A Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 Snapshot Survey of 2MASS-selected Red QSOs

June 2003 • 2003ApJ...590..707M

Authors • Marble, Andrew R. • Hines, Dean C. • Schmidt, Gary D. • Smith, Paul S. • Surace, Jason A. • Armus, Lee • Cutri, Roc M. • Nelson, Brant O.

Abstract • Using simple infrared color selection, the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) has found a large number of red, previously unidentified, radio-quiet quasi-stellar objects (QSOs). Although missed by UV/optical surveys, the 2MASS QSOs have K_s-band luminosities that are comparable to ``classical'' QSOs. This suggests the possible discovery of a previously predicted large population of dust-obscured radio-quiet QSOs. We present the results of an imaging survey of 29 2MASS QSOs observed with the Wide-Field Planetary Camera 2 on board the Hubble Space Telescope. I-band images, which benefit from the relative faintness of the nuclei at optical wavelengths, are used to characterize the host galaxies, measure the nuclear contribution to the total observed I-band emission, and survey the surrounding environments. The 2MASS QSOs are found to lie in galaxies with a variety of morphologies, luminosities, and dynamical states, not unlike those hosting radio-quiet Palomar-Green QSOs. Our analysis suggests that the extraordinary red colors of the 2MASS QSOs are caused by extinction of an otherwise typical QSO spectrum due to dust near the nucleus.

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IPAC Authors
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Lee Armus

Senior Scientist

Roc Cutri

IPAC Deputy Director