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Hutchings, J. B.

Publications and source records attributed to Hutchings, J. B..

At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1992

Evolution of luminous IRAS sources - Radio imaging

Observations of the compact radio morphology of 111 luminous IRAS-selected active galaxies covering a wide range of IR and optical properties are presented and discussed. Of these sources, 72 are observed for the first time with the VLA A configuration. The circumnuclear radio sources are generally small and weak, with 15 nondetections to a limit of about 0.4 mJy. Comparison with the IR and optical properties of the objects indicates that the radio sources turn on within 10 exp 8 yr of the tidal encounter that is presumed to generate the IR activity. However, the radio sources do not all appear at the same time. The radio observations are consistent with the evolution scenario for luminous IRAS galaxies suggested by Hutchings and Neff (1991).

Neff, S. G.↗
NASA NTRS1992

The structure of the BAL QSO 1700 + 518

The paper presents 0.5-arcsec-resolution optical images of the low-redshift, bright, broad-absorption-line QSO 1700 + 518. A bright arc 2 arcsec is found to the NE of the nucleus which is redder than the surrounding host galaxy. There is also a faint radial structure to the SE, which is aligned with the core radio structure. The principal radio structure is a slightly resolved component coincident with the optical nucleus and an unresolved lobe 1 arcsec to the W which has no corresponding optical structure. The morphological and other properties of the QSO are discussed.

Hutchings, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1992

High-resolution imaging of QSO 2305 + 187 (= 4C 18.68)

Optical imaging of QSO 2305 + 187 with resolution ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 arcsec in continuum and line emission is presented. The data are from FOCAM and the HR Cam of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, and the Wide Field Camera of the Hubble Space Telescope. These are compared with previously published optical and radio images. The QSO host galaxy has the basic properties of an elliptical, but has significant irregularities, and tidal tails which indicate an ongoing gravitational interaction with a close companion.

Hutchings, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Discovery of a long-term periodic variation in LMC X-3

The highly variable X-ray luminosity of LMC X-3 is found to be strongly modulated with a period of about 198 (or possibly about 99) days. Observations from satellites show this periodic variation. For energies of less than 13 keV, the X-ray intensity and hardness are positively correlated; for higher energies, there appears to be no correlation. Available optical photometry indicates the mean V brightness also varies by more than 1 mag with this same long-term period. The regularity of this 'clock' in LMC X-3 suggests that it may be related to an accretion-disk precession, similar to that seen in LMC X-4, Her X-1, SS 433, or possibly periodic variations in the mass-transfer rate.

Cowley, A. P.↗
NASA NTRS1991

First results from the Goddard High-Resolution Spectrograph - Spectroscopic determination of stellar parameters of Melnick 42, an O3f star in the Large Magellanic Cloud

GHRS and optical (ESO 3.6 m) observations of the O3f star Melnick 42 in the 30 Doradus complex are reported. A first analysis reveals that with a luminosity of 2.3 million L(solar) and a present mass of 100 M(solar), Melnick 42 is one of the most luminous and massive stars known. An estimate of abundances indicates that iron and oxygen are very likely reduced by a factor of four relative to the sun, whereas carbon is more strongly depleted and nitrogen is approximately solar. The terminal velocity of the stellar wind is 3000 km/s. The mass-loss rate is 4 x 10 to the -6th M(solar)/yr, with a large uncertainty. The excellent quality GHRS spectrum taken in a crowded region of the LMC demonstrates the superiority of the HST for quantitative ultraviolet spectroscopy of hot stars in other galaxies.

Heap, S. R.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Optical imaging of the low redshift superluminous QSO 1821 + 643

Optical imaging is presented of the luminous z = 0.3 QSO 1821 + 643, with resolution 1.0 and 0.4 arcsec. The host galaxy is resolved and seen to be large, featureless, and red, with slightly displaced outer isophotes. The nucleus is unusually red. There is a rich cluster of galaxies in the field which is probably at a much higher redshift, and extended nebulosity from a nearby star. These results and the IR properties are discussed in terms of a mature merger of a luminous galaxy in which there is still a considerable amount of central dust and molecular clouds.

Hutchings, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Evolution of luminous IRAS sources - CCD imaging

The paper presents optical imaging of a sample of 64 luminous IRAS galaxies which cover a wide range of IRAS spectra and luminosity and also include a range of optical types. The objects are almost all in current or recent tidal interaction. The connections between the strength and age of the interaction, the IR spectrum and luminosity, and the optical colors, and other properties of the galaxies are discussed. The principal result is that the powerful IR sources with steep IR spectra are stronger and dynamically younger interacting systems, while the flat IR spectrum objects are older. Star formation, dust obscuration, and the timescales for nuclear activity compared with IR and tidal events are discussed, and a self-consistent evolution scenario connecting the luminous IR sources is described.

Hutchings, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1991

0.4-arc-second images of 3C 273

Images in V and I bands of the QSO 3C 273 (1226 + 023) were obtained using the High-Resolution Camera of the Canada-France-Hawaii telescope. Attention is given to the structure and colors of the jet and details of the host galaxy which have not been observed in previous studies. The systematic change of color along the jet suggests an aging process in a synchrotron spectrum, while the irregularity of the knots and wiggles suggests that the jet structure is primarily governed by passage through a clumpy medium near the host galaxy.

Hutchings, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Cosmic evolution of Quasar radio structure

We discuss the results of a survey of Quasar radio structures over redshifts from 0.6 to 3.7. There are clear evolutionary trends in size and luminosity, which suggest that the duty cycle of individual Quasars has increased over cosmic time. This affects source count statistics and gives clues on the evolution of Quasar environments.

