Detection of abundant molecular gas in the UV-excess quasar Markarian 1014

CO(1-0) emission has been detected from the UV-excess quasar Mrk 1014 ( = PG 0157+001 = IRAS 01572+0009) at z = 0.163. Assuming the same empirical relationship between CO brightness and H2 surface mass density as has been found for giant molecular clouds in the Milky Way, the mass of H2 gas is about 4 x 10 to the 10th solar masses more than 10 times the H2 content of the Galaxy. The infrared and molecular gas properties of Mrk 1014 are similar to other warm, ultraluminous infrared galaxies such as Mrk 231, and IRAS 15206+3342 (z = 0.125) from which CO(1-0) emission is also reported. The trigger for the intense infrared activity in both Mrk 1014 and IRAS 15206+3342 appears to be a recent galaxy merger. It is suggested that objects such as these represent an important link in the evolution of ultraluminous infrared galaxies into UV-excess quasars. 37 references.