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NASA NTRS1986

The statistics of gravitational lenses. III - Astrophysical consequences of quasar lensing

The method of Schmidt and Green (1983) for calculating the luminosity function of quasars is combined with gravitational-lensing theory to compute expected properties of lensed systems. Multiple quasar images produced by galaxies are of order 0.001 of the observed quasars, with the numbers over the whole sky calculated to be (0.86, 120, 1600) to limiting B magnitudes of (16, 19, 22). The amount of 'false evolution' is small except for an interesting subset of apparently bright, large-redshift objects for which minilensing by starlike objects may be important. Some of the BL Lac objects may be in this category, with the galaxy identified as the parent object really a foreground object within which stars have lensed a background optically violent variable quasar.

Ostriker, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Spectroscopic CCD surveys for quasars at large redshift. I - A deep PFUEI survey

A survey for faint quasars has been conducted using slitless spectroscopy with the PFUEI at the 200 inch (5 m) telescope. The survey covers a total of 0.91 sq deg in 113 fields at galactic latitudes above 30 deg. Calibrated spectra in the range 4500-7200 A were obtained for more than 9000 objects. Emission-line candidates were selected on the basis of two criteria: the equivalent width must exceed 50 A, and the signal-to-noise ratio of the detection of the line versus the sky background should be larger than 7. Among 45 candidates so selected, subsequent slit spectroscopy confirmed 27 emission-line objects. Among these, 17 are emission-line galaxies with redshifts in the range 0.04-0.31, and 10 are quasars with redshifts between 0.91 and 2.66. The well-defined selection criteria for these objects, together with the distribution of rest frame equivalent widths of the emission lines, allow derivation of the area of sky covered as a function of the continuum limiting magnitude. The observed number of quasars in the redshift range 0.7-2.7 agrees well with that predicted by the luminosity function models published by Schmidt and Green in 1983. It is concluded that quasars with an absolute magnitude of M(B) = -25 suffer a redshift cutoff near or below a redshift of 3.

Schmidt, M.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Detection of a 'rotating' gas cloud 100 kiloparsecs in diameter surrounding 3C 275.1, a quasar at the center of a rich cluster of galaxies

The distorted radio quasar 3C 275.1 (z = 0.55) is the first QSO found to lie at the center of a rich cluster of galaxies. The quasar is surrounded by an extremely large elliptical nebulosity whose major axis exceeds 100 kpc. Spectroscopic observations of this nebulosity were obtained, with the spectrograph slit aligned along the nebulosity's major axis. The spectrum of the nebulosity in the visible is dominated by O II and O III forbidden emission lines, which yield a well-defined 'solid-body rotation curve' extending 40 kpc from the quasar nucleus, a rotation curve very different from those of normal spiral galaxies. The 3C 275.1 nebulosity is both the largest yet discovered around a quasar and the first in which organized large-scale motions (rotation?) have been identified. The nebulosity may be residue from multiple tidal interactions with cluster members, or it may be accumulated material from a 'cooling flow' of the type seen in low-redshift clusters which are X-ray sources.

Hintzen, P.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Far-infrared properties of optically selected quasars

The far-infrared properties of 10, optically selected quasars were studied on the basis of pointed IRAS observations and ground-based near-infrared and radio measurements. Nine of these quasars were detected in at least three IRAS bands. The flat spectral energy distributions characterizing these optically selected quasars together with large 60-100-micron luminosities suggest that the infrared emission is dominated by nonthermal radiation. Seven of the nine quasars with far-infrared detections were found to have low-frequency turnovers.

Edelson, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Spectroscopic CCD surveys for quasars at large redshift. II - A Pfuei transit survey

A CCD transit survey has been carried out with the 200 in. telescope of a strip of sky 5 arcmin wide and 9 hr long. Direct images and slitless spectra of over 43,000 objects were obtained on two successive nights. An automatic search for emission lines of given minimum equivalent width and signal-to-noise ratio yielded 52 candidate sources. Slit spectra revealed that 24 were emission-line galaxies with z less than 0.4 and eight were quasars with 2 between 1.00 and 2.76. The number of quasars detect agrees with that predicted from luminosity function models for z less than 2.9. The models also indicate that between 30 and 62 quasars with z less than 2.9 should have been found in this survey, but none were detected. This result reconfirms that there is a redshift cutoff near or below redshift three. The apparent conflict of this measurement with the known existence of dozens of quasars with redshifts larger than three is discussed.

