A Multi-Frequency Study of the Milky Way-like Spiral Galaxy NGC 6744

TL;DR

This study combines X-ray, radio, and infrared data to analyze the galaxy NGC 6744, identifying various sources and estimating its star formation rate, revealing it is actively forming stars at a rate higher than the Milky Way.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive multi-frequency catalog of sources in NGC 6744 and estimates its star formation rate, offering insights into its active star-forming status.

Findings

Identified 117 X-ray sources and 280 radio sources in NGC 6744.

Detected a faint central black hole with luminosity similar to the Milky Way's.

Estimated the galaxy's star formation rate to be 2.8-4.7 solar masses per year.

Abstract

We present a multi-frequency study of the intermediate spiral SAB(r)bc type galaxy NGC 6744, using available data from the Chandra X-Ray telescope, radio continuum data from the Australia Telescope Compact Array and Murchison Widefield Array, and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer infrared observations. We identify 117 X-ray sources and 280 radio sources. Of these, we find nine sources in common between the X-ray and radio catalogues, one of which is a faint central black hole with a bolometric radio luminosity similar to the Milky Way's central black hole. We classify 5 objects as supernova remnant candidates, 2 objects as likely supernova remnants, 17 as HII regions, 1 source as an AGN; the remaining 255 radio sources are categorised as background objects and one X-ray source is classified as a foreground star. We find the star-formation rate (SFR) of NGC 6744 to be in the range 2.8 - 4.7 $\rm{M_{\odot}~yr^{-1}}$ signifying the galaxy is still actively forming stars. The specific SFR of NGC 6744 is greater than that of late-type spirals such as the Milky Way, but considerably less that that of a typical starburst galaxy.