A host galaxy study of southern narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies

TL;DR

This study investigates the host galaxy types of southern narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies, revealing they are predominantly disk-like, and explores dust features possibly linked to galaxy mergers.

Contribution

First multi-source analysis of southern NLS1 galaxy hosts using near-infrared imaging and GALFIT modeling.

Findings

All modeled sources are disk-like galaxies, either spirals or lenticulars.

Significant dust extinction observed near galaxy cores.

Results support that jetted NLS1s mainly reside in disk-like hosts.

Abstract

We studied seven nearby narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) galaxies in $J$- and $Ks$-bands with redshifts varying from 0.019 to 0.092. This is the first multi-source study targeting the hosts of southern NLS1 galaxies. Our data was obtained with the FourStar instrument of the 6.5~m Magellan Baade telescope at the Las Campanas Observatory (Chile). The aim of our study is to determine the host galaxy morphologies of these sources by using GALFIT. We were able to model six out of the seven sources reliably. Our conclusion is that all of the reliably modelled sources are disk-like galaxies, either spirals or lenticulars. None of these sources present elliptical morphology. Our findings are in agreement with the hypothesis that disk-like galaxies are the main host of jetted NLS1 galaxies. Taking advantage of observations in two bands, we also produced a $J - Ks$ colour map of each source. Five of the six colour maps show significant dust extinction near the core of the galaxy -- a feature often seen in gamma-ray-detected jetted NLS1 galaxies, and interpreted to be a consequence of a past minor merger.