Nuclear star formation in the quasar PG1126-041 from adaptive optics assisted spectroscopy


Abstract in English

We present adaptive optics assisted spectroscopy of three quasars obtained with NACO at VLT. The high angular resolution achieved with the adaptive optics (~0.08), joined to the diagnostic power of near-IR spectroscopy, allow us to investigate the properties of the innermost 100 pc of these quasars. In the quasar with the best adaptive optics correction, PG1126-041, we spatially resolve the Pa-alpha emission within the nuclear 100 pc. The comparison with higher excitation lines suggests that the narrow Pa-alpha emission is due to nuclear star formation. The inferred intensity of the nuclear star formation (13 M(sun)/yr) may account for most of the far-IR luminosity observed in this quasar.

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