Search

A search for quasars is being performed in ESO/SERC fields 86, 119, and 120 at and near the South Ecliptic Pole (just outside the LMC). This area will be extensively covered by the ROSAT all-sky soft X-ray survey. The present search aims at providing a data base of optically selected extragalactic objects which may later be compared with the sample of X-ray selected objects. The quasar candidates were identified on objective prism plates from the UK Schmidt telescope (UKSTU) by visual means in field 86 and by employing Automated Quasar Detection (AQD) in fields 119 and 120. Slit spectra were subsequently obtained for 39 candidates in field 119 and 3 candidates in field 86, using the ESO/MPI 2.2 m telescope at La Silla, Chile. The results demonstrate that an automated quasar search can be successfully be performed in these comparatively crowded star fields.

Radio maps, spectra and CCD images have been obtained for almost all the 158 objects in a complete sample of IRAS galaxies. The linear relation between radio and far-infrared luminosity is valid over the complete luminosity range (up to LIR=1.8×1012 L⊙, H○=75 km s−1 Mpc−1). The majority of the 10 most luminous galaxies show evidence of tidal disruption and have companion galaxies at projected separations which range between 6 and 138 kpc. The second most luminous galaxy, IRAS 00275-2859, is a quasar with a spectrum reminiscent of a broad line absorption quasar and with a band of absorption running across the object: its infrared to radio luminosity ratio is identical to that of the typical IRAS galaxy.

We report the discovery of Q1044+0546 (M V > −27), whose optical spectrum is dominated by one very strong (W(rest)~110 A) and extraordinarily broad (FWZI(rest)~270A) emission line. We argue that this line is Ly-α at z=2.688, imparting a unique character to this object because the CIV λ1549A emission line which would be around λ5700A, is weak or absent. We present a preliminary interpretation of this QSO discovered as part of our redshift program in the ESO/SERC field no. 927. The rest-frame Ly-α FWHM and FWZI are ≈ 23.000 and ≈ 67.000 km s−1, respectively; these values are among the largest found to date. A heavy element absorption line system is present too, with z=2.654, implying a relative velocity with respect to the QSO of ~ 2700 km s−1. There are also several weaker absorption lines in the blueward region of the Ly-α emission, which are presumably from the Ly-α forest. The emission spectrum of Q1044+0546 may be indicative of very special physical conditions and/or rather high metal abundances in its broad line formation region(BLR). It is of great interest to determine if the physical conditions in the clouds of its associated absorption system are also peculiar, because similarities with the BLR would favour the intrinsic hypothesis for the origin of the z abs ≈ z em systems (see Petitjean et al. 1994).