Hutchings, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Tidal events and galactic activity

Researchers report some results from recent and ongoing work which relate to the connection between nuclear activity and tidal interactions. They suggest that tidal events are in general a necessary but not sufficient condition for nuclear activation. They also suggest that nuclear activity generally develops at a 'late stage' of a tidal encounter, following star-formation and dust evaporation, and when the most obvious morphological disturbances may have disappeared. The quantitative results from quasi-stellar object imaging, radio source evolution, HI observations, and an Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS) source survey are given in tabular form.

Hutchings, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Evolution of radio quasars from redshift 0.6-3.7

This paper presents the results of VLA radio imaging of 58 radio-loud quasars with redshift 2.0 or higher, which fill the redshift-luminosity plane as evenly as possible. This work completes a survey of about 250 quasars covering redshifts from 0.6-3.7, which attempts to sample luminosity and look-back time in a uniform way. Within the constraints of possible selection effects it is found that the relative population of extended and unresolved sources changes with redshift in a way that suggests that radio quasars may live longer and spend more time as large triple sources in the present epoch than in the earlier universe. There appear to be few low-luminosity radio quasars at high redshift. Ejection of material appears to occur on one side at a time, with usually at least one reversal of direction in the source lifetime. The velocity of ejection appears to be mildly relativistic at high redshift, but of lower velocity in the present epoch. There is also evidence suggestive of changes in the IGM with cosmic time; however, the data presented do not show the minimum in density at z about 2 that has been suggested for cluster environments.

Neff, S. G.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Imaging and two-dimensional spectra of the IR-bright galaxy NGC 2146 - A recent low-energy merger?

New data are presented on the IR-luminous galaxy NGC 2146 from several sources: direct imaging in B, R, and H-alpha; IR imaging in the J, H, and K bands; long-slit spectroscopy at optical and IR wavelengths; and scanning etalon observations in H-alpha. The results allow measurement of the interstellar extinction in the dust lane, and estimation of the true luminosity of the galaxy and nuclear regions. The spectra indicate that there is no active nucleus, and measure the changing ratio of forbidden to permitted lines across the galaxy. IR images and colors indicate the existence of a significant population of hot young stars in the central regions of the system. The H-alpha velocity maps show the full radial-velocity pattern, and suggest that the system consists of a disturbed disk and a merging or interacting arm which connects to the inner dust and radio structures. Outer H-alpha and H I structures appear to be the earlier remnants of this spiraling merger.

Hutchings, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Optical environments of radio quasars

CCD images of 36 radio-loud quasars in the redshift range 0.1-0.75 are discussed. The objects were chosen to represent the full range of radio structure found with VLA A-configuration observations. Measured quantities are compared and correlated from both radio and optical observations. At least 70 percent of the quasars show evidence for current or recent interaction. Consideration is given to host galaxy sizes and luminosities, states of tidal interaction and numbers of companions, radio morphology, and luminosity.

Hutchings, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1990

NGC 1614 - An IR-luminous merger but not (yet?) an active galaxy

New observations of the merging galaxy NGC 1614 are described. The system has a nuclear region of QSO-like luminosity, but shows no direct evidence for an active nucleus. It is heavily and unevenly reddened across its nucleus, while infrared imaging also shows a 'ridge' of dust. The inner spiral structure of the galaxy has normal rotation for an inclined disk, as indicated by the H-alpha emission. A linear 'tail' to the S and extended arms to the E have more positive velocities, and probably are the remains of an interacting companion and the tidal plume(s) caused by the collision. The only H I seen in emission appears to coincide with bright knots of H-alpha and forbidden O III emission of the base of the tail. The lack of direct evidence for an active nucleus indicates that if NGC 1614 is a precursor to a Seyfert-like system the AGN has not yet turned on.

Neff, S. G.↗
NASA NTRS1989

What is the difference between radio-loud and radio-quiet quasi-stellar objects?

Measures of the nuclear and host galaxy luminosities and colors and a morphological discussion of the host galaxies are presented for a sample of low-redshift, high-luminosity, radio-quiet QSOs whose redshift and luminosity distribution matches that of a radio-loud sample previously discussed. Radio-quiet QSOs are found to reside in galaxies which are smaller, fainter, and redder than the host galaxies of radio-loud QSOs. These properties are generally consistent with the suggestion that radio-quiet QSOs are located in spiral-type galaxies and radio-loud QSOs are located in more elliptical-type galaxies. Significantly less evidence is found for tidal interactions among the radio-quiet objects, although they appear to reside in somewhat richer environments in terms of nearby companions.

Hutchings, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Evolution of radio quasars for z of less than 2

A sample of 72 radio quasars is used to study the cosmic and individual evolution of quasars in the 1-2 redshift range. It is shown that the most luminous sources at all redshifts are unresolved, and that one-sided and two-sided structures correspond to progressively lower core (and total) luminosities. The sizes and fractional population of triple sources are found to fall steadily with increasing redshift to z of about 1.7. A correlation over many orders of magnitude is noted between the optical and maximum radio-core luminosity.

Neff, S. G.↗
NASA NTRS1989

The double-nucleus galactic merger Mkn 463

Deep CCD imaging in broadband and forbidden O III wavelengths of the twin-nucleus active galaxy Markarian 463 is presented. These data show that the system has triple curved tails indicative of a strong tidal interaction and probable merger. Colors, morphology, and their implications are discussed. The forbidden O III line emission is seen to be extended and linear, perhaps filling twin cones with apex at the eastern optical nucleus. It is argued that this indicates nonisotropic radiation from an obscured AGN. Spatially resolved spectroscopy on and off the nuclei reveals that the radial velocities of the gas lie in a small range, unlike some other multiple nucleus systems. The nature of the emission-line regions is discussed, along with the evolutionary state of the system indicated by the present data and IR and radio data.

Hutchings, J. B.↗