Optical emission in the radio lobes of radio galaxies

Journal Article · Thu Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/156157· OSTI ID:6668434

Saslaw, W C; Tyson, J A; Crane, P

We have found photographic and photometric evidence for optical emission in the radio lobes of 3C 285, 3C 265, and 3C 390.3. The optical luminosity of this emission lies between Bapprox.26 and Bapprox.22 mag arcsec/sup -2/. We discuss possible mechanisms of optical emission and their implications for models of radio galaxies. If the optical radiation arises from inverse Compton scattering of the blackbody background radiation, it provides a fairly direct method for measuring the magnetic fields in radio galaxies. For simple models, such fields would be below the equipartition value. If, on the other hand, the optical radiation is the visible extension of the radio synchrotron, it sets strong limits on the lifetimes of the relativistic electrons which must be regenerated in the extended source. We have examined several of the emission regions for optical polarization in order to help distinguish among these possiblities. These are all the radio galaxies which we have examined at the time of writing.

• Research Organization: University of Virginia; National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Charlottesville
• OSTI ID: 6668434
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 222:2; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BASIC INTERACTIONS
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
COMPTON EFFECT
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
ELASTIC SCATTERING
ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERACTIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
GALAXIES
INTERACTIONS
LEPTONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PHOTOMETRY
PLASMA
POLARIZATION
RADIATIONS
SCATTERING
SYNCHROTRON RADIATION
VISIBLE RADIATION