The structure of host galaxies of radio-loud quasars and possible triggering mechanisms for quasar activity

Journal Article · Thu Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/167469· OSTI ID:5643287

Romanishin, W; Hintzen, P ^[1]

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1. Arizona State Univ., Tempe (USA)

An image modeling program is used to analyze optical imaging data for a sample of radio-loud quasars with redshifts between 0.2 and 0.7. It is found that the host galaxies of these quasars tend to be more compact than normal ellipticals. The cooling flow cluster elliptical galaxies near these host galaxies are studied. It is suggested that these cooling flow galaxies are also compact due to star formation in their central regions. Two populations of quasars are identified. One, in which activity is triggered by galaxy mergers of interactions has predominately spiral galaxies and are radio quiet. The other, in which activity is triggered by star formation bursts induced by cooling flows, has predominately elliptical hosts and may be radio loud. 28 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5643287
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 341; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
640105 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BASIC INTERACTIONS
CHARGE-COUPLED DEVICES
CONFIGURATION
COOLING
COORDINATES
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
ELLIPTICAL CONFIGURATION
FLUID FLOW
GALAXIES
GALAXY NUCLEI
GAS FLOW
GRAVITATIONAL INTERACTIONS
IMAGES
INTERACTIONS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MORPHOLOGY
QUASARS
RED SHIFT
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SPIRAL CONFIGURATION
STAR EVOLUTION