On the Recent Discovery of Coronal [Fe x]λ6374 Emission in the Low-metallicity Dwarf Galaxy SDSS J0944-0038
E. C. Herenz, Genoveva Micheva, Peter M. Weilbacher, A. Monreal‐Ibero, Matthew Hayes, F. Anders, Th. Rivinius
Abstract
Abstract Coronal emission lines, especially the [Fe x ] λ 6374 line, are now being used as tracers for intermediate mass black holes (IMBHs) in low-mass galaxies. We show that the recent discovery of [Fe x ] λ 6374 emission in the metal-poor starburst SDSS J094401.87-003832.1 by Reefe et al. is, in fact, a misidentified line. The line interpreted as [Fe x ] λ 6374 is Si ii λ 6371. We caution that current and future campaigns hunting for IMBHs with the [Fe x ] λ 6374 line need to account for possible contamination by Si ii λ 6371 emission.
Topics & Concepts
AstrophysicsGalaxyLine (geometry)Emission spectrumPhysicsAstronomyMetallicitySpectral lineGeometryMathematicsAstrophysical Phenomena and ObservationsGalaxies: Formation, Evolution, PhenomenaGamma-ray bursts and supernovae