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Evolution of radio galaxies to z = 1

We report Very Large Array (VLA) A-configuration studies of a sample of 49 radio galaxies at redshift less than 1. These were selected with no prior knowledge of their morphology and were chosen to match the redshift and luminosity distribution of a previously studied sample of radio-loud quasars. We compare the radio galaxies with the quasar sample and also with a sample of 29 radio galaxies selected for steep spectrum and double-lobe structure. We find that the radio galaxies have more luminous lobes and mostly weaker cores, and there is no population of one-sided sources associated with the galaxies. The radio galaxies' lobe length ratios and lobe power ratios differ from quasars. The overall sizes of the two types of sources are similar, but the radio galaxies have a 3 times larger upper envelope. The distribution of bend angles is similar but the radio galaxies have fewer very bent and straight sources. We discuss these and other comparisons in detail and suggest that while quasars appear to be viewed within a cone and radio galaxies outside it, the two types of source also have intrinsic differences, and both have individual growth and evolution scenarios. This is supported by previously observed differences in optical properties between the two source types.

Hutchings, J. B.

Deep Hubble Space Telescope imaging of a compact radio galaxy at z = 2.390

The radio galaxy with the highest redshift in the Leiden-Berkeley Deep Survey, 53W002, is described and examined in terms of UV profile in relation to an early-type galaxy. The HST WFC images have a resolution of 0.2 arcsec FWHM, and the I- and V-band structures are assessed. The source is elongated in a manner similar to the Ly alpha cloud in V, and the structure is highly compact in I. The present object with a young starburst has very high central UV surface brightnesses relative to nearby luminous early-type galaxies, while the light profiles are similar. The data are concluded to suggest that 53W002 is a young galaxy that has a regular light profile at z = 2.390 even though it has been forming stars since not more than about 0.5 Gyr before z = 2.390. Such a scenario is consistent with concurrent dynamical collapse and star formation in the compact radio galaxy.

Windhorst, Rogier

Radio continuum polarimetric imaging of high redshift radio galaxies

Multifrequency images of total and polarized radio continuum emission from the two high redshift radio galaxies 0902+343 (z = 3.40) and 0647+415 (4C 41.17, z = 3.80) are presented. These images represent the most sensitive polarimetric study of high redshift ratio galaxies to date. The emission from both galaxies is substantially polarized, up to 30% in some regions, and both sources sit behind deep 'Faraday screens,' producing large rotation measures, over 10(exp 3) rad/sq. m in magnitude, and large rotation measure gradients across the sources. Such large rotation measures provide further evidence that high redshift radio galaxies are situated in very dense environments. Drawing the analogy to a class of low redshift powerful radio galaxies with similarly large rotation measures, we suggest that 0902+343 and 0647+415 are situated at the centers of dense, x-ray 'colling flow' clusters, and that the cluster gas is substantially magnetized. The remarkable similarity between the optical and radio morphologies of 0647+415 on scales as small as 0.1 sec is presented. We consider, and reject, both synchrotron and inverse Compton radiation as possible sources of the optical emission. We also consider both scattering of light out of a 'cone' of radiation from an obscured nucleus, and jet-induced star formation, and find that both models encounter difficulties in explaining this remarkably close radio-optical alignment. High resolution spectral index images reveal compact, flat spectrum components in both sources. We suggest that these components are the active nuclei of the galaxies. Lastly, high resolution images of 0902+343 show that the southernmost component forms a 'ring' of 0.2 sec radius. We discuss the possibility that this ring is the result of gravitational lensing, along the lines proposed by Kochanek & Lawrence (1990).

Carilli, C. L.

The ultraviolet spectra of nearby radio galaxies

New and archival IUE SWP spectra are reported for nine nearby radio galaxies (V is less than 15 mag), together with optical emissionlike data for these galaxies as well as a number of candidates with weaker line emission. Both their UV line and continuum properties, as well as their UV and UV-optical line ratios, are examined. Ly-alpha emission is found to be common among local radio galaxies, at modest luminosities (typically 10 exp 41-42 erg/s). No apparent relation is found between L(Ly-alpha) and radio power for the nearby radio galaxies alone. The Ly-alpha/H-alpha ratio in low power nearby radio galaxies is 2-5 times lower than the prediction for case B recombination. The destruction of Ly-alpha photons by grains during resonant scattering can explain the observed deficiency for reasonable metallicities. The nearby radio galaxies have in general a small C IV/Ly-alpha ratio (less than 0.1). Comparison of the C IV and Ly-alpha strengths with those in luminous AGN suggests that most of the UV continuum comes from the stellar population, and not from the AGN.

Keel, William C.

