Radio and H-alpha images of the 'figure-8' radio nucleus of the interacting Seyfert galaxy NGC 2992

Synthesis observations at a wavelength of 6 cm of the nuclear region of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 2992 clarify the presence of a striking pair of loops which join at the nuclear point source, forming a 'figure-8'. The radio strands forming the loops are discussed in terms of two possible models: limb-brightened bubbles and magnetic arches. Noting that several examples of radio loops in galactic nuclei have been documented, the frequency of occurrence of galactic center loops is discussed and it is concluded that they may be relatively common. A larger-scale view of the nucleus of NGC 2992 based on a H-alpha image is presented. (Author)