Slit and integral-field optical spectroscopy of the enigmatic quasar HE0450-2958

Abstract

Interest in the quasar HE0450-2958 arose following the publication of the non-detection of its expected massive host, leading to various interpretations. This article investigates the gaseous and stellar contents of the system through additional VLT/FORS slit spectra and integral field spectroscopy from VLT/VIMOS. We apply our MCS deconvolution algorithm on slit spectra for the separation of the QSO and diffuse components, and develop a new method to remove the point sources in Integral Field Spectra, allowing extraction of velocity maps, narrow-line images, spatially resolved spectra or ionization diagrams of the surroundings of HE0450-2958. The whole system is embedded in gas, mostly ionized by the QSO radiation field and shocks associated with radio jets. The observed gas and star dynamics are unrelated, revealing a strongly perturbed system. Despite longer spectroscopic observations, the host galaxy remains undetected.

9 pages, 13 figures, in press in A&A

References in corpus (8)

• COSMOGRAIL XVI: Time delays for the quadruply imaged quasar DES J0408-5354 with high-cadence photometric monitoring
• Discovery of a bright quasar without a massive host galaxy
• COSMOGRAIL: the COSmological MOnitoring of GRAvItational Lenses VI. Redshift of the lensing galaxy in seven gravitationally lensed quasars
• On-axis spectroscopy of the host galaxies of 20 optically luminous quasars at z~0.3
• Discovery of a Probable Physical Triple Quasar
• Dressing a naked quasar: star formation and AGN feedback in HE0450-2958
• The Host Galaxy of the Quasar HE 0450-2958
• X-ray properties of the quasar HE0450-2958

Cited by in corpus (8)

• The Origin of the Intrinsic Scatter in the Relation Between Black Hole Mass and Bulge Luminosity for Nearby Active Galaxies
• Quasar induced galaxy formation: a new paradigm ?
• A new twist to an old story: HE 0450-2958, and the ULIRG$\to$(optically bright QSO) transition hypothesis
• Study of a homogeneous QSO sample: relations between the QSO and its host galaxy
• GEMINI 3D spectroscopy of BAL+IR+Fe II QSOs: II. IRAS 04505-2958 an explosive QSO with hypershell and a new scenario for galaxy formation and galaxy end
• The QSO HE0450-2958: Scantily dressed or heavily robed? A normal quasar as part of an unusual ULIRG
• Near-IR observations of the HE0450-2958 system: discovery of a second AGN?
• Deep near-infrared imaging of the HE0450-2958 system