5927( 3) - 04/24/96 11:07 - [ 1] PROPOSAL FOR HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS ST ScI Use Only ID: 5927 Version: 3 Check-in Date: 24-Apr-1996 11:01:48 1.Proposal Title: Nuclear Disks in Radio Galaxies ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Scientific Category 3. Proposal For 4. Cycle AGN GO 5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Investigators Contact? PI: Holland Ford The Johns Hopkins University CoI: Linda Dressel Applied Research Corporation N CoI: Laura Ferrarese The Johns Hopkins University N CoI: Richard Harms Applied Research Corporatio N CoI: Gerald Kriss The Johns Hopkins University N CoI: Robert O'Connell University of Virginia N CoI: Frank van den Bosch Leiden Observatory N CoI: Walter Jaffe Leiden Observatory N CoI: Zlatko Tsvetanov The Johns Hopkins University N ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6. Abstract HST images of four bright radio galaxies show 100 pc sized nuclear disks which are aligned with large kpc scale radio jets. The images show that these active nuclei are indeed fueled by a reservoir of gas and dust stored in a disk surrounding the nucleus. FOS spectra of M87 show that its disk is rotating in the potential of a massive black hole. The presence of nuclear disks in radio galaxies opens a new avenue for measuring the central masses in low central surface brightness, pressure supported ellipticals. We propose to search for nuclear disks, similar to those found in NGC 4261 and M 87, in a complete sample of nearby radio galaxies. We will use WFPC2 narrow band filters and the F547M and F791W off -band filters to isolate the HAlpha+NII emission associated with both M87-type disks and NGC 4261-type dusty disks. Our goals are: 1) Determine the prevalence of nuclear disks in a complete sample of radio galaxies; do all such galaxies have small scale nuclear disks? 2) Establish the morphologies and characteristics of the disks, and the alignments of the disks with the radio jets. This imaging survey will form the basis in later cycles for spectroscopic measures of disk emission line (or absorption line) velocities to measure the masses of central black holes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5927( 3) - 04/24/96 11:07 - [ 2] Observations Description ------------------------ The H Alpha+NII LambdaLambda 6584 on-band image of each galaxy will be taken with the F658N filter or the F673N filter when these match the redshift of the galaxies. When the redshifts do not match the narrow band filters, we will use the linear ramp filter, positioning the nucleus on the LRF at the position that transmits H Alpha+NII. Two off-band images will be taken of each galaxy using the F547M and the F791W filters. For the redshifts of most galaxies in our samples, both filters will be free from emission lines. For all of the galaxies at least one of the filters will be free of strong emission lines. The off-band images will be used to subtract the stellar continuum from the on-band images and to look for dusty disks like the ones in NGC 4261 and NGC 6251. The primary reason for including the F791W filter is to provide a means to estimate the wavelength dependence of the dust in the NGC 4261-type disks. Each image will be split so we can remove cosmic ray hits. The exposure times are based on our HST images of NGC 4261 and M87. The M87 exposures discussed in Ford et al. (1994) were 2 x 400s through the F547M filter and 2 x 1400s through the F658N filter. The counts/pixel in the on-band minus off-band image vary from 20 near the edge of the disk to ~ 300 near the unresolved nonthermal source in the nucleus. Because of the shot noise from the underlying stellar continuum in the on- band and off-band images, the SNR varies from a few per pixel to ~ 20 per pixel in the brightest part of the disk. The reviewer almost certainly does not need to be reminded that the exposure times are long because an 0.043'' planetary camera pixel has 135 times less area (5.3 magnitudes less signal for constant surface brightness) than a typical 0.50'' pixel used for ground based observations. More to the point, the M87 HST images show that we need ~ 50 minutes to detect and see details in disks like the one in M87. Finally, the exposure time for the F791W image will give approximately the same number of counts per pixel as in the F547M image. The exposure times, which require two orbits per galaxy, will typically be: first orbit; F791W (2 min) F791W (2 min) F658N (32 min), and, in the second orbit; F547M (7 min) F547M (7 min) F658N (28 min). Real Time Justification ----------------------- Although we do not have any special requirements, we do request that all the observations of each galaxy be made in two sequential orbits with the same guide stars so we can sum and difference the images without the need to correct for geometrical distortion in the cameras. Jaffe and McNamara (1994) used the VLA and the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope to investigate the kinematics and physical state of the cold atomic and molecular gas in the dusty NGC 4261 disk. They found HI 21 cm absorption and CO (2--> 1) 1.3 mm absorption against the bright nucleus at exactly the emission line systemic velocity of NGC 4261. We will undertake similar observations of any dusty disks which we find. We will carry out ground-based optical and infrared observations of the disks and host galaxies, guided by the nature of the disks and the questions raised by their morphologies. Calibration Justification ------------------------- Additional Comments ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5927( 3) - 04/24/96 11:07 - [ 3] Data Distribution Media: 8MM Blocking Factor: 10 Ship To: PI_Address Ship Via: UPS Email: , ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5927( 3) - 04/24/96 11:07 - [ 4] TARGET LIST a) Fixed Targets ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tar| Target | Target | Target |Coord | Radial | Flux data No | Name | Description | Position |Eqnx | Vel. | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 PKS2153-69 GALAXY, ELLIPTICAL, RA=21H 57M 6.49S +/- 0.01S, DEC= 2000 V=+8267 V = 14.0+/-0.2 RADIO GALAXY, NUCLEUS, -69D 41' 23.9" +/- 0.1", PLATE- JET ID=017B 2 3C75 GALAXY, ELLIPTICAL, RA=2H 57M 41.58S +/- 0.01S, 2000 V=+6941 V = 14.0+/-0.2 RADIO GALAXY, NUCLEUS, DEC=6D 1' 28.78" +/- 0.1", PLATE JET -ID=00ZU Comments: Midway between two nuclei to place both within PC1. 