The evolution of radio loud quasar host galaxies: AO observations at z ˜ 3

Falomo, R.; Kotilainen, J. K.; Scarpa, R.; Treves, A.; Uslenghi, M.
Bibliographical reference

New Astronomy Reviews, Volume 50, Issue 9-10, p. 732-735.

Advertised on:
11
2006
Number of authors
5
IAC number of authors
0
Citations
1
Refereed citations
0
Description
We report on ESO VLT adaptive optics imaging of one radio-loud quasar at z ˜ 3. In spite of the large distance of the object we are able to detect its surrounding extended nebulosity the properties of which are consistent with an underlying massive galaxy of MK ˜ -27 and effective radius Re = 7 kpc. As far as we know this is the clearest detection of a radio loud quasar host at high redshift. The host luminosity is indicative of the existence of massive spheroids even at this early cosmic epoch. The host luminosity is about 1 magnitude fainter than the expected value based on the average trend of the host galaxies of RLQ at lower redshift. The result, which however is based on a single object, suggests that at z ˜ 3 there is a deviation from a luminosity redshift dependence regulated only by passive evolution.
Type