Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-1-2023
Department
Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
We explore the properties of galaxies in the proximity (within a ∼2 Mpc radius sphere) of Type I quasars at 0.1 <z <0.35, to check whether and how an active galaxy influences the properties of its neighbors. We further compare these with the properties of neighbors around inactive galaxies of the same mass and redshift within the same volume of space, using the Galaxy and Mass Assembly spectroscopic survey. Our observations reveal no significant difference in properties such as the number of neighbors, morphologies, stellar mass, star formation rates, and star formation history between the neighbors of quasars and those of the comparison sample. This implies that quasar activity in a host galaxy does not significantly affect its neighbors (e.g., via interactions with the jets). Our results suggest that quasar host galaxies do not strongly differ from the average galaxy within the specified mass and redshift range. Additionally, the implication of the relatively minor importance of the environmental effect on and from quasars is that nuclear activity is more likely triggered by internal and secular processes.
Original Publication Information
Maria B. Stone et al 2023 ApJ 946 116. DOI 10.3847/1538-4357/acbd4d
ThinkIR Citation
Stone, Maria B.; Wethers, Clare F.; de Propris, Roberto; Kotilainen, Jari; Acharya, Nischal; Holwerda, Benne W.; Loveday, Jonathan; and Phillipps, Steven, "Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA): Low-redshift Quasars and Inactive Galaxies Have Similar Neighbors" (2023). Faculty and Staff Scholarship. 896.
https://ir.library.louisville.edu/faculty/896
DOI
10.3847/1538-4357/acbd4d
ORCID
0000-0002-4884-6756
Comments
© 2023. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.
Original content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.