The Nature of LoBAL QSOs. II. HST/WFC3 Observations Reveal Host Galaxies Dominated by Mergers

Low-ionization broad absorption line QSOs (LoBALs) are suspected to be merging systems in which extreme, active galactic nucleus-driven outflows have been triggered. Whether or not LoBALs are uniquely associated with mergers, however, has yet to be established. To characterize the morphologies of Lo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Astrophysical journal 2023-06, Vol.949 (2), p.69
Main Authors: Lazarova, Mariana S., Canalizo, Gabriela, Lacy, Mark, Behn, Wyatt, Raub, Kaitlyn, Bennert, Vardha N., Farrah, Duncan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accretion disks
Acquisitions & mergers
Active galactic nuclei
Active galaxies
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Broad-absorption line quasar
Deposition
Field cameras
Galaxies
Galaxy evolution
Hubble Space Telescope
Interacting galaxies
Ionization
Morphology
Outflow
Quasars
Sky surveys (astronomy)
Space telescopes
Stars & galaxies
Stellar populations
Surface brightness
Tidal interaction
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Summary:Low-ionization broad absorption line QSOs (LoBALs) are suspected to be merging systems in which extreme, active galactic nucleus-driven outflows have been triggered. Whether or not LoBALs are uniquely associated with mergers, however, has yet to be established. To characterize the morphologies of LoBALs, we present the first high-resolution morphological analysis of a volume-limited sample of 22 Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS)-selected LoBALs at 0.5 < z < 0.6 from Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 observations. Host galaxies are resolved in 86% of the systems in F125W, which is sensitive to old stellar populations, while only 18% are detected in F475W, which traces young, unobscured stellar populations. Signs of recent or ongoing tidal interaction are present in 45%–64% of the hosts, including double nuclei, tidal tails, bridges, plumes, shells, and extended debris. Ongoing interaction with a companion is apparent in 27%−41% of the LoBALs, with as much as 1/3 of the sample representing late-stage mergers at projected nuclear separations
ISSN:0004-637X
1538-4357
DOI:10.3847/1538-4357/acc6d0