Joseph E. Pesce

The Hubble Space Telescope Survey of BL Lacertae Objects. II. Host Galaxies

We have used the Hubble Space Telescope (HST ) WFPC2 camera to survey 132 BL Lac objects com- prising seven complete radio-, X-ray¨, and optically selected samples. We obtained useful images for 110 targets spanning the redshift range These represent an unbiased subsample of the original 0 ( z ( 1.3. 132 since they were snapshots selected to —ll random holes in the HST schedule. The exposure times ranged from a few hundred to D1000 s, increasing with redshift. Most images were taken in the F702W —lter; those already observed in F814W during Cycle 5 were reobserved in F606W to give broader wave- length coverage. The data were analyzed uniformly, and both statistical and systematic errors were esti- mated (the latter dominate). In of the BL Lac images, host galaxies are detected, including nearly all 2 for z \ 0.5 (58 of 63). In contrast, only one-quarter of the BL Lac objects with z ( 0.5 (six of 22) were resolved because of the relatively short exposure times, and these tend to be very luminous host galaxies. The highest redshift host galaxy detected is in a BL Lac object at z \ 0.664. HST data add critical mor- phological information in the range a few tenths to a few arcseconds. In 58 of the 72 resolved host galaxies, a de Vaucouleurs pro—le is signi—cantly preferred, at con—dence, over a pure exponential Z99% disk; the two —ts are comparable in the remaining 14 cases because of their generally lower signal-to- noise ratios. These results limit the number of disk systems to at most 8% of BL Lac objects (at 99% con—dence) and are consistent with all BL Lac host galaxies being ellipticals. The detected host galaxies are luminous ellipticals with a median absolute K-corrected magnitude of mag (rms M R D (23.7 ^ 0.6 dispersion), at least 1 mag brighter than M* and comparable to brightest cluster galaxies. The galaxy morphologies are generally smooth and undisturbed, with small or negligible ellipticities

Multiwavelength Observations of a Dramatic High-Energy Flare in the Blazar 3C 279

The blazar 3C 279, one of the brightest identified extragalactic objects in the γ-ray sky, underwent a large (factor of ~10 in amplitude) flare in γ-rays toward the end of a 3 week pointing by Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO), in 1996 January-February. The flare peak represents the highest γ-ray intensity ever recorded for this object. During the high state, extremely rapid γ-ray variability was seen, including an increase of a factor of 2.6 in ~8 hr, which strengthens the case for relativistic beaming. Coordinated multifrequency observations were carried out with Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE), Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics (ASCA; or, Astro-D), Roentgen Satellite (ROSAT), and International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) and from many ground-based observatories, covering most accessible wavelengths. The well-sampled, simultaneous RXTE light curve shows an outburst of lower amplitude (factor of 3) well correlated with the γ-ray flare without any lag larger than the temporal resolution of ~1 day. The optical-UV light curves, which are not well sampled during the high-energy flare, exhibit more modest variations (factor of ~2) and a lower degree of correlation. The flux at millimetric wavelengths was near a historical maximum during the γ-ray flare peak, and there is a suggestion of a correlated decay. We present simultaneous spectral energy distributions of 3C 279 prior to and near to the flare peak. The γ-rays vary by more than the square of the observed IR-optical flux change, which poses some problems for specific blazar emission models. The synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) model would require that the largest synchrotron variability occurred in the mostly unobserved submillimeter/far-infrared region. Alternatively, a large variation in the external photon field could occur over a timescale of a few days. This occurs naturally in the mirror model, wherein the flaring region in the jet photoionizes nearby broad emission line clouds, which, in turn, provide soft external photons that are Comptonized to γ-ray energies.

The Hubble Space Telescope Survey of BL Lacertae Objects. I. Surface Brightness Profiles, Magnitudes, and Radii of Host Galaxies

We report on a large Hubble Space Telescope imaging survey of BL Lac objects, at spatial resolution 10 times better than previous ground-based surveys. We focus on data reduction and analysis, describing the procedures used to model the host galaxy surface brightness radial profiles. A total of 69 host galaxies were resolved out of 110 objects observed, including almost all sources at z 0.5. We classify them morphologically by fitting with either an exponential disk or a de Vaucouleurs profile; when one fit is preferred over the other, in 58 of 69 cases, it is invariably the elliptical morphology. This is a very strong result given the large number of BL Lac objects, the unprecedented spatial resolution, and the homogeneity of the data set. With the present reclassification of the host galaxy of 1418+546 as an elliptical, there remain no undisputed examples of a disk galaxy hosting a BL Lac nucleus. This implies that, at 99% confidence, fewer than 7% of BL Lac objects can be in disk galaxies. The apparent magnitude of the host galaxies varies with distance as expected if the absolute magnitudes are approximately the same, with a spread of ±1 mag, out to redshift z ~ 0.5. At larger redshifts, only six of 23 BL Lac objects are resolved so the present data do not constrain possible luminosity evolution of the host galaxies. The collective Hubble diagram for BL Lac host galaxies and radio galaxies strongly supports their unification.

