Dc. Hines et al., The host galaxy of the broad absorption line QSO PG 1700+518 and its ring galaxy companion: Nicmos 1.6 micron imaging, ASTROPHYS J, 512(1), 1999, pp. 140-144
The 1.6 mu m Near Infrared Camera and Multiobject Spectrometer image of the
broad absorption line QSO PG 1700+518 clearly resolves the QSO host galaxy
and a ringlike companion. The companion is most likely a ring galaxy produ
ced in a collision with the QSO galaxy similar to 5 x 10(7) yr ago. The mor
phology of the PG 1700+518 system is very similar to IRAS 04505-2958 (Boyce
et al. 1996). Both objects were identified in a sample of eight QSOs selec
ted by "warm" far-IR colors and extreme IR luminosities (Low et al. 1988).
All eight QSOs show signs of strong interaction, and the presence of two he
ad-on colliding systems in this sample may suggest that small impact parame
ters favor the energizing of IR-luminous QSOs.