2,713 research outputs found
Cluster of galaxies around seven radio-loud QSOs at 1<z<1.6: K-band images
We have conducted a NIR study of the environments of seven radio-loud quasars
at redshifts 1<z<1.6. In present paper we describe deep band images
obtained for the fields of ~6X6 arcmin around the quasars with 3
limiting magnitudes of K~20.5. These fields were previously studied using deep
B and R band images (Sanchez & Gonzalez-Serrano 1999). Using together optical
and NIR data, it has been found a significant excess of galaxies which
optical-NIR colours, luminosity, spatial scale, and number of galaxies are
compatible with clusters at the redshift of the quasar.
We have selected a sample of cluster candidates analyzing the R-K vs. K
diagram. A ~25% of the candidates present red optical-NIR colours and an
ultraviolet excess. This population has been also found in clusters around
quasars at the same redshifts (Tanaka et al. 2000; Haines et al. 2001). These
galaxies seem to follow a mixed evolution: a main passive evolution plus late
starformation processes. The quasars do not inhabit the core of the clusters,
being found in the outer regions. This result agrees with the hypothesis that
the origin/feeding mechanism of the nuclear activity were merging processes.
The quasars inhabit the region were a collision is most probably to produce a
merger.Comment: 15 pages. A&A, accepted for publishin
Muscle ESTs II: Cloning, Sequencing, and Mapping the Pig Gene for the Intermediate Filament Protein Desmin
The results of sequencing large numbers of random cDNAs in the human genome project has clearly shown value in gene discovery and mapping. We previously demonstrated a simple approach to rapidly identify musclespecific pig cDNAs for sequencing by strong hybridization to muscle cDNA probes. In this report, we sequenced additional muscle cDNAs, emphasizing clones that were not strongly expressed in muscle. Fewer clones matched known muscle-specific genes in the pig or other species, indicating selection by hybridization is most accurate for strongly hybridizing clones showing weak signals with non-muscle probes. Some muscle-specific clones, however, also were identified by sequencing the weakly hybridizing class of cDNAs. One of these was M239, encoding muscle-specific desmin, which is an intermediate filament protein involved in holding muscle fibers together. As desmin may be an interesting candidate gene for muscle tenderness, the desmin gene (DES) was fully sequenced and mapped both physically and genetically. Pig desmin is highly conserved, being more than 97% identical at the amino acid level to human and mouse desmin. Linkage of DES was observed for three loci already mapped to pig chromosome 15 (SSC15), and physical mapping placed DES on SSC15q23-26. This mapping information will be useful in further studies on the role of DES in muscle biology and muscle tenderness traits
XMM-Newton and Deep Optical Observations of the OTELO fields: the Groth-Westphal Strip
OTELO (OSIRIS Tunable Emission Line Object Survey) will be carried out with
the OSIRIS instrument at the 10 m GTC telescope at La Palma, and is aimed to be
the deepest and richest survey of emission line objects to date. The deep
narrow-band optical data from OSIRIS will be complemented by means of
additional observations that include: (i) an exploratory broad-band survey that
is already being carried out in the optical domain, (ii) FIR and sub-mm
observations to be carried with the Herschel space telescope and the GTM, and
(iii) deep X-Ray observations from XMM-Newton and Chandra.Here we present a
preliminary analysis of public EPIC data of one of the OTELO targets,the
Groth-Westphal strip, gathered from the XMM-Newton Science Archive (XSA). EPIC
images are combined with optical BVRI data from our broadband survey carried
out with the 4.2m WHT at La Palma. Distance-independent diagnostics (involving
X/O ratio, hardness ratios, B/T ratio) are tested.Comment: 2 pages, 2 figures, uses graphicx package. To appear in proceedings
of "The X-Ray Universe 2005", San Lorenzo del Escorial, Spain, September
26-30, 200
Clean optical spectrum of the radio jet of 3C 120
We present integral field spectroscopy (IFS) of the central region of 3C 120.
We have modeled the nuclear and host galaxy 3D spectra using techniques
normally applied to imaging, decoupling both components, and obtained a
residual datacube. Using this residual datacube, we detected the extended
emission line region associated with the radio jet. We obtained, for the first
time, a clean spectrum of this region and found compelling evidences of a
jet-cloud interaction. The jet compresses and splits the gas cloud which is
ionized by the AGN and/or by the strong local UV photon field generated by a
shock process. We cannot confirm the detection of an extended emission line
region associated with the counter-jet reported by Axon (1989).Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publishing in Ap
Red quasars not so dusty
Webster et al (1995) claimed that up to 80% of QSOs may be obscured by dust.
