The host-galaxy of the gamma-ray Narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy 1H~0323+342

TL;DR

This study investigates the host galaxy structure of the gamma-ray emitting Narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy 1H 0323+342 using optical and NIR imaging, revealing a possible asymmetric ring structure linked to recent galaxy interaction.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed structural analysis of 1H 0323+342's host galaxy, suggesting a complex morphology with a potential recent dynamical interaction.

Findings

Host galaxy best modeled by a nuclear component plus Sersic profile

Presence of a possible asymmetric ring structure

Galaxy may have undergone recent violent interaction

Abstract

We present optical and near infrared (NIR) imaging data of the radio-loud Narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy 1H 0323+342, which shows intense and variable gamma-ray activity discovered by the Fermi satellite with the Large Area Telescope. NIR and optical images are used to investigate the structural properties of the host galaxy of 1H 0323+342; this together with optical spectroscopy allowed us to examine its black hole mass. Based on the 2D multiwavelength surface brightness modeling, we find that, statistically, the best model fit is a combination of a nuclear component and a S\'ersic profile (n~2.8). However, the presence of a disc component (with a small bulge n~1.2) remains also a possibility and cannot be ruled out with the present data. Although at first glance a spiral-arm like structure is revealed in our images, a 2D Fourier analysis of the imagery suggests that such structure corresponds to an asymmetric ring, likely associated to a recent violent dynamical interaction. We discuss our results on the context of relativistic jets production and galaxy evolution.