Infrared and Optical Emission-line Diagnostics

TL;DR

This paper compares infrared and optical emission-line diagnostics in galaxies, proposing a new near-infrared classification method that simplifies observations while effectively identifying nuclear activity.

Contribution

It introduces a novel NIR diagnostic using Paβ EW and [Fe II]/Paβ ratio, aligning with standard classifications and reducing observational requirements.

Findings

Broad agreement between NIR and optical classifications.

New diagnostic correlates well with standard methods.

Efficient NIR-based classification reduces telescope time.

Abstract

We study a catalogue of over 130 emission-line galaxies with matched near infra-red (NIR) and optical spectra, where we examine the relationship between the respective nuclear activity classifications, diagnosed by the flux ratios of emission lines. We match the standard NIR classification with four different optical classifications. While there is a broad agreement between the two regimes, there are mismatches and overlaps caused either by aperture effects and/or NIR radiation penetrating obscuring dust and "seeing deeper" into the nuclear region, thus exposing AGN activity. We examine the relationship between the equivalent widths (EW) of H$\alpha$ and Pa$\beta$, as well as the ratios [N II]/H$\alpha$ vs. [Fe II]/Pa$\beta$, and find reasonable correlations. We thus propose a new diagnostic (EW of Pa$\beta$ with Fe - WPF) in the NIR (analogous to the WHaN classification), using the [Fe II]/Pa$\beta$ flux ratio and the EW of the Pa$\beta$ line. We show, within the limitations of the catalogue size, that the regions of the standard NIR diagram can be reasonably replicated in this new scheme. This diagnostic has the advantage that only one wavelength range needs to be observed, thus being economical with telescope time.