X-ray observations of NGC 1097 and nearby quasars

Observations of three different sized regions centered on the optical jet spiral, NGC 1097 have been made with ROSAT. The PSPC observations show a striking excess of bright and medium flux X-ray sources around this hot spot nucleus, Seyfert 1 galaxy. The brightest of these sources are catalogued quasars which suggests the fainter X-ray sources are predominantly quasars also. If so, of the order of at least 10 and possibly considerably more X-ray quasars appear to be associated with NGC 1097 within a radius of 20'. There is a marked segregation, with bright X-ray sources on the side of the bright optical jets and weak X-ray sources on the side of the fainter optical jets. Some, but not all, of this asymmetry could be accounted for by absorption in the plane of the spiral being tilted towards us on the weak source side. Both optical and X-ray evidence point to strong absorption in the disk of NGC 1097 which reaches far beyond the optical limits. High resolution imaging (HRI) of regions closer to NGC 1097 reveal some fainter pairs and lines of X-ray sources aligned across the nucleus near the cones defined by the optical jets. Filaments and patches of ultraviolet emission (1500-1700 Angstrom) appear to fill in the region between the strong optical jets in the direction of the bright X-ray quasars, suggesting physical association of the ultraviolet emission with the quasars and the galaxy. Finally, ROSAT SURVEY observations have been examined over a 4 x 4 degree field centered on NGC 1097. A line of X-ray sources going through the galaxy in the direction of the strongest optical jet includes a strong X-ray quasar with its X-ray isophotes extended toward NGC 1097. In approximately the opposite direction, 1.9 degrees distant, is a strong X-ray source (.5cts s(-1)) which is here identified with a 16.5 mag BL Lac object.