The Nature of Jets in Double-Peaked Emission Line AGN in the KISSR Sample

TL;DR

This study uses VLBA radio observations to analyze the jet activity and emission-line characteristics of double-peaked emission line AGN in the KISSR sample, revealing jets' significant role in AGN feedback.

Contribution

First VLBA-based study of parsec-scale jets in KISSR double-peaked AGN, showing jets influence emission lines and AGN feedback in radio-quiet AGN.

Findings

Jets detected in over 60% of sources with VLBA.

LINERs show less missing flux density on parsec scales.

Jets likely influence emission-line splitting in 5 out of 9 sources.

Abstract

Double-peaked emission line AGN (DPAGN) have been regarded as binary black hole candidates. We present here results from parsec-scale radio observations with the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) of five DPAGN belonging to the KISSR sample of emission-line galaxies. This work concludes our pilot study of nine type 2 Seyfert and LINER DPAGN from the KISSR sample. In the nine sources, dual compact cores are only detected in the "offset AGN", KISSR 102. The overall incidence of jets however, in the eight sources detected with the VLBA, is $\ge$60%. We find a difference in the "missing flux density" going from the Very Large Array (VLA) to VLBA scales between Seyferts and LINERs, with LINERs showing less missing flux density on parsec-scales. Using the emission-line modeling code, MAPPINGS III, we find that the emission lines are likely to be influenced by jets in 5/9 sources. Jet-medium interaction is the likely cause of the emission-line splitting observed in the SDSS spectra of these sources. Jets in radio-quiet AGN are therefore energetically capable of influencing their parsec- and kpc-scale environments, making them agents of "radio AGN feedback", similar to radio-loud AGN.