Is 4C+29.48 a γ-ray source?

Abstract

Context. The Fermi Large Area Telescope revealed that the extragalactic γ-ray sky is dominated by blazars, active galactic nuclei (AGN) whose jet is seen at very small angle to the line of sight. To associate and then classify the γ-ray sources, data have been collected from lower frequency surveys and observations. Since those have superior angular resolution and positional accuracy compared to the γ-ray observations, some associations are not straightforward. Aims. The γ-ray source 3FGL J1323.0+2942 is associated with the radio source 4C+29.48 and classified as a blazar of unknown type, lacking optical spectrum and redshift. The higher-resolution radio data showed that 4C+29.48 comprises three bright radio-emitting features located within a ~1′-diameter area. We aim to reveal their nature and pinpoint the origin of the γ-ray emission. Methods. We (re-)analyzed archival Very Large Array (VLA) and unpublished very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations conducted by the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) and the European VLBI Network of 4C+29.48. We also collected data form optical, infrared and X-ray surveys. Results. According to the VLBI data, the northernmost complex of 4C+29.48 contains a blazar with a high brightness temperature compact core and a steep-spectrum jet feature. The blazar is positionally coincident with an optical source at a redshift of 1.142. Its mid-infrared colors also support its association with a γ-ray emitting blazar. The two other radio complexes have steep radio spectra similar to AGN-related lobes and do not have optical or infrared counterparts in currently available surveys. Based on the radio morphology, they are unlikely to be related to the blazar. There is an optical source between the two radio features, also detected in infrared wavebands. We discuss the possibilities whether the two radio features are lobes of a radio galaxy, or gravitationally lensed images of a background source. Conclusions. We propose to associate the γ-ray source 3FGL J1323.0+2942 in subsequent versions of the Fermi catalog with the blazar residing in northernmost complex. We suggest naming this radio source J1323+2941A to avoid misinterpretation arising from the fact that the coordinates of the currently listed radio counterpart 4C+29.48 is closer to a most probably unrelated radio source.