On Type 1 Active Galactic Nuclei with Double-peaked [O <scp>iii</scp>]. I. Data Sample and Basic Results
Qi Zheng, Yansong Ma, Xueguang Zhang, Qirong Yuan, Wei‐Hao Bian
Abstract
Abstract Double-peaked narrow emission lines (DPNELs) might be evidence for the existence of kiloparsec-scale dual active galactic nuclei (AGNs). There are so far large samples of objects with DPNELs in narrow emission-line galaxies. Here, a systematic search is made to build a sample of type 1 AGNs with double-peaked [O iii ] from Data Release 16 of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Through visually inspecting and fitting [O iii ], fitting broad H α emission lines, performing an F-test for [O iii ] profiles, and checking broad H β and [O iii ] emission lines, we select 62 type 1 AGNs with reliable double-peaked [O iii ] from 11,557 QSOs with z < 0.3. After visually checking the 62 SDSS multicolor images, we find only seven objects with signs of merging. Four possible models for the double-peaked [O iii ] observed in our sample are discussed: the superposition model, AGN outflow model, dual AGN model, and rotating disk model. However, the current results cannot provide any one explanation conclusively, and additional observational data are needed to provide the details of the narrow-line regions. But at least 22 objects with different velocity offsets between double-peaked [O iii ] and narrow H α emission lines could be excluded as dual AGN candidates. The relative velocity offsets of the [O iii ] blueshifted/redshifted components are negative to their line flux ratios, which is consistent with the dual AGN model. This work provides a new sample of 62 type 1 AGNs with double-peaked [O iii ] for further study.