A study of the x ray environment of radio galaxies

We are currently working on a program to use extensive x-ray and radio databases to investigate the relationship between extended radio emission and environment in clusters of galaxies. The radio galaxy morphology is determined using VLA imaging and the x-ray properties are determined from Einstein IPC images. This study is motivated by the hypothesis that the key to understanding radio galaxies lies in the local environment. To test this hypothesis we have studied the detailed relationship between galaxy radio emission and the x-ray morphology of their parent clusters. In this pilot study we have used 35 radio sources found in 27 clusters. We have determined the position angle of the x-ray and radio emission, and x-ray and radio luminosities. The x-ray position was taken to be the position of peak flux of the subclump containing the radio galaxy. The radio position was taken to be the position of the galaxy. We do not find a correlation between the x-ray and radio source position angle. This remains true when the sample is divided into subsamples according to radio morphology (wide angle tail, twin jet, narrow angle tail galaxies). We find a weak correlation between the radio source luminosity and the x-ray luminosity. We have computed the distance from the radio galaxy position to the center of the x-ray clump. We find a mean distance from the x-ray clump center of 0.16 Mpc for the radio galaxies in this sample. The mean distance to the nearest clump of x-ray emission is typically half the distance to the optical cluster center. We thus find strong evidence that radio galaxies are located very close to clumps of x-ray emission. These subclumps are not always affiliated with the central cluster x-ray emission. This supports our hypothesis that x-ray emission may provide a key to understanding radio galaxy morphology. We find evidence that radio galaxies occur in clusters that contain prominent substructures. Radio galaxies may thus provide an added diagnostic of the cluster dynamical state.

Rhee, George F.

Energy distributions of radio galaxies

Far-infrared observations of 140 radio galaxies which span a range of over four orders of magnitude in radio power, (from weak nuclear sources in nearby galaxies, to powerful FR II doubled lobed sources at moderate redshift) are presented. The strength of the far-infrared emission is more closely correlated with core than total radio emission. Far-infrared emission in radio galaxies represents star formation that is more closely tied to the active nucleus than to the global properties of the galaxy. The far-infrared luminosity function shows good continuity between radio galaxies and radio loud quasars.

Impey, Chris

Search for inverse Compton x-rays from the lobes of Fornax A x-rays from radio galaxies straddling the Fanaroff-Riley transition

Two related studies of radio galaxies are covered in this report. The first is a search for inverse Compton x-rays from the lobes of Fornax A. In this study, a ROSAT position sensitive proportional counter image of Fornax A (NGC 1316) is presented, and after image processing, it was observed that the x-ray emission closely mimicked the radio emission. A second study involved x-rays from radio galaxies straddling the Fanaroff-Riley transition which divides radio galaxies into two broad morphological groups based on whether the lobe radio power is greater or less than a critical value. ROSAT HRI observations were obtained from four bright radio galaxies around the transition to search for x-ray indications of either nuclear engine or ambient medium differences.

Feigelson, Eric D.

High-velocity gas in the jet in the radio galaxy DA 240

Spectrograms of the radio galaxy identified with the source DA 240, obtained with the Kitt Peak 4-m telescope and Ritchey-Chretien spectrograph, reveal the presence of ionized gas in the jet discovered earlier. This gas has a large negative velocity displacement of 3400 km/s relative to the center of the galaxy. This is further evidence for the ejection of gas in a violent event in the nucleus of a radio galaxy. The velocity gradient in this gas is less than about 50 km/s over 14 kpc.

Burbidge, E. M.

Redshifts of twenty radio galaxies.

Spectroscopic observations and redshifts of 20 radio galaxies obtained with the Lick 120-inch telescope are presented. Ten of the radio galaxies are from the 3C R catalog, and the remainder are from the 4C, 5C, Ohio, and Parkes catalogs. The reported results represent a continuation of Burbidge's (1970) previously published data.

Burbidge, E. M.

The infrared properties of quasars and radio galaxies - Testing the unification schemes

The IRAS data base is used to compare the mid-FIR properties of two classes of radio-loud AGN whose LF radio emission arises in large-scale radio lobes. The two primary samples consist of 42 quasars and 75 narrow-line radio galaxies selected on the basis of their 178 MHz radio flux density from the 3 CR catalog and having redshifts of not less than 0.3 and Galactic latitudes of not less than 20 deg. The mid-FIR emission was found to be about four times stronger on average in the quasars than in the radio galaxies. Even though the radio galaxies are systematically weaker mid-FIR sources than the quasars, they are still exceptionally luminous (about 10 exp 12 solar luminosities) in the mid-FIR. These powerful radio galaxies contain potent sources of radiation that are either hidden or energetically unimportant at shorter wavelengths.

Heckman, Timothy M.

IRAS observations of radio galaxies

IRAS measurements at 25, 60, and 100 microns have been used to analyze the far-infrared properties of radio galaxies. Fifty-eight of the 131 objects surveyed were detected at the level of better than 300 mJy at 60 microns. The most powerful radio galaxies are strong emitters in the far infrared. Large infrared emission is shown to be correlated with the presence of strong emission lines in the optical spectra. The infrared colors of the strong radio galaxies are similar to those of Markarian Seyferts. The results are shown to be consistent with recent results implying that the host galaxies of radio sources are not normal giant ellipticals and that galaxy-galaxy interactions may power luminous radio sources. Finally, some similarities between powerful radio galaxies and powerful infrared galaxies are noted and briefly discussed.

