9214(  1) - 12/20/00 23:44  - [  1]

    PROPOSAL FOR HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS   ST ScI Use Only
                                                       ID:      9214
                                                       Version: 1
                                                       Check-in Date: 20-Dec-2000
                                                                      23:38:10

1.Proposal Title:
Radio-Quiet Quasar Hosts from z = 0.3 to z = 3
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2. Proposal For  3. Cycle
AR               10
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4. Investigators
                                                                                     Contact?
    PI: Susan Ridgway                     The Johns Hopkins University
   CoI: Prof. Timothy Heckman             The Johns Hopkins University                  N
   CoI: Dr. Daniela Calzetti              Space Telescope Science Institute             N
   CoI: Dr. Matthew Lehnert               Max-Planck Institut Fur Extraterrestriche     N
                                          Physik

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5. Abstract

Study of the host galaxies and environments of high redshift AGN is proving a
valuable, complementary probe of current theories of how galaxies form and evolve.
Results from our recent NICMOS imaging program have indicated that the hosts of z ~
2 -- 3 faint radio-quiet quasars have luminosities only around local L_*, making
them similar to Lyman-break field galaxies at the same redshifts, and similar to the
hosts of low-z radio-quiet quasars with the same nuclear luminosities. These results
are consistent with the theoretical predictions of Kauffmann & Haehnelt (2000) for
the hierarchical buildup of galaxy hosts and their relation to their resident
supermassive black holes. The luminosity of the AGN in these RQQ is key to
understanding this relationship, however, and we have so far made only limited
studies of the very lowest luminosity objects. In this proposal, we will outline
plans for a comprehensive space-based imaging study of the hosts of radio-quiet
quasars from low to high z at a range of nuclear luminosities. We will apply a
consistent methodology to analyze much of the extensive HST archival imaging data
now available. This will allow us to characterize the relationship between nuclear
luminosity and host properties, and assess the relationship between nuclear black
hole mass and formation epoch.
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                                                9214(  1) - 12/20/00 23:44  - [  2]

            Summary Form for Proposal  9214

  Item                         Used in this proposal
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  Proposal Category            AR
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