SDSS J222428.53+261423.2: unique emission lines properties unveil a sub-kiloparsec dual AGN candidate

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the optical spectrum of SDSS J2224, a candidate dual AGN with double-peaked emission lines, suggesting a sub-kiloparsec separation and providing insights into galaxy merging processes.

Contribution

It presents the first detailed spectral analysis of a dual AGN candidate with double-peaked emission lines, proposing a sub-kpc separation and discussing alternative explanations.

Findings

Double-peaked narrow emission lines observed with ~930 km/s separation.

Estimated physical separation between cores is about 500 parsecs.

Supports the dual AGN scenario linked to galaxy merging at sub-kpc scales.

Abstract

In this paper, we presented a detailed analysis of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey optical spectrum of a new sub-kpc scale dual AGN candidate SDSS J222428.53+261423.2 (=SDSS J2224). The target is one of the few AGNs with all the optical narrow emission lines characterized by double-peaked profiles and with peak separations in velocity units of about 930 km/s. If the double-peaked narrow emission lines (DPNELs) are due to a dual AGN in \obj, the estimated physical separation between the two cores is about 500 pc. Meanwhile, three alternative explanations are also discussed in this paper, however, we can not find solid evidence to completely rule them out. Our results support the presence of a sub-kpc dual AGN with DPNELs in all lines, indicating a key episode of galaxy merging evolution at sub-kpc scale.