Golombek, D.

Redshift and luminosity dependence of the linear sizes of powerful radio galaxies

The redshift and luminosity dependence of the linear sizes of powerful radio galaxies on epoch is investigated using samples of similar radio luminosity extending to z larger than about one. It is found that a strong evolution in linear sizes with epoch of a given form is required for q0 = 1/2. Fairly strong evolution is required even if the steep-spectrum compact sources which make an increasing contribution with redshift are excluded from the analysis. When linear size distributions of samples of radio galaxies of different luminosities are compared at similar redshifts, it is found that, at constant redshift, linear sizes increase with luminosity in a given way. Strong evidence is found that, for radio galaxies, the epoch and luminosity dependence of linear sizes can be factorized over the entire range of luminosity and redshift space.

Kapahi, Vijay K.

VLBI observations of the nucleus of the radio galaxy Cygnus A

The central component of the radio galaxy Cygnus A has been observed in several (very long baseline interferometry) experiments between 1975 and 1979, and the results have been combined to derive a model for the brightness distribution. Some 65% of the nuclear emission appears to come from a compact core. The remaining flux density comes from a more extended region (or regions) up to 4 or 5 mas away lying along a position angle near 100 deg, which is close to that of the extended lobes. Evidence that compact central components reflect the collimation and transport of energy to the outer lobes of radio galaxies is discussed, and several interpretations of the observed asymmetries are considered.

Kellermann, K. I.

5-GHz observations of cores in extended radio galaxies

Results are presented from a search for radio cores at 5 GHz with the VLA in 18 moderately luminous radio galaxies from the second Bologna catalogue. Maps of several of the ten detected cores indicate structure on arcsecond scales in addition to the unresolved central source. Higher-resolution, multifrequency observations are very desirable in future studies of such cores. A statistical study of these and previously observed samples of radio galaxies was then performed. It was found that the radio core luminosity is much stronger in galaxies that are optically bright than faint, and that strong cores tend to occur only in galaxies with luminous extended sources while weak cores can occur in all ranges of extended source luminosity.

Ulrich, M.-H.

Distant radio galaxies in the near IR

We are carrying out a program of near IR imaging and spectroscopy of radio galaxies with redshifts of 1.5 and greater. One of its principal goals is to constrain the ages and star formation histories of massive galaxies at early epochs. The radio galaxies are drawn from the survey of 1Jy class sources by McCarthy et al (1989) and McCarthy (1990). The sample contains 18 radio galaxies with redshifts greater than 2 and an additional 10 objects with 1.5 less than z less than 2.0. The redshifts were obtained from long slit spectra with the CTIO 4 m. While the galaxies are quite faint (r approximately = 21-24.5) all have Lyman alpha emission with rest frame equivalent widths of 100 - 1000 A. Multicolor photometry in the g,r,i and J,H,K bands has been obtained with the 2.5-m Du Pont Telescope on Las Campanas and with the Hale 5 m telescope at Palomar. We have recently obtained near IR spectra, using the 4 m telescopes at KPNO and CTIO, of a few objects with the goal of determining the Lyman alpha/H-alpha ratio and hence the reddening.

Mccarthy, P. J.

Connection Between X-Ray Emission and Relativistic Jets in the Radio Galaxies 3C 111 and 3C 120

This work represents a part of a longterm study of the X-ray flux variability in radio galaxies and its relation to flux and structural changes in the associated radio jet. The work described here included: 1) continued study of the emission properties of the FR I radio galaxy 3C 120 known to exhibit a jet/disk connection from our past work; and 2) the commencement of monitoring of a second radio galaxy, the FR I1 object 3C 111 which was selected because of similar radio and X-ray properties to 3C 120, including the presence of Fe K a emission. The association between X-ray dips and new superluminal components, suggesting a picture in which the radio jet is fed by accretion events near the black hole, was identified in 3C 120 using combined RXTE and radio flux monitoring data and bi-monthly to monthly imaging data from the VLBA at 43 GHz. Such data were also obtained for both targets during the period described here. Specific goals were to more broadly investigate the X-ray dip/superluminal connection in 3C 120, thereby determining the epochs of X-ray minima and superluminal ejections more accurately (and hence more precisely determining the distance between the accretion disk and the core of the radio jet), and to determine whether a similar pattern is present in the data for a second radio galaxy. In 3C 111 a different time scale (longer time delays between X-ray dips and superluminal ejections) was expected due to the higher black hole mass implied by its higher radio luminosity: no black hole mass is published for this object but one can be determined from a PDS analysis of the RXTE data. The addition of the second source to the study would identify whether a similar connection was present in other sources and, if found, would provide important information on how time scale (and hence size scale) of accretion disk/jet systems depends on black hole mass. The grant included funding for the reduction and analysis of data obtained during the time period of Rossi XTE cycle 9. During this time window, the project was awarded 2 RXTE pointings weekly for 3C 111 and 4 pointing weekly for 3C 120, excluding time when the target was too close to the sun for observation. T

Aller, Margo F.