Schmidt, Maarten↗
NASA NTRS1986

Direct imaging of the extremely large host galaxy and gas cloud surrounding the quasar 3C275.1

Direct CCD images of the field of the quasar 3C275.1 have been obtained using v, r, and redshifted forbidden O II filters to study the ionized gas cloud surrounding the quasar and to determine the gross characteristics of the quasar host galaxy. The images show an elliptical substrate containing several bright knots and indicate that the host galaxy is extremely large and luminous. The host galaxy's luminosity, dimensions, and position at the cluster center suggest that it may be a cD or 'proto-cD'. The nebulosity may be accreting matter from a 'cooling flow' of the intracluster medium. Alternatively, the quasar and the surrounding galaxy and gas cloud may be the result of repeated galaxy collisions.

Hintzen, Paul↗
NASA NTRS1986

X-ray studies of Seyfert galaxies and quasars

Einstein X-ray observations of optically selected radio-quiet quasars are presented (summarizing the report of Kriss and Canizares, 1985) and analyzed along with published data. The data set comprises 77 quasars (including nine new high-red-shift quasars) and Seyferts and 101 upper limits. The ratio of X-ray to optical luminosity in the quasars is found to decrease as optical luminosity increases and to depend only weakly on red shift, and statistical discrepancies between the optically selected sample and the X-ray-selected Medium Sensitivity Survey (Gioia et al., 1984) are discussed. Also included are analyses of X-ray spectra and short-timescale variability for 64 Seyfert galaxies: variability is detected in IIIZw2, Mkn 766, and Mkn 78.

Canizares, Claude R.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Quasar ionization of Lyman-alpha clouds - The proximity effect, a probe of the ultraviolet background at high redshift

The distribution of lines in the Ly-alpha forests in quasar spectra is examined using spectral data from 19 quasars with emission lines redshifts z sub Q ranging from 1.7 to 3.8. The number density of Ly-alpha lines generally increases with resdhift z, but there exists a countervailing trend of diminishing number density within individual quasar spectra as z tends to z sub Q. Evidence is presented that this countervailing trend is due to enhanced ionization of Ly-alpha clouds by the bright nearby quasars in whose spectra they are observed. It is suggested that this proximity effect should be used as a powerful tool to measure locally the ionizing flux emitted by high-redshift objects.

Bajtlik, Stanislaw↗
NASA NTRS1988

The covering factor of quasar broad absorption line clouds

Two different interpretations of the phenomenon of broad absorption line (BAL) QSOs are presented and a resolution is suggested. One interpretation is that the BAL clouds cover most of the sky as viewed from the quasar; this implies that BALQSOs are an usual subset of the general class of QSOs. The other interpretation suggests that the BAL clouds cover about 10 percent of the sky as viewed from the quasar; thus, most, if not all, quasars have BAL clouds. It is argued that neither extreme is correct, and that quasars have a range of BAL covering factors. An analysis is presented of emission-line strengths in BALQSOs relative to those of non-BALQSOs.

Morris, Simon L.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Models of the quasar population. II - The effects of dust obscuration

A model for dust obscuration is proposed to account for the apparent lack of high-redshift quasars which are assumed to be obscured by dust in intervening galaxies. The distribution function for the optical depth as a function of redshift is constructed and used to determine the expected properties of quasars. The apparent magnitude distribution at three points is used to fit the model. Optical results are given for the comoving number density, redshift distribution, and mean color excess. If the theory is correct, evidence for dust may be seen in quasar spectra and a correlation between quasar continuum slopes and strength of metal line absorption systems should be observed.

Heisler, Julia↗
NASA NTRS1989

The near-infrared variability of a sample of optically selected quasars

A complete sample of 108 optically selected quasars, the Palomar-Green quasars, has been studied at near-infrared wavelengths over an average time base of about 6 yr; in some cases the time base extends to 20 yr. The measurements show that about half the quasars have a high probability of having varied, but that half show little evidence of variability, in sharp contrast to published studies indicating that most quasars vary on comparable timescales at optical wavelengths. The maximum amplitude of variation is less than 1 mag and generally near 0.5 mag.

Neugebauer, G.↗
NASA NTRS1989

PC 1158 + 4635 - An optically selected quasar with a redshift of 4.73

Photometric and spectroscopic observations of PC 1158 + 4635, a quasar with a redshift of 4.73, are presented. This object was discovered by the detection of its Ly-alpha emission line in a low-resolution CCD grism survey. The apparent magnitude of the quasar is r = 20.2; its absolute magnitude is similar to that of 3C 273 (for q0 = 0.5). The spectrum of PC 1158 + 4635 reveals prominent emission lines of Ly-alpha and C IV and a sharp, approximately one magnitude drop in the continuum level across the Ly-alpha emission line (features seen in most greater than 4 quasars). The redshift-continuum depression relation for quasars requires a dramatic change in the 'Lymann alpha clouds' (either in number or intrinsic properties) at a redshift of about 3.5 or else the presence of a new source that is responsible for the majority of the absorption at redshifts obove four.

Schneider, Donald P.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Are high-redshift quasars hidden by dusty galaxies?

