Resolution of a (z) = 1 QSO with adaptive optics

The Adaptive Optics Bonnette (AOB) of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope was used to obtain H-band and I-band images of the low-luminosity, optically selected quasar 1055.3+019 at z = 1.06. The FWHMs of stars were 0.11 arcsec in H and 0.3 arcsec in I during these observations, and the detectors used...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific 1998-04, Vol.110 (746), p.374-379
Main Authors: Hutchings, J B, Crampton, David, Morris, S L, Steinbring, E
Format: Article
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:The Adaptive Optics Bonnette (AOB) of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope was used to obtain H-band and I-band images of the low-luminosity, optically selected quasar 1055.3+019 at z = 1.06. The FWHMs of stars were 0.11 arcsec in H and 0.3 arcsec in I during these observations, and the detectors used had 0.034 arcsec pixels in H and 0.12 arcsec pixels in I. Procedures for determining the point-spread function are described. The QSO is clearly resolved in both wave bands, with significant extended flux within 0.1 arcsec of the nucleus. Overall, it appears to be elongated in the direction of a knot and a connecting feature extending about 1 arcsec northeast of the nucleus visible in the H-band image. There are no other evident close companions, but the host galaxy's hybrid luminosity profile and off-centered nucleus indicate recent tidal disturbance. The I-H colors of the host galaxy correspond to an unreddened stellar population that is currently star-forming, or is within a very short time of ending an initial starburst. The reddening must be small to match any models. (Author)
ISSN:0004-6280