The nature of the LINER in the galaxy NGC 404

TL;DR

This paper investigates the nature of the LINER in NGC 404 using integral field spectroscopy, analyzing stellar populations and emission features to determine its origin and characteristics.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of NGC 404's LINER using IFU data, exploring stellar populations and emission properties to clarify its nature.

Findings

Stellar populations in the bulge are around 300 million years old.

Disk populations are between 6 and 15 billion years old.

The LINER's spectral features suggest a non-AGN origin.

Abstract

NGC 404, at a distance of 3.4 Mpc, is the nearest S0 galaxy. This galaxy harbors a LINER; however, since the spectrum does not show a broad H{\alpha} emission, it is not certain that this LINER is a low luminosity AGN and its nature is still an open question. HST observations show the existence of stellar populations with an age of 3 x 10^8 years years in the galactic bulge and with an age of 6-15 x 10^9 years in the galactic disk. In this work, we present an analysis of the data cube of NGC 404 obtained with the IFU (Integral Field Unity) of the GMOS (Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph) on the Gemini North telescope.