Compact companions to QSOs

Journal Article · Tue Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/159959· OSTI ID:6865641

Stockton, A

Three cases of nearly stellar objects found at small angular separations from low-redshifts QSOs are discussed. New spectra from two of these, together with previous results for the third, show that all three have redshifts within 200 km s/sup -1/ of those of their respective QSOs and that the one near PKS 2135--147 almost merits being called a QSO in its own right. It is argued (1) that the actual separations of these compact objects from the QSOs are of the same order as the projected separations, i.e., a few kpc, (2) that similar compact objects may well exist in the neighborhoods of a significant fraction (approx.20%) of a low-redshift QSOs, and (3) that the presence of these close companions is related to the QSO activity. A plausible, self-consistent case can be made for regarding such objects as remnant cores of galaxies that have interacted with the galaxies in which the QSOs reside and for supposing that the QSO activity results from fresh material being brought into the nuclei of these galaxies during the interaction. Some of the consequences of this picture are briefly discussed.

• Research Organization: Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii
• OSTI ID: 6865641
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 257:1; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640103* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Quasi-Stellar
Radio
& X-Ray Sources-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
EMISSION SPECTRA
JETS
NEBULAE
QUASARS
RED SHIFT
SPECTRA
VISIBLE SPECTRA