Spitzer Spectroscopic Survey of Low-Ionization Nuclear Emission-Line Regions: Characterization of the Central Source

摘要

We have conducted a comprehensive mid-infrared (IR) spectroscopic investigation of 67 low-ionization nuclear emission line regions (LINERs) using archival observations from the high-resolution modules of the Infrared Spectrograph on board the Spitzer Space Telescope. Using the Ne (v) 14 and 24 micrometer lines as active galactic nuclei (AGNs) diagnostics, we detect active black holes in 39% of the galaxies in our sample, many of which show no signs of activity in either the optical or X-ray bands. In particular, a detailed comparison of multiwavelength diagnostics shows that optical studies fail to detect AGNs in galaxies with large far-IR luminosities. These observations emphasize that the nuclear power source in a large percentage of LINERs is obscured in the optical. Indeed, the majority of LINERs show mid-IR Ne (v) 14/ Ne (v) 24 micrometer flux ratios well below the theoretical low-density limit suggesting that there is substantial extinction toward even the Ne (v)- emitting region. Combining optical, X-ray and mid-IR diagnostics, we find an AGN detection rate in LINERs of 74%, higher than previously reported statistics of the fraction of LINERs hosting AGNs. The Ne (v) 24 micrometer / O (iv) 26 micrometer mid-IR line flux ratio in AGN-LINERs is similar to that of standard AGNs, suggesting that the spectral energy distribution of the intrinsic optical/UV continuum is similar in the two. This result is in contrast to previous suggestions of a UV deficit in the intrinsic broadband continuum emission in AGN-LINERs. Consistent with our finding of extinction to the Ne (v)- emitting region, we propose that extinction may also be responsible for the observed optical/UV deficit seen in at least some AGN-LINERs.