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Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA): active galactic nuclei in pairs of galaxies

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posted on 2023-06-09, 06:19 authored by Yjan A Gordon, Matt S Owers, Kevin A Pimbblet, Scott M Croom, Mehmet Alpaslan, Ivan K Baldry, Sarah Brough, Michael J I Brown, Michelle E Cluver, Christopher J Conselice, Luke J M Davies, Benne W Holwerda, Andrew M Hopkins, Madusha L P Gunawardhana, Jonathan LovedayJonathan Loveday, Edward N Taylor, Lingyu Wang
There exist conflicting observations on whether or not the environment of broad- and narrowline active galatic nuclei (AGN) differ and this consequently questions the validity of the AGN unification model. The high spectroscopic completeness of the Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA) survey makes it ideal for a comprehensive analysis of the close environment of galaxies. To exploit this, and conduct a comparative analysis of the environment of broad- and narrow-line AGN within GAMA, we use a double-Gaussian emission line fitting method to model the more complex line profiles associated with broad-line AGN. We select 209 type 1 (i.e. unobscured), 464 type 1.5–1.9 (partially obscured), and 281 type 2 (obscured) AGN within the GAMA II data base. Comparing the fractions of these with neighbouring galaxies out to a pair separation of 350 kpc h-1 and ?z < 0.012 shows no difference between AGN of different type, except at separations less than 20 kpc h-1 where our observations suggest an excess of type 2 AGN in close pairs. We analyse the properties of the galaxies neighbouring our AGN and find no significant differences in colour or the star formation activity of these galaxies. Further to this, we find that S5 is also consistent between broad- and narrow-line AGN. We conclude that the observations presented here are consistent with AGN unification.

Funding

Astronomy Centre Rolling Grant; G0679; STFC-SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL; ST/F002858/1

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

ISSN

0035-8711

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Issue

3

Volume

465

Page range

2671-2686

Department affiliated with

  • Physics and Astronomy Publications

Research groups affiliated with

  • Astronomy Centre Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2017-05-19

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2017-05-19

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2017-05-19

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