200 pc). We also present subarcsecond-resolution Michelle N-band image of Mrk 3 which resolves its circumnuclear region. This diffuse MIR emission shows up as a wings towards East-West direction closely aligned with the S-shaped of the Narrow Line Region (NLR) observed at optical O III\(\lambda\)5007\AA image with Hubble/FOC. The nuclear continuum spectrum can be well represented by a theoretical torus spectral energy distribution (SED), suggesting that the nucleus of Mrk 3 may host a dusty toroidal structure predicted by the unified model of active galactic nucleus (AGN). In addition, the hydrogen column density (N\(_H\,=\,4.8^{+3.3}_{-3.1}\times\,10^{23}\) cm\(^{-2}\)) estimated with a torus model for Mrk 3 is consistent with the value derived from X-ray spectroscopy. The torus model geometry of Mrk 3 is similar to that of NGC 3281, both Compton-thick galaxies, confirmed through fitting the 9.7\(\mu\)m silicate band profile. This results might provide further evidence that the silicate-rich dust can be associated with the AGN torus and may also be responsible for the absorption observed at X-ray wavelengths in those galaxies.
We present spectra of the nuclear regions of 50 nearby (D = 1 - 92 Mpc, median = 20 Mpc) galaxies of morphological types E to Sm. The spectra, obtained with the Gemini Near-IR Spectrograph on the ...Gemini North telescope, cover a wavelength range of approximately 0.85-2.5 microns at R~1300--1800. There is evidence that most of the galaxies host an active galactic nucleus (AGN), but the range of AGN luminosities (log (L2-10 keV erg/s) = 37.0-43.2) in the sample means that the spectra display a wide variety of features. Some nuclei, especially the Seyferts, exhibit a rich emission-line spectrum. Other objects, in particular the type 2 Low Ionisation Nuclear Emission Region galaxies, show just a few, weak emission lines, allowing a detailed view of the underlying stellar population. These spectra display numerous absorption features sensitive to the stellar initial mass function, as well as molecular bands arising in cool stars, and many other atomic absorption lines. We compare the spectra of subsets of galaxies known to be characterised by intermediate-age and old stellar populations, and find clear differences in their absorption lines and continuum shapes. We also examine the effect of atmospheric water vapor on the signal-to-noise ratio achieved in regions between the conventional NIR atmospheric windows, of potential interest to those planning observations of redshifted emission lines or other features affected by telluric H2O. Further exploitation of this data set is in progress, and the reduced spectra and data reduction tools are made available to the community.
Metallothionein (MT) is an intracellular protein that binds many metals with isotopes having imaging or radiotherapeutic potential. To determine whether uptake of radioisotopes that bind to MT is ...increased in tumors, we measured the uptake of cadmium-109 (Cd-109) in tumors and in normal tissues of mice. Tumors were grown in Balb/C mice from cultured Balb/3T3 cells transformed by the Moloney murine sarcoma virus (MMSV). Uptake of Cd-109 by MMSV tumors exceeded that by normal tissues examined, with the exception of liver and kidney (the organs known to be richest in metallothionein). The MMSV tumor:background ratios of activity were greater for Cd-109 than for gallium-67 for many of the normal tissues examined. The magnitude of uptake of Cd-109 by tumors from four related cell lines paralleled their degree of expression of two indices of the transformed, or malignant, phenotype. We conclude that metals that bind to MT may be useful for imaging or radiotherapy of cancer.
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