The nature of the galaxy around 3C 48
1991; Institute of Physics; Volume: 102; Linguagem: Inglês
10.1086/115887
ISSN1538-3881
AutoresAlan Stockton, Susan E. Ridgway,
Tópico(s)History and Developments in Astronomy
ResumoWe present new images of the QSO 3C 48 in line-free bands centered at 0.58, 0.77, and 2.1 μm and in a narrowband centered on the [O III] λ 5007 line. Careful profile subtraction of the continuum images shows an apparent luminosity peak centered about l" northeast of the QSO position, which we tentatively identify as the nucleus of a galaxy in the process of merging with the host galaxy of 3C 48. The arclike structure extending to the northwest appears to be a tidal tail associated with the companion galaxy. While the confirmation that the host galaxy of 3C 48 is interacting is consistent with the inference that 3C 48 and similar objects are transitional between ultraluminous starburst galaxies and classical QSOs, an apparent correlation between far-infrared spectral properties and optical morphology suggests that the supposed "transitional" characteristics may persist for at least 10^8^ yr, so the place of objects like 3C 48 in an evolutionary scenario depends on the typical lifetime of QSO activity.
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