The interacting late-type host galaxy of the radio-loud narrow-line Seyfert 1 IRAS 20181-2244

TL;DR

This study investigates the host galaxy of the radio-loud NLS1 IRAS 20181-2244, revealing an interacting late-type galaxy system, which may imply the existence of two populations of jetted NLS1s.

Contribution

First detailed morphological analysis of the host galaxy of a jetted NLS1, highlighting its interacting nature and potential implications for NLS1 populations.

Findings

Host galaxy is an interacting system of two galaxies.

The host galaxy is likely late-type, but not conclusively.

Results suggest possible existence of two NLS1 populations.

Abstract

Narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1s) are a class of active galactic nuclei (AGN) which are known to be one of the few sources of $\gamma$ rays, which originate in a relativistic beamed jet. Becuase of their relatively large distance, a poorly investigated aspect of these jetted NLS1s is their environment, and in particular their host galaxy. In this work we present the results of a morphological analysis of the host galaxy of the jetted NLS1 IRAS 20181-2244 observed with the 6.5m Baade Telescope of the Las Campanas Observatory. The GALFIT analysis ran on the Ks image, along with additional spectroscopic observations performed with the Nordic Optical Telescope, clearly revealed the presence of an interacting system of two galaxies. The data suggest that this NLS1 is hosted by a late-type galaxy, although the result is not conclusive. This analysis, along with other results in the literature, might suggest that two populations of jetted NLS1 exist. Further morphological studies are needed to confirm or disprove this hypothesis.