A Monte Carlo technique has been developed to compute the joint probability distribution for the reddening and extinction of quasars by galaxies along the line of sight with a realistic dust extinction curve including the 220 nm feature. Galaxies are treated as disks with random inclinations, having exponential or modified Gaussian radial profiles. This technique is used to find the distribution of the reddened quasars on multicolor diagrams such as the (U-J, J-F) plots used by Koo and Kron (1982) to find faint quasars. The multicolor search technique is not a simple UV excess approach, and the resulting color selection does not add significantly to the flux selection discussed by Wright (1981), Ostriker and Heisler (1984), and Heisler and Ostriker (1988). The quasar reddening trend observed by Wright and Malkan (1987) is about 0.35 + or - 0.50 times the mean reddening of the selected sample predicted by the Heisler and Ostriker model.

Wright, Edward L.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Evolution of radio quasars from redshift 0.6-3.7

This paper presents the results of VLA radio imaging of 58 radio-loud quasars with redshift 2.0 or higher, which fill the redshift-luminosity plane as evenly as possible. This work completes a survey of about 250 quasars covering redshifts from 0.6-3.7, which attempts to sample luminosity and look-back time in a uniform way. Within the constraints of possible selection effects it is found that the relative population of extended and unresolved sources changes with redshift in a way that suggests that radio quasars may live longer and spend more time as large triple sources in the present epoch than in the earlier universe. There appear to be few low-luminosity radio quasars at high redshift. Ejection of material appears to occur on one side at a time, with usually at least one reversal of direction in the source lifetime. The velocity of ejection appears to be mildly relativistic at high redshift, but of lower velocity in the present epoch. There is also evidence suggestive of changes in the IGM with cosmic time; however, the data presented do not show the minimum in density at z about 2 that has been suggested for cluster environments.

Neff, S. G.↗
NASA NTRS1991

A rapid energetic X-ray flare in the quasar PKS0558 - 504

A recent observation from the Ginga satellite of the quasar PKS0558 - 504 is reported during which the X-ray flux increased by 67 percent in the space of only three minutes. There was no significant change in the spectrum. Comprehensive analysis of the data strongly indicates that this was a genuine X-ray flare originating in the quasar. The implied rate of change in luminosity in the 2-10 keV range, assuming a Hubble constant of 70 km/s/Mpc, and a cosmological deceleration parameter q0 = 0.5, is 3.2 x 10 to the 42nd erg/sq s, the highest value measured for a quasar. When photon scattering is considered, this is about 16 times greater than could be produced, with a three-minute rise time, in an isotropically emitting plasma. It is argued that the apparent luminosity must be enhanced by relativistic beaming. This is the first indication of beaming in an 'ordinary' unpolarized quasar.

Remillard, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Three-epoch VLBI observations of the nucleus in the lobe-dominated quasar 3C 334

VLBI observations at three epochs spanning 7 yr. reveals possible superluminal motion of the nucleus of the lobe-dominated quasar 3C 334. This is the third lobe-dominated quasar confirmed or suspected to be superluminal in a complete, flux density-limited sample of these objects, and the sixth including other surveys. The result continues the trend for lobe-dominated quasars to have lower superluminal speeds than core-dominated quasars, and coupled with other radio properties that are indicators of source orientation, it is consistent with the simple relativistic beaming model in a randomly oriented sample.

Hough, D. H.↗
NASA NTRS1993

A faint field-galaxy redshift survey in quasar fields

Quasars serve as excellent markers for the identification of high-redshift galaxies and galaxy clusters. In past surveys, nearly 20 clusters of Abell richness class 1 or richer associated with quasars in the redshift range 0.2 less than z less than 0.8 were identified. In order to study these galaxy clusters in detail, a major redshift survey of faint galaxies in these fields using the CFHT LAMA/MARLIN multi-object spectroscopy system was carried out. An equally important product in such a survey is the redshifts of the field galaxies not associated with the quasars. Some preliminary results on field galaxies from an interim set of data from our redshift survey in quasar fields are presented.

Yee, Howard K. C.↗
NASA NTRS1993

The Hubble Space Telescope Snapshot Survey. III - Further observations in search of gravitationally lensed quasars

We present new HST Snapshot Survey observations of 163 high-luminosity z greater than 1 quasars, bringing the total number observed to date in the survey to 347 quasars. Each exposure was searched for evidence on gravitational lensing. Among the newly observed quasars, six have additional point sources at separations of 2-6 arcsec, but in all six cases ground-based data indicate that gravitational lensing is not involved. No point sources were found at smaller separations. Counting the one new lens candidate the survey has uncovered and the known lenses excluded from the sample, the observed frequency of lensing of quasars by galaxies is 5/351. This frequency is in the range predicted by models with a vanishing cosmological constant, but an order of magnitude lower than expected in models strongly dominated by a cosmological constant.

Maoz, D.↗