Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Feb 1995
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1995apj...439..588l&link_type=abstract
The Astrophysical Journal, Part 1 (ISSN 0004-637X), vol. 439, no. 2, p. 588-589
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
25
Active Galactic Nuclei, Elliptical Galaxies, Quasars, Red Shift, Spiral Galaxies, Brightness, Data Reduction, Hubble Diagram, Image Analysis, Infrared Imagery, Radio Astronomy
Scientific paper
We present new deep K-band and optical images of four radio-quiet QSOs at z approximately = 1 and six radio-quiet QSOs at z approximately = 2.5, as well as optical images only of six more at z approximately = 2.5. We have examined the images carefully for evidence of extended 'fuzz' from any putative QSO host galaxy. None of the z approximately = 2.5 QSOs shows any extended emission, and only two of the z approximately = 1 QSOs show marginal evidence for extended emission. Our 3 sigma detection limits in the K images, mK approximately = 21 for an isolated source, would correspond approximately to an unevolved Lstar elliptical galaxy at z = 2.5 or 2-3 mag fainter than an Lstar elliptical at z = 1, although our limits on host galaxy light are weaker than this due to the difficulty of separating galaxy light from QSO light. We simulate simple models of disk and elliptical host galaxies, and find that the marginal emission around the two z approximately = 1 QSOs can be explained by disks or bulges that are approximately 1-2 mag brighter than an unevolved Lstar galaxy in one case and approximately 1.5-2.5 mag brighter than Lstar in the other. For two other z approximately = 1 QSOs, we have only upper limits (L approximately = Lstar). The hosts of the high-redshift sample must be no brighter than about 3 mag above an unevolved Lstar galaxy, and are at least 1 magnitude fainter than the hosts of radio-loud QSOs at the same redshift. If the easily detected K-band light surrounding a previous sample of otherwise similar but radio-loud QSOs is starlight, then it must evolve on timescales of greater than or approximately equal to 108 yr (e.g., Chambers & Charlot 1990); therefore our non-detection of host galaxy fuzz around radio-quiet QSOs supports the view that high-redshift radio-quiet and radio-loud QSOs inhabit different host objects, rather than being single types of objects that turn their radio emission on and off over short timescales. This is consistent with the general trend at low redshifts that radio-loud QSOs are found in giant elliptical galaxies while radio-quiet QSOs are found in less luminous disk galaxies. It also suggests that the processes responsible for the spectacular properties of radio-loud AGNs at high redshifts might not be generally relevent to the (far more numerous) radio-quiet population.
Elias Johnathan H.
Heckman Timothy M.
Lehnert Matthew D.
Lowenthal James D.
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