0 Assigned ID: 4967 ----- Attempting Submission 1 (Fri Mar 01 16:51:28 GMT 2024) ----- HST Phase I Proposal 4967 successfully submitted. Receipt: # 4967-1 ----- Attempting Submission 2 (Mon Mar 25 21:56:08 GMT 2024) ----- Galaxy mergers are predicted to be efficient at triggering active galactic nuclei (AGN) and may play a role in the evolution of the massive black hole population. However, while theory suggests that AGN luminosities are strongly dependent on their host galaxy stellar masses, this dependence has not yet been tested on large samples of AGN in late-stage mergers due to AGN selection methods that are unable to spatially resolve their locations within mergers. To overcome this limitation, we have developed the first systematic, wide-area sample of spatially offset AGN by cross-matching sources from the VLA Sky Survey with galaxies from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. The selection requires that the AGN be spatially located within the host galaxy and can quantify the merger stage down to small physical separations. Therefore, we propose to use archival HST imaging to detect the individual host galaxies associated with our sample of offset AGN to directly test the merger-AGN connection. The high sensitivity and spatial resolution of HST can detect the faint stellar cores of offset AGN, and the large body of archival HST imaging is expected to identify the galaxies of ~120 offset AGN (~10 times the size of previous samples). We will use this sample to test the role of galaxy mergers for enhancing AGN luminosities, the relative contributions of minor and major mergers, and the dependence on merger stage. This project will also have a larger impact on understanding the role of secular evolution of the massive black hole population and in the identification of precursors to potential binary black holes and hence future gravitational wave sources. PI Barrows: Dr. Scott Barrows has significant experience working with multi-wavelength data of active galactic nuclei (AGN) and in the identification of AGN in galaxy mergers. PI Barrows also has extensive experience modeling and analyzing the morphologies of galaxies with near-infrared and optical HST imaging, which will be the primary component of this project. PI Barrows will be responsible for the overall direction and success of the project. PI Barrows will also be responsible for completing all analysis steps. This consists of assembling the dataset of HST imaging, the image modeling, and the overall scientific analysis. Co-I Comerford: Prof. Julia Comerford is an expert on studies of AGN and galaxy evolution, particularly with respect to galaxy mergers and offset AGN. Dr. Comerford also has significant experience working with HST imaging of galaxies. Co-I Comerford will assist in the analysis and interpretation of the results. Co-I Zavala: Dr. Robert Zavala is an expert on observational properties of galaxies and AGN, particularly radio observations (which are the dataset used to originally identify the AGN) and binary massive black holes (MBHs). Co-I Zavala will search for radio variability among the offset AGN and assist in the analysis and interpretation of the results. Co-I West: Dr. Michael West is an expert on multi-wavelength observations of AGN and MBHs, particularly with respect to MBHs that have been accreted by massive galaxies (as is the case for many offset AGN in this project). Co-I West will assist in the analysis and interpretation of the results. Co-I Levine: Dr. Stephen Levine is an expert on galaxy dynamics, from both an observational and theoretical perspective. This especially includes the dynamical evolution of galaxies and MBHs in mergers. Co-I Levine will assist in the analysis and interpretation of the results. Supermassive Black Holes and Active Galaxies Galaxies 0 false false false false false false false SUPPORTED