A resolved study of star-forming galaxies with and without GHz detections
Abstract: Using spatially resolved spectroscopy from the MaNGA survey, we show that star-forming galaxies with 1.4 GHz radio emission (RGSFs) systematically differ from their non-radio-detected counterparts (NRGSFs). We exclude multi-wavelength-selected AGN candidates and control for stellar mass, redshift, and 144 MHz luminosity (LOFAR). Combining empirical measurements with stellar population synthesis models, we analyze global and resolved properties using IFU and multi-wavelength data. Despite having very similar global and resolved star formation rates (SFRs), RGSFs exhibit enhanced ionized gas kinematics, increased central obscuration, and off-nuclear emission line ratios trending toward AGN-like values compared to NRGSFs, among further differences. These findings suggest that RGSFs hosts are more likely to have unresolved weak jets or weak shocks, which can influence increased gas kinematic perturbation as well as synchrotron emission. Using emission-line ratio diagnostics, we show that a scenario where the radio emission originates purely from star formation, such as an elevated population of supernova remnants at fixed SFR is unlikely to account for
these trends. Instead, we propose that the radio emission in RGSFs is more likely linked to cumulative relic AGN activity that has recently ceased. Our findings shed light on the episodic nature of AGN feedback and its lasting influence on the interstellar medium in star-forming galaxies.
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