1999/12/14 by D. J. Schade, D. Schade, B. J. Boyle +5
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations #Astrophysics (astro-ph) #FOS: Physical sciences #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.astro-ph/9912294
MNRAS accepted (23 pages, 13 figures, 3 tables) N.B. Higher resolution versions of Figure 2 are available from http://www.aao.gov.au/local/www/bjb/hst.html
arxiv created 1999/12/14 · openalex publication_date 1999/12/14 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We report on the initial results of a comprehensive Hubble Space Telescope (HST) snapshot imaging survey of 76 low redshift (z < 0.15) X-ray-selected active galactic nuclei (AGN) in the Einstein Extended Medium Sensitivity Survey. This survey is expected to show no bias with respect to host galaxy types and so is arguably one of the best available samples with HST imaging for the study of the host galaxies. The HST observations in the F814W band are complemented by deeper ground-based observations in the B and R bands for all AGN. The absolute magnitudes for AGN in this sample lie in the range -24 < MB(AB) < -18, bracketing the extrapolated break in the QSO luminosity function (MB(AB)= -22.3) at these low redshifts. We find a weak correlation between the luminosity of the host galaxy and the central AGN. We find no convincing cases of an AGN with no detectable host galaxy, although the faintest host galaxies of moderately luminous AGN do extend as faint as MB(AB) = - 18. We find no evidence for strong interaction/merger activity in any of the AGN in this sample. (abstract truncated)