Quasars and active galactic nuclei in rich environments. II - The evolution of radio-loud quasars

Journal Article · Mon Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Astrophysical Journal; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/169869· OSTI ID:5469562

Ellingson, E; Yee, H K.C.; Green, R F ^[1]

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1. Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, Victoria (Canada) Toronto University (Canada) Kitt Peak National Observatory, Tucson, AZ (USA)

It is shown here that the environments of radio-loud quasars have a strong effect on the optical evolution of the quasars. Quasars in rich clusters of galaxies are found to fade at least four optical magnitudes between redshifts 0.65 and 0.3, corresponding to a statistical e-folding fading time of about 1.0 Gyr. This rapid decrease in quasar activity is about four times as fast as quasars in poor environments. Several physical mechanisms of this evolution are suggested, emphasizing dynamical evolution of the cluster core and evolution in the amount of gaseous fuel in the cluster environment. The environments of radio-loud and radio-quiet quasars are shown to be significantly different. Radio-quiet quasars are much less frequently situated in galaxy clusters as rich as Abell class I. This result is consistent with scenarios linking radio-loud quasars with elliptical host galaxies and radio-quiet quasars with spiral host galaxies. 49 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5469562
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (United States) Vol. 371; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CONFIGURATION
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
DISTRIBUTION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELLIPTICAL CONFIGURATION
ENVIRONMENT
GALACTIC EVOLUTION
GALAXIES
GALAXY CLUSTERS
GALAXY NUCLEI
LUMINOSITY
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
QUASARS
RADIATIONS
RADIO GALAXIES
RED SHIFT
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
SPIRAL CONFIGURATION
VISIBLE RADIATION