Multiwavelength Monitoring of the BL Lacertae Object PKS 2155?304 in 1994 May. III. Probing the Inner Jet through Multiwavelength Correlations

In 1994 May, the BL Lac object PKS 2155-304 was observed continuously for ~10 days with the International Ultraviolet Explorer and the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer and for 2 days with ASCA, as well as with ROSAT and with ground-based radio, infrared, and optical telescopes. The light curves show a well-defined X-ray flare followed by a broader, lower amplitude extreme-ultraviolet flare ~1 day later and a broad, low-amplitude UV flare ~2 days later. X-ray fluxes obtained at three well-separated times the preceding week indicate at least one previous flare of comparable amplitude or perhaps ongoing stochastic X-ray variations, and additional rapid variability was seen at the beginning of the IUE observation, when extremely sharp changes in UV flux occurred. The X-ray flux observed with ASCA flared by a factor of ~2 in about half a day and decayed roughly as fast. In contrast, the subsequent UV flare had an amplitude of only ~35% and lasted longer than 2 days. Assuming that the X-ray, EUV, and UV events are associated, the lags, the decrease of amplitude with wavelength, and the broadening of the temporal profile with wavelength are all qualitatively as expected for synchrotron emission from an inhomogeneous, relativistic jet. Because of the high quality of the data, we can rule out that the observed flares were caused by either a Fermi-type shock acceleration event or a pair cascade in a homogeneous synchrotron-emitting region. A homogeneous region is still possible if there was an instantaneous (t hours) injection of high-energy electrons that emit first at X-ray energies. Alternatively, the data are consistent with a compression wave or other disturbance crossing a region with stratified particle energy distributions. This kind of situation is expected to occur behind a shock front and/or in an inhomogeneous jet. The present light curves are in sharp contrast to the multiwavelength variability observed in 1991 November, when the amplitude was wavelength independent and the UV lagged the X-rays by less than ~3 hr. This means that the origin of rapid multiwavelength variability in this blazar is complex, involving at least two different modes.

Ultraviolet and Multiwavelength Variability of the Blazar 3C 279: Evidence for Thermal Emission

The γ-ray blazar 3C 279 was monitored on a nearly daily basis with IUE, ROSAT, and EGRET for 3 weeks between 1992 December and 1993 January. During this period, the blazar was at a historical minimum at all wavelengths. Here we present the UV data obtained during this multiwavelength campaign. A maximum UV variation of ~50% is detected, while during the same period the X-ray flux varied by no more than 13%. At the lowest UV flux level, the average spectrum in the 1230-2700 A interval is unusually flat for this object (αUV ~ 1). The flattening could represent the lowest energy tail of the inverse Compton component responsible for the X-ray emission, or it could be due to the presence of a thermal component at ~20,000 K, possibly associated with an accretion disk. The presence of an accretion disk in this blazar object, likely observable only in very low states and otherwise hidden by the beamed, variable synchrotron component, would be consistent with the scenario in which the seed photons for the inverse Compton mechanism producing the γ-rays are external to the relativistic jet. We further discuss the long-term correlation of the UV flux with the X-ray and γ-ray fluxes obtained at various epochs. All UV archival data are included in the analysis. Both the X-ray and γ-ray fluxes are generally well correlated with the UV flux, with approximately square root and quadratic dependences, respectively.

Multiwavelength Observations of 3C 273 in 1993-1995

We present the results of the multiwavelength campaigns on 3C 273 in 1993-1995. During the observations in late 1993, this quasar showed an increase of its flux for energies ≥100 MeV from about 2.1 × 10-7 photons cm-2 s-1 to approximately 5.6 × 10-7 photons cm-2 s-1 during a radio outburst at 14.5, 22, and 37 GHz. However, no one-to-one correlation of the γ-ray radiation with any frequency could be found. The photon spectral index of the high-energy spectrum changed from Γγ = (3.20 ± 0.54) to Γγ = (2.20 ± 0.22) in the sense that the spectrum flattened when the γ-ray flux increased. Fits of the three most prominent models (synchrotron self-Comptonization, external inverse Comptonization, and the proton-initiated cascade model) for the explanation of the high γ-ray emission of active galactic nuclei were performed to the multiwavelength spectrum of 3C 273. All three models are able to represent the basic features of the multiwavelength spectrum. Although there are some differences, the data are still not decisive enough to discriminate between the models.

