Near-infrared imaging of gigahertz peaked spectrum, compact steep spectrum, and large-scale FR II radio galaxies

In this paper we present the data from our J-, H-, and K-band imaging program of powerful radio sources. The sample consists of radio galaxies classified as either compact (<1 kpc), intermediate sized (1-20 kpc), or large-scale classical double (>20 kpc) radio sources. Source images, photometry results, radial profiles, and profile fits are presented. Source decomposition of total flux into point-spread function (PSF) and extended contributions indicate all sources are nucleated to roughly the same level at J, H, and K bands, arguing against the notion that the suspected higher nuclear absorption in the most compact class would render those sources relatively more nucleated at the longer wavelengths. No significant differences in near-IR host galaxy properties have been found. In a companion paper we discuss color-color properties, comparisons with predictions made by a stellar synthesis code, and near-IR broadband spectral properties.