Obscured Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 Galaxy Candidate Mrk 1388 with Nonthermal Jets

TL;DR

This study identifies Mrk 1388 as an obscured NLS1 galaxy with nonthermal jets, using VLBI and HST data to estimate a black hole mass consistent with typical NLS1s, despite its peculiar spectral features.

Contribution

The paper provides multi-wavelength observations revealing nonthermal jets and estimates black hole mass in Mrk 1388, clarifying its nature as an obscured NLS1 galaxy.

Findings

Detection of high-brightness nonthermal jets via VLBI.

Black hole mass estimates around 1-5 million solar masses.

Obscuration explains peculiar spectral features.

Abstract

Mrk 1388 has an unusual Seyfert nucleus that shows narrow emission-line components without broad ones, but shows a strong featureless continuum and strong iron-forbidden high-ionization emission lines. The apparent coexistence of type-1/2 characteristics is potentially attributed to a heavily obscured broad-line region or to an intermediate-mass black hole with a broad-line component intrinsically narrower than those of typical narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) galaxies. Our observation using very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) reveals high-brightness radio emission from nonthermal jets from an active galactic nucleus (AGN) with a significant radio luminosity. Furthermore, we investigate the radial profile of the host galaxy using a Hubble Space Telescope (HST) image, which shows a Sersic index suggestive of a pseudobulge. Using the VLBI and HST results, which are essentially not affected by dust extinction, three individual methods provide similar estimates for the black hole mass: (0.76--5.4)x10^6 M_sun, 1.5x10^6 M_sun, and 4.1x10^6 M_sun. These masses are in a range that is preferential for typical NLS1 galaxies rather than for intermediate-mass black holes. Based on the estimated masses, the full width at half maximum $FWHM(H_\beta)$ of approximately 1200--1700 km/s should have been seen. The scenario of a heavily absorbed NLS1 nucleus can explain the peculiarities previously observed.