[en] We report on imaging and spectroscopic observations of the radio-loud, highly polarized quasar PKS 1610-771 (z=1.71). Our long-slit spectroscopy of the companion 4.55" NW of the quasar confirms the stellar nature of this object, so ruling out the previously suspected gravitationally lensed nature of this system. PKS 1610-771 looks fuzzy on our sub-arcsecond R and I images and appears located in a rich environment of faint galaxies. Possible magnification, without image splitting of the quasar itself, by some of these maybe foreground galaxies cannot be excluded. The continuum fuzz (made of the closest two objects, viz. A and D) is elongated in a direction orthogonal to the E vector of the optical polarization, as in high-redshift radio-galaxies. The spectrum of PKS 1610-771 appears strongly curved, in a convex way, with a maximum of intensity at ~7,600Å (2,800AÅ rest frame), possibly indicating a strong ultraviolet absorption by dust.
Disciplines :
Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
Author, co-author :
Courbin, F.
Hutsemekers, Damien ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Astroph. extragalactique et observations spatiales (AEOS)
Meylan, G.
Magain, Pierre ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Astrophysique et traitement de l'image
Djorgovski, S. G.
Language :
English
Title :
Sub-arcsecond imaging and spectroscopy of the radio-loud highly polarized quasar PKS 1610-771.
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