Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
1998-12-08
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
22 pages including 10 tables, plus 11 figures. To appear in AJ
Scientific paper
10.1086/300787
We have observed nine QSOs with redshifts 0.85 to 4.16 at near-IR wavelengths with the adaptive optics bonnette of the Canada-France-Hawaii telescope. Exposure times ranged from 1500 to 24000s (mostly near 7000s) in J, H, or K bands, with pixels 0.035 arcsec on the sky. The FWHM of the co-added images at the location of the quasars are typically 0.16 arcsec. Including another QSO published previously, we find associated QSO structure in at least eight of ten objects, including the QSO at z = 4.16. The structures seen in all cases include long faint features which appear to be tidal tails. In four cases we have also resolved the QSO host galaxy, but find them to be smooth and symmetrical: future PSF removal may expand this result. Including one object previously reported, of the nine objects with more extended structure, five are radio-loud, and all but one of these appear to be in a dense small group of compact galaxy companions. The radio-quiet objects do not occupy the same dense environments, as seen in the NIR. In this small sample we do not find any apparent trends of these properties with redshift, over the range 0.8 < z < 2.4. The colors of the host galaxies and companions are consistent with young stellar populations at the QSO redshift. Our observations suggest that adaptive optic observations in the visible region will exhibit luminous signatures of the substantial star-formation activity that must be occurring.
Crampton David
Durand Daniel
Hutchings John B.
Morris Simon L.
Steinbring Eric
No associations
LandOfFree
QSO hosts and environments at z=0.9 to 4.2: JHK images with adaptive optics does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with QSO hosts and environments at z=0.9 to 4.2: JHK images with adaptive optics, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and QSO hosts and environments at z=0.9 to 4.2: JHK images with adaptive optics will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-309890