Radio Properties of Early-Type Galaxies with Dust Lanes

Abstract

Radio and CCD images of early type galaxies with dust lanes have been analyzed in order to investigate the characteristics of the radio emission and to explore possible dependance on properties at different wavelengths. In the majority of cases the radio structures are small and weak (linear sizes in the range 2 – 10 kpc and radio powers in the range 5xl0²⁰— 5 xlO²¹ Watt/Hz). The sample is too small in order to reach firm conclusions, but the lack of radio sources in early type galaxies with dust lanes along the galaxy minor axis seems to suggest that the accretion of material does not reach the conditions necessary to trigger a nuclear activity. Preliminary results showed that in a minority of cases (the most powerful radio sources) radio emission originates in the associated galactic nuclei, in which a massive black hole harbours. On the contrary, in the less powerful among our radio galaxies, sources originating from stellar phenomena may play an important role.