The environment of the BL Lacertae object PKS 2155-304

We report on direct imaging and spectroscopy of the field around the BL Lac object PKS 2155-304. An analysis of the richness of galaxies in the field shows that the source is located in a poor cluster of galaxies. Spectra of three galaxies indicate that they are at redshift z∼0.116, and the spectrum of the nebulosity surrounding the BL Lac object, yielding z=0.116, shows that the BL Lac object belongs to the cluster. The galaxy environment of BL Lac objects, together with those of F-R I radio sources, the proposed parent objects in the beaming hypothesis, is briefly discussed

Chandra observations of nuclear X-ray emission from a sample of radio sources

We present the X-ray properties of a sample of 17 radio sources observed with the Chandra X-ray Observatory as part of a project aimed at studying the X-ray emission from their radio jets. In this paper, we concentrate on the X-ray properties of the unresolved cores. The sample includes 16 quasars (11 core-dominated and 5 lobe-dominated) in the redshift range z= 0:30-1.96, and one low-power radio-galaxy at z= 0:064. No diuse X-ray emission is present around the cores of the quasars, except for the nearby low-power galaxy that has diuse emission on a scale and with a luminosity consistent with other FRIs. No high-amplitude, short-term variability is detected within the relatively short Chandra exposures. However, 1510 089 shows low-amplitude flux changes with a timescale of 25 min. The X-ray spectra of the quasar cores are generally well described by a single power law model with Galactic absorption. However, in six quasars we find soft X-ray excess emission below 1.6 keV. Interestingly, we detect an Fe K-shell emission line, consistent with fluorescent K emission from cold iron, in one lobe- and two core-dominated sources. The average X-ray photon index for the quasars in the sample is sample= 1:66 and dispersionsample= 0:23. The average spectral slope for our sample is flatter than the slope found for radio-quiet quasars and for radio-loud AGNs with larger jet orientations; this indicates that beaming aects the X-ray emission from the cores in our sample of quasars.

Detection of an X-Ray Jet in 3C 371 with Chandra

We report the detection at X-rays of the radio/optical jet of 3C 371 from a short (10 ks) Chandra exposure in 2000 March. We also present a new MERLIN observation at 1.4 GHz together with a reanalysis of the archival Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 F555W image. Despite the limited signal-to-noise ratio of the Chandra data, the X-ray morphology is clearly different from that of the radio/optical emission, with the brightest X-ray knot at 17 from the nucleus and little X-ray emission from the brightest radio/optical knot at 31. We construct the spectral energy distributions for the two emission regions at 17 and 31. Both show that the X-ray flux is below the extrapolation from the radio-to-optical continuum, suggesting a moderately beamed synchrotron from an electron population with a decreasing high-energy cutoff as a plausible emission mechanism.

The Hubble Space Telescope Survey of BL Lacertae Objects: Gravitational Lens Candidates and Other Unusual Sources

We present Hubble Space Telescope (HST ) observations of seven unusual objects from the HST ii snapshot survey ˇˇ of BL Lacertae objects, of which four are gravitational lens candidates. In three cases a double point source is observed: 0033)595, with separation, and 0502)675 and 1440)122, each 1A with separation. The last two also show one or more galaxies, which could be either host or D0A.3 lensing galaxies. If any are con—rmed as lenses, these BL Lac objects are excellent candidates for measur- ing via gravitational time delay because of their characteristic rapid, high-amplitude variability. An H 0 additional advantage is that, like other blazars, they are likely superluminal radio sources, in which case the source plane is mapped out over a period of years, providing strong additional constraints on the lensing mass distribution. The fourth gravitational lens candidate is 1517)656, which is surrounded by three arclets forming an almost perfect ring of radius If this is indeed an Einstein ring, it is most 2A.4. likely a background source gravitationally lensed by the BL Lac object host galaxy and possibly a sur- rounding group or cluster. In the extreme case that all four candidates are true lenses, the derived fre- quency of gravitational lensing in this BL Lac sample would be an order of magnitude higher than in comparable quasar samples. We also report on three other remarkable BL Lac objects: 0138(097, which is surrounded by a large number of close companion galaxies; 0806)524, whose host galaxy con- tains an uncommon arclike structure; and 1959)650, which is hosted by a gas-rich elliptical galaxy with a prominent dust lane of D5 ) 105 M _ . Subject headings: BL Lacertae objects: generalgalaxies: structuregravitational lensing