Optical study of PKS B1322-110, the intra-hour variable radio source

MADRID, JUAN P.; TUNTSOV, A.; SCHIRMER, M.; DONZELLI, C.J.

Honolulu

Encuentro; American Astronomical Society meeting #235; 2020

American Astronomical Society

Observations with the Australia Telescope Compact Array revealed intra-hour variations in the radio source PKS B1322-110 (Bignall et al 2019). To determine whether scintillation by intervening plasma in our galaxy is responsible for the rapid radio variability, we obtained Gemini Halpha and Halpha continuum images of the PKS B1322-110 field. A clear flux excess detected in the Halpha image prompted us to obtain the first optical spectrum of PKS B1322-110. With the Gemini spectrum we determine that PKS B1322-110 is a quasar at a redshift of z = 3.007 ± 0.002. The apparent flux detected in the Halpha filter is likely to originate from He II emission redshifted precisely into the Halpha bandpass.