Detection of strong carbon monoxide emission from the host galaxy of the quasar I ZW 1

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (68) References (27) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Detection of Strong Carbon Monoxide Emission from the Host Galaxy of the Quasar I ZW 1 Barvainis, Richard ; Alloin, Danielle ; Antonucci, Robert Abstract We have observed the radio-quiet quasar I Zw 1 in the J = 1-0 and J = 2-1 lines of CO and obtained clear detections in both transitions. The J = 1-0 line appears much more luminous than than the J = 2-1 line. If the CO is optically thick and thermalized, as it is in galactic molecular clouds, this implies that the CO is extended on the scale of the larger J = 1-0 beam size (26 kpc). This is roughly the same scale as the optically visible disk of the host galaxy of I Zw 1, so the CO emission must originate throughout the host galaxy's disk. This is substantiated by the CO profile shape, which is double-horned and symmetric like those seen in the rotating disks of the spiral galaxies. In a plot of CO luminosity versus far-infrared luminosity, I Zw 1 lies well within the distribution of luminous IRAS galaxies, demonstrating the plausibility of the hypothesis that the far-infrared emission in I Zw 1 is thermal. If more than about half of the far-infrared is attributed to a nonthermal mechanism, I Zw 1 moves into an unoccupied zone on the diagram. Therefore, despite the quasi-power-law infrared spectrum, the far-infrared may be dominated by dust emission. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: February 1989 DOI: 10.1086/185380 Bibcode: 1989ApJ...337L..69B Keywords: Carbon Monoxide; Galactic Radiation; Infrared Sources (Astronomy); Quasars; Disk Galaxies; Far Infrared Radiation; Luminosity; Molecular Clouds; Astrophysics; INFRARED: SOURCES; INTERSTELLAR: MOLECULES; QUASARS full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (4) NED (4)