European VLBI Network Observations of the Proposed Dual AGN SDSS J101022.95+141300.9

TL;DR

This study used VLBI observations to investigate a candidate dual AGN galaxy, revealing a single radio feature offset from optical sources, challenging its dual AGN classification.

Contribution

First VLBI imaging of the dual AGN candidate SDSS J101022.95+141300.9, providing insights into its radio structure and challenging previous dual AGN claims.

Findings

Detected a single radio feature offset from optical sources

Challenged the dual AGN classification of the galaxy

Provided multi-wavelength analysis insights

Abstract

During galaxy merger events, the supermassive black holes in the center of the galaxies may form a pair of active galactic nuclei (AGN) with kpc-scale or even pc-scale separation. Recently, optical observations revealed a promising dual AGN candidate at the center of the galaxy SDSS J101022.95$+$141300.9 (hereafter J1010$+$1413). The presence of two distinct [O III]-emitting point sources with a projected separation of $\sim 430$ pc indicates a dual AGN system. To search for AGN-dominated radio emission originating from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) point sources, we carried out very long baseline interferometry observations. We resolved the radio structure of J1010$+$1413 and detected a single feature offset from the HST point sources and also from the Gaia optical position of the object. Our multi-wavelength analysis of J1010$+$1413 inferred two possible interpretations of the observed properties challenging its proposed dual AGN classification.