Double-peaked AGN. I. Dual AGN candidates : J/ApJ/753/42


Authors : Comerford J.M. orcid , Gerke B.F., Stern D. (hide) , Gerke B.F., Stern D. et..al

Bibcode : 2012ApJ...753...42C (ADS) (Simbad) (Objects) (hide)

CDS Keywords : Active gal. nuclei; Spectroscopy; Redshifts
UAT : Active galactic nuclei, Spectroscopy, Redshifted

Observation (OC)

Records :

Inserted into VizieR : 10-Mar-2014
Last modification : 02-Jun-2017

Kiloparsec-scale spatial offsets in double-peaked narrow-line active galactic nuclei. I. Markers for selection of compelling dual active galactic nucleus candidates. (2012)

Keywords : galaxies active; galaxies: interactions; galaxies: nuclei

Abstract:Merger-remnant galaxies with kiloparsec (kpc) scale separation dual active galactic nuclei (AGNs) should be widespread as a consequence of galaxy mergers and triggered gas accretion onto supermassive black holes, yet very few dual AGNs have been observed. Galaxies with double-peaked narrow AGN emission lines in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) are plausible dual AGN candidates, but their double-peaked profiles could also be the result of gas kinematics or AGN-driven outflows and jets on small or large scales. To help distinguish between these scenarios, we have obtained spatial profiles of the AGN emission via follow-up long-slit spectroscopy of 81 double-peaked narrow-line AGNs in SDSS at 0.03<=z<=0.36 using Lick, ...(more)
Abstract: (hide)
We selected targets from the three catalogs that have identified active galaxies in SDSS with double-peaked [OIII] {lambda}5007 emission lines: Wang et al. (2009, Cat. J/ApJ/705/L76), Liu et al. (2010, Cat. J/ApJ/708/427), and Smith et al. (2010, Cat. J/ApJ/716/866) (we note that one of the objects in Smith et al. 2010 was originally identified in Xu & Komossa 2009ApJ...705L..20X). We obtained follow-up long-slit spectroscopy, during 2009 and 2010, for a sample of 81 double-peaked AGNs at 0.03<=z<=0.36 and 14.5<=r<=18.5 using the Kast Spectrograph at the Lick 3m telescope (pixel size 0.78"), the Double Spectrograph (DBSP) on the Palomar 5m telescope (pixel size 0.47" for the red detector and 0.39" for the blue detector), and the Blue Channel Spectrograph on the MMT 6.5m telescope (pixel size 0.29"). We observed each target twice, with the slit at two different position angles, in order to determine the orientation of the AGN emission components on the plane of the sky.


                
Catalogue provenance