The discovery and evolution of a radio continuum and excited-OH spectral-line outburst in the nearby galaxy NGC 660

TL;DR

This study reports a decade-long observation of a radio outburst in NGC 660, revealing a new compact core and jet activity likely caused by gas accretion onto its central black hole, indicating active galactic nucleus phenomena.

Contribution

First detection of a radio continuum and spectral-line outburst in NGC 660 with detailed imaging, linking it to AGN activity and jet formation.

Findings

Detected a new compact radio component at the galaxy's nucleus.

Observed spectral-line variability in excited-OH and H2CO lines.

Identified jet-like structures consistent with a precessing, mildly-relativistic jet.

Abstract

Arecibo 305-m Telescope observations between 2008 and 2018 detected a radio continuum and spectral-line outburst in the nearby galaxy, NGC 660. Excited-OH maser emission/absorption lines near 4.7 GHz, and H$_2$CO absorption at 4.83 GHz varied on time-scales of months. Simultaneously, a continuum outburst occurred in which a new compact component appeared, with a GHz-peaked spectrum and a 5-GHz flux density that rose to a peak value of about 500 mJy from 2008.0 to 2012.0. Follow-up interferometric continuum images from theVery Large Array (VLA) at 10 GHz of this new continuum component determined it to be located at the nucleus of NGC 660. Subsequent High Sensitivity Array (HSA) line and continuum VLBI observations of the NGC 660 nucleus revealed a morphology that appears to be consistent with rapidly-precessing, mildly-relativistic jets from the central black hole. While requiring detailed modeling, this strongly suggests that the outburst is due to nuclear activity. From its time-scale, the shape of the continuum light-curve, and the milliarcsec radio structure, the most likely cause of the outburst is AGN-type activity of accretion of a gas cloud onto the central black hole.