Hubble Space Telescope observations of the serendipitous X-ray companion to Markarian 273: Cluster at z=0.46?

Citation
Kd. Borne et al., Hubble Space Telescope observations of the serendipitous X-ray companion to Markarian 273: Cluster at z=0.46?, ASTROPHYS J, 527(2), 1999, pp. 554-560
Citations number
39
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Space Sciences
Journal title
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
ISSN journal
0004-637X → ACNP
Volume
527
Issue
2
Year of publication
1999
Part
1
Pages
554 - 560
Database
ISI
SICI code
0004-637X(199912)527:2<554:HSTOOT>2.0.ZU;2-D
Abstract
We have used Hubble Space Telescope (HST) I-band images to identify Mrk 273 X, the very unusual high-redshift X-ray-luminous Seyfert 2 galaxy found by ROSAT in the same held of view as Mrk 273. We have measured the photometric properties of Mrk 273X and have also analyzed the luminosity distribution of the faint galaxy population seen in the HST image. The luminosity of the galaxy and the properties of the surrounding environment suggest that Mrk 273X is the brightest galaxy in a relatively poor cluster at z approximate to 0.46. Its off-center location in the cluster and the presence of other g alaxy groupings in the HST image may indicate that this is a dynamically yo ung cluster on the verge of merging with its neighboring clusters. We find that Mrk 273X is a bright, featureless elliptical galaxy, with no evidence for a disk. It follows the de Vaucouleurs (r(1/4)) surface brightness law v ery well over a range of 8 mag. Although the surface brightness profile doe s not appear to be dominated by the active galactic nucleus (AGN), the gala xy has very blue colors that do appear to be produced by the AGN. Mrk 273X is most similar to the IC 5063 class of active galaxies-a hybrid Seyfert 2/ powerful radio galaxy.