3 3C442 GALAXY, ELLIPTICAL, RA=22H 14M 46.87S +/- 0.01S, 2000 V=+7885 V = 13.7+/-0.2 RADIO GALAXY, NUCLEUS, DEC=13D 50' 27.0" +/- 0.1", JET PLATE-ID=02CY 4 3C278 GALAXY, ELLIPTICAL, RA=12H 54M 36.36S +/- 0.01S, 2000 V=+4628 V = 12.7+/-0.2 RADIO GALAXY, NUCLEUS, DEC=-12D 33' 30.2" +/- 0.1", JET PLATE-ID=015I 5 3C264 GALAXY, ELLIPTICAL, RA=11H 45M 5.0S +/- 0.01S, 2000 V=+6462 V = 14.0+/-0.2 RADIO GALAXY, NUCLEUS, DEC=19D 36' 22.7" +/- 0.1", JET PLATE-ID=019N 6 NGC5044 GALAXY, ELLIPTICAL, RA=13H 15M 24.01S +/- 0.01S, 2000 V=+2692 V = 11.83+/-0.2 RADIO GALAXY, NUCLEUS, DEC=-16D 23' 6.4" +/- 0.1", JET PLATE-ID=02NM 5927( 3) - 04/24/96 11:07 - [ 5] Visit: 01 Visit Requirements: SCHED 40% On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 PKS2153-69 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F791W CR-SPLIT=NO 1 300S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 PKS2153-69 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F791W CR-SPLIT=NO 1 300S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 PKS2153-69 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F673N CR-SPLIT=NO 1 800S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 PKS2153-69 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F673N CR-SPLIT=NO 1 800S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5927( 3) - 04/24/96 11:07 - [ 6] Visit: 02 Visit Requirements: On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 3C75 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F791W CR-SPLIT=NO 1 350S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 3C75 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F791W CR-SPLIT=NO 1 400S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 3C75 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F673N CR-SPLIT=NO 1 1100S END ORBIT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 3C75 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F673N CR-SPLIT=NO 1 1400S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 3C75 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F547M CR-SPLIT=NO 1 400S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6 3C75 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F547M CR-SPLIT=NO 1 500S END ORBIT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5927( 3) - 04/24/96 11:07 - [ 7] Visit: 03 Visit Requirements: On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 3C442 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F791W CR-SPLIT=NO 1 350S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 3C442 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F791W CR-SPLIT=NO 1 400S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 3C442 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F673N CR-SPLIT=NO 1 1100S END ORBIT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 3C442 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F673N CR-SPLIT=NO 1 1400S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 3C442 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F547M CR-SPLIT=NO 1 400S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6 3C442 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F547M CR-SPLIT=NO 1 500S END ORBIT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5927( 3) - 04/24/96 11:07 - [ 8] Visit: 04 Visit Requirements: On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 3C264 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F791W CR-SPLIT=NO 1 350S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 3C264 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F791W CR-SPLIT=NO 1 400S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 3C264 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F673N CR-SPLIT=NO 1 1100S END ORBIT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 3C264 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F673N CR-SPLIT=NO 1 1400S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 3C264 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F547M CR-SPLIT=NO 1 400S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6 3C264 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F547M CR-SPLIT=NO 1 500S END ORBIT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5927( 3) - 04/24/96 11:07 - [ 9] Visit: 05 Visit Requirements: On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 3C278 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F791W CR-SPLIT=NO 1 350S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 3C278 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F791W CR-SPLIT=NO 1 400S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 3C278 WFPC2 IMAGE LRF LRF 6664 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 1000S END ORBIT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 3C278 WFPC2 IMAGE LRF LRF 6664 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 1300S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 3C278 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F547M CR-SPLIT=NO 1 300S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6 3C278 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F547M CR-SPLIT=NO 1 500S END ORBIT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5927( 3) - 04/24/96 11:07 - [ 10] Visit: 06 Visit Requirements: On Hold Comments: Additional Comments: Exposures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Exposure| Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | Special Number | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 NGC5044 WFPC2 IMAGE PC1 F791W CR-SPLIT=0.5 1 600S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 NGC5044 WFPC2 IMAGE LRF LRF 6622 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 500S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 NGC5044 WFPC2 IMAGE LRF LRF 6622 CR-SPLIT=NO 1 500S END ORBIT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5927( 3) - 04/24/96 11:07 - [ 11] Summary Form for Proposal 5927 Item Used in this proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Configurations WFPC2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opmodes IMAGE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Optional Parameters CR-SPLIT=NO CR-SPLIT=0.5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Proposal Category GO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Scientific Category AGN ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special Requirements SCHED 40% END ORBIT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spectral Elements F791W F673N F547M LRF ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target Names PKS2153-69 3C75 3C442 3C264 3C278 NGC5044 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------