They inferred the presence of this dust from the remarkably broad range of B-K
optical-infrared colours of a sample of flat-spectrum PKS radio QSOs. If such
dust is typical of QSOs, it will have rendered invisible most of those which
would otherwise been have detected by optical surveys. We used the William
Herschel Telescope on La Palma to obtain K infrared images of 54 B3 radio
quasars selected at low frequency (mainly steep-spectrum), and we find that
although several have very red optical-infrared colours, most of these can be
attributed to an excess of light in K rather than a dust-induced deficit in B.
We present evidence that some of the infrared excess comes from the light of
stars in the host galaxy (some, as previously suggested, comes from synchrotron
radiation associated with flat-spectrum radio sources). The B-K colours of the
B3 QSOs provide no evidence for a large reddened population. Either the Webster
et al QSOs are atypical in having such large extinctions, or their reddening is
not due to dust; either way, the broad range of their B-K colours does not
provide evidence that a large fraction of QSOs has been missed from optical
surveys.Comment: 16 pages TeX file + 2 PostScript figures. Accepted in MNRA
K-band imaging of 52 B3-VLA quasars: Nucleus and host properties
We present K-band imaging and photometry of a sample of 52 radio loud quasars
(RQs) selected from the B3 survey with flux densities above 0.5 Jy at 408 MHz.
The optical completeness of the sample is 90% and the quasars cover the
redshift range 0.4 - 2.3. For ~57% of the sources for which the quality of the
images allowed a detailed morphological study (16/28) resolved extended
emission was detected around the QSO, and its K flux was measured. Interpreting
this ``fuzz'' as starlight emission from the host galaxy, its location on the
K-z plane at z<1 is consistent with radio quasars being hosted by galaxies
similar to radio galaxies (RGs) or giant ellipticals (gEs). At higher redshifts
the detected host galaxies of RQs are more luminous than typical RGs and gEs,
although some weak detections or upper limits are consistent with a similar
fraction of RQs being hosted by galaxies with the expected luminosities for RGs
or gEs. We found a significant correlation between radio power and nuclear
infrared luminosity indicating a direct link between the radio synchrotron
emission and the nuclear emission in K. This correlation is more tight for the
steep-spectrum sources (99.97% significance). In addition, a trend is found
between radio power and infrared luminosity of the host galaxy (or mass), in
the sense that the most powerful quasars inhabit the most luminous galaxies.Comment: tar gzipped file including 1 LaTeX file, 4 latex tables, and 13
PostScript figures. Accepted in AJ (April 1998
Integral Field Spectroscopy of the Central Regions of 3C 120: Evidence of a Past Merging Event
IFS combined with HST WFPC imaging were used to characterize the central
regions of the Seyfert 1 radio galaxy 3C 120. We carried out the analysis of
the data, deriving intensity maps of different emission lines and the continua
at different wavelengths from the observed spectra. Applying a 2D modeling to
the HST images we decoupled the nucleus and the host galaxy, and analyzed the
host morphology. The host is a highly distorted bulge dominated galaxy, rich in
substructures. We developed a new technique to model the IFS data extending the
2D modeling. Using this technique we separated the Seyfert nucleus and the host
galaxy spectra, and derived a residual data cube with spectral and spatial
information of the different structures in 3C 120. Three continuum-dominated
structures (named A, B, and C) and other three extended emission line regions
(EELRs, named E1, E2 and E3) are found in 3C 120 which does not follow the
general behavior of a bulge dominated galaxy. We also found shells in the
central kpc that may be remnants of a past merging event in this galaxy. The
origin of E1 is most probably due to the interaction of the radio-jet of 3C 120
with the intergalactic medium. Structures A, B, and the shell at the southeast
of the nucleus seem to correspond to a larger morphological clumpy structure
that may be a tidal tail, consequence of the past merging event. We found a
bright EELR (E2) in the innermost part of this tidal tail, nearby the nucleus,
which shows a high ionization level. The kinematics of the E2 region and its
connection to the tidal tail suggest that the tail has channeled gas from the
outer regions to the center.Comment: 55 pages, 18 figures and 5 tables Accepted by AP
OSIRIS Software: The Mask Designer Tool
OSIRIS is a Day One instrument that will be available at the 10m GTC
telescope which is being built at La Palma observatory in the Canary Islands.
This optical instrument is designed to obtain wide-field narrow-band images
using tunable filters and to do low-resolution spectroscopy in both long-slit
and multislit modes. For the multislit spectroscopy mode, we have developed a
software to assist the observers to design focal plane masks. In this paper we
describe the characteristics of this Mask Designer tool. We discuss the main
design concepts, the functionality and particular features of the software.Comment: 6 figures; accepted for publication in Experimental Astronom
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