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Far-infrared properties of optically selected quasars

R. Edelson

Abstract

Pointed IRAS observations and ground-based near-infrared and radio measurements are used to study the far-infrared properties of 10 bright, optically selected quasars, nine of which were detected in at least three IRAS bands. Optically selected quasars tend to have very flat infrared spectra. The flat far-infrared power-law spectra, which extrapolate smoothly to near-infrared wavelengths, and the large observed 60 - 100 μm luminosities, provide strong evidence that the infrared continuum emission from most quasars is nonthermal in nature. The infrared emission appears to be unreprocessed radiation from a synchrotron self-absorbed region a few light hours to a few light days across.

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Key concepts: Quasar, Physics, Infrared, Astrophysics, Astronomy, Far infrared, Infrared astronomy, Extragalactic astronomy