SDSSJ092712.65+294344.0: NGC 1275 at z=0.7?

TL;DR

This paper discusses the peculiar quasar SDSSJ092712.65+294344.0 with dual emission lines, proposing a new interpretation that it resembles a galaxy interaction near a cluster center, differing from prior black hole merger or binary hypotheses.

Contribution

It introduces a novel interpretation of the system as a galaxy interaction similar to NGC 1275, challenging previous black hole merger or binary models.

Findings

The system shows two emission line systems offset by 2650 km/s.

It resembles a galaxy interaction near a rich cluster center.

Previous models of black hole merger or binary are challenged.

Abstract

SDSSJ092712.65+294344.0 was identified by the SDSS as a quasar, but has the unusual property of having two emission line systems offset by 2650 km/s. One of these contains the usual combination of broad and narrow lines, the other only narrow lines. In the first paper commenting on this system (Komossa et al. 2008), it was interpreted as a galaxy in which a pair of black holes had merged, imparting a several thousand km/s recoil to the new, larger black hole. In two other papers (Bogdanovic, Eracleous & Sigurdsson 2008; Dotti et al. 2008), it was interpreted as a small-separation binary black hole. We propose a new interpretation: that this system is a more distant analog of NGC1275, a large and a small galaxy interacting near the center of a rich cluster.