Resolving the host galaxy of a distant blazar with LBT/LUCI 1 + ARGOS
Author
Farina, E PGeorgiev, I Y
Decarli, R
Terzić, T
Busoni, L
Gässler, W
Mazzoni, T
Borelli, J
Rosensteiner, M
Ziegleder, J
Bonaglia, M
Rabien, S
Buschkamp, P
Orban de Xivry, G
Rahmer, G
Kulas, M
Peter, D
Affiliation
Univ Arizona, LBT ObservIssue Date
2018-05Keywords
instrumentation: adaptive opticsBL Lacertae objects: individual: HESS J1943+213
infrared: galaxies
Metadata
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OXFORD UNIV PRESSCitation
E P Farina, I Y Georgiev, R Decarli, T Terzić, L Busoni, W Gässler, T Mazzoni, J Borelli, M Rosensteiner, J Ziegleder, M Bonaglia, S Rabien, P Buschkamp, G Orban de Xivry, G Rahmer, M Kulas, D Peter; Resolving the host galaxy of a distant blazar with LBT/LUCI 1 + ARGOS, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 476, Issue 2, 11 May 2018, Pages 1835–1839, https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/sty352Rights
© 2018 The Author(s) Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society.Collection Information
This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at repository@u.library.arizona.edu.Abstract
BL Lac objects emitting in the very high energy (VHE) regime are unique tools to peer into the properties of the extragalactic background light (EBL). However, due to the typical absence of features in their spectra, the determination of their redshifts has proven challenging. In this work, we exploit the superb spatial resolution delivered by the new Advanced Rayleigh guided Ground layer adaptive Optics System (ARGOS) at the Large Binocular Telescope to detect the host galaxy of HESS J1943 + 213, a VHE emitting BL Lac shining through the Galaxy. Deep H-band imaging collected during the ARGOS commissioning allowed us to separate the contribution of the nuclear emission and to unveil the properties of the host galaxy with unprecedented detail. The host galaxy is well fitted by a Sersic profile with index of n similar to 2 and total magnitude of H-Host similar to 16.15 mag. Under the assumption that BL Lac host galaxies are standard candles, we infer a redshift of z similar to 0.21. In the framework of the current model for the EBL, this value is in agreement with the observed dimming of the VHE spectrum due to the annihilation of energetic photons on the EBLISSN
0035-87111365-2966
Version
Final published versionSponsors
ERCAdditional Links
https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article/476/2/1835/4848313ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1093/mnras/sty352