MILLIMETER INTERFEROMETRIC INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ENERGY SOURCES OF THREE ULTRALUMINOUS INFRARED GALAXIES, UGC 5101, MARKARIAN 273, AND IRAS 17208-0014, BASED ON HCN-TO-HCO+ RATIOS

We present interferometric observations of three ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs; UGC 5101, Mrk 273, and IRAS 17208-0014) in the 3 mm wavelength range, using the Nobeyama Millimeter Array. Both the HCN (J = 1–0) and HCO+ (J = 1–0) molecular lines were observed simultaneously. HCN emission was clearly detected at the nuclear positions of these ULIRGs, and HCO+ emission was detected at the nuclear positions of UGC 5101 and IRAS 172080014. The HCN-to-HCO+ brightness-temperature ratios toward the nuclei of the three ULIRGs were derived and compared with those of lower luminosity galaxies known to be dominated by active galactic nuclei (AGNs) or starbursts. In UGC 5101 and Mrk 273, where there is evidence for obscured AGNs from previous observations at other wavelengths, we found high HCN/HCO+ ratios (>1.8) that are in the range found for AGN-dominated galaxies. In IRAS 17208-0014, where the presence of a powerful obscured AGN has been unclear, the ratio (~1.7) is between the observed values for starburst- and AGN-dominated galaxies. The high HCN/HCO+ brightness-temperature ratios in UGC 5101 and Mrk 273 could be the consequence of an HCN abundance enhancement, which is expected from chemical effects of the central X-ray-emitting AGN on the surrounding dense molecular gas. Our proposed millimeter interferometric method based on HCN/HCO+ ratios may be an effective tool for unveiling elusive buried AGNs at the cores of ULIRGs, especially because of the negligible dust extinction at these wavelengths