Obscuration and Scattering in Narrow-Line Seyfert 1s

Abstract

Narrow-line Seyfert 1s (NLS1s) observed at large inclinations from face-on are important for understanding this amazing AGN subclass. However, progress is slowly being made in the huntings and studies of highly obscured (EB–V ≥ 1) NLS1s. Recently, we discovered that multi-wavelength photometric and polarimetric analysis can be of great help in identifying and studying highly obscured NLS1s. This paper presents an intercomparison study of three typical highly obscured NLS1s. By joint analysis of extinction, absorption lines, and scattered AGN radiation, properties of the nucleus (disk and broad emission line regions) are measured. Physical and geometrical conditions about circum-nucleus obscuring/scattering clouds are also estimated. In addition, the host galaxies which are usually difficult to observe in such high luