Deep spectroscopy of distant 3CR radio galaxies: the data |
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Authors: | P N Best H J A Röttgering M S Longair |
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Institution: | Sterrewacht Leiden, Postbus 9513, 2300 RA Leiden, the Netherlands; Cavendish Astrophysics, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HE |
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Abstract: | Deep long-slit spectroscopic data are presented for a sample of 14 3CR radio galaxies at redshift z ~1, previously studied in detail using the Hubble Space Telescope , the Very Large Array, and the UK Infrared Telescope (UKIRT). Analysis of the O ii ] 3727 emission-line structures at ~5 Å spectral resolution is carried out to derive the kinematic properties of the emission-line gas. In line with previous lower resolution studies, a wide variety of kinematics are seen, from gas consistent with a mean rotational motion through to complex structures with velocity dispersions exceeding 1000 km s ?1. The data confirm the presence of a high-velocity gas component in 3C 265 and detached emission-line systems in 3C 356 and 3C 441, and show for the first time that the emission-line gas in the central regions of 3C 324 is composed of two kinematically distinct components. Emission-line fluxes and the colour of the continuum emission are determined down to unprecedentedly low observed wavelengths, λ <3500 Å, sufficiently short that any contribution of an evolved stellar population is negligible. An accompanying paper investigates the variation in the emission-line ratios and velocity structures within the sample, and draws conclusions as to the origin of the ionization and kinematics of these galaxies. |
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Keywords: | galaxies: active galaxies: individual: 3C 324 galaxies: individual: 3C 265 galaxies: ISM radio continuum: galaxies |
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