Constraining photoionization models with a reprojected optical diagnostic diagram

Xihan Ji, Renbin Yan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Optical diagnostic diagrams are powerful tools to separate different ionizing sources in galaxies.However, the model-constraining power of the most widely used diagrams is very limited and challenging to visualize. In addition, there have always been classification inconsistencies between diagrams based on different line ratios, and ambiguities between regions purely ionized by active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and composite regions. We present a simple reprojection of the 3D line ratio space composed of [N II]λ6583/H α, [S II]λλ6716, 6731/H α, and [O III]λ5007/H β, which reveals its model-constraining power and removes the ambiguity for the true composite objects. It highlights the discrepancy between many theoretical models and the data loci. With this reprojection, we can put strong constraints on the photoionization models and the secondary nitrogen abundance prescription. We find that a single nitrogen prescription cannot fit both the star-forming locus and AGN locus simultaneously, with the latter requiring higher N/O ratios. The true composite regions stand separately from both models. We can compute the fractional AGN contributions for the composite regions, and define demarcations with specific upper limits on contamination from AGN or star formation. When the discrepancy about nitrogen prescriptions gets resolved in the future, it would also be possible to make robust metallicity measurements for composite regions and AGNs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5749-5764
Number of pages16
JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume499
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Author(s).

Keywords

  • Active-galaxies
  • Galaxies
  • Nuclei-galaxies
  • Star formation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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