Young stars in high- z QSO host galaxies
Wisotzki, Lutz; Jahnke, Knud; Sánchez, Sebastián F.
Germany, Spain
Abstract
We study the stellar properties of type 1 QSO host galaxies at redshifts to z ∼ 3 using the HST within the GEMS project as well as ground based adaptive optics. The host galaxies have a tendency for younger stars than their inactive counterparts, showing the coeval evolution of Black Holes and stars in progress. Judging from 40% distorted morphologies at z < 1.1, the merging and/or interaction of galaxies is the obvious candidate to trigger star formation and to funnel gas into the central parts of the host galaxies at the same time.