We present a new likely detection of extragalactic Anomalous Microwave Emission (AME) in a discrete, compact region (NGC 4725 B) ~1.9kpc from the nucleus of NGC 4725. Based on detections at 3, 15, 22, 33, and 44 GHz, NGC 4725 B is a uJy radio source peaking at 33 GHz. While the source is not identified in BVRI photometry, we detect counterparts in the mid-infrared IRAC bands (3.6, 4.5, 5.8, 8.0 um) that appear to be associated with dust emission in the central region of NGC 4725. Consequently, we conclude that NGC 4725 B is a new detection of AME, and very similar to a recent detection of AME in an outer-disk star- forming region in NGC 6946. We find that models of electric dipole emission from rapidly rotating ultra-small grains are able to reproduce the radio spectrum for reasonable interstellar medium conditions. Given the lack of an optical counterpart and the shape of the radio spectrum, NGC 4725 B appears consistent with a nascent star-forming region in which young (<3 Myr) massive stars are still highly enshrouded by their natal cocoons of gas and dust with insufficient supernovae occurring to produce a measurable amount of synchrotron emission. Next-generation facilities are critically needed to improve our highly incomplete understanding of the physical mechanism and conditions powering AME.
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Dr. Eric J. Murphy Office : 336
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ngVLA Project Scientist Fax : (434)-296-0278
National Radio Astronomy Observatory Email : emurphy@nrao.edu<mailto:emurphy@nrao.edu>
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