CHANG-ES. XXIV. First Detection of a Radio Nuclear Ring and Potential LLAGN in NGC 5792

Abstract

Abstract We report the discoveries of a nuclear ring of diameter 10″ (∼1.5 kpc) and a potential low-luminosity active galactic nucleus (LLAGN) in the radio continuum emission map of the edge-on barred spiral galaxy NGC 5792. These discoveries are based on the Continuum Halos in Nearby Galaxies—an Expanded Very Large Array (VLA) Survey, as well as subsequent VLA observations of subarcsecond resolution. Using a mixture of Hα and 24 μm calibrations, we disentangle the thermal and nonthermal radio emission of the nuclear region and derive a star formation rate (SFR) of ∼0.4 M ☉ yr−1. We find that the nuclear ring is dominated by nonthermal synchrotron emission. The synchrotron-based SFR is about three times the mixture-based SFR. This result indicates that the nuclear ring underwent more intense star-forming activity in the past, and now its star formation is in the low state. The subarcsecond VLA images resolve six individual knots on the nuclear ring. The equipartition magnetic field strength B eq of the knots varies from 77 to 88 μG. The radio ring surrounds a point-like faint radio core of S 6 GHz = (16 ± 4) μJy with polarized lobes at the center of NGC 5792, which suggests an LLAGN with an Eddington ratio of ∼10−5. This radio nuclear ring is reminiscent of the Central Molecular Zone of the Galaxy. Both of them consist of a nuclear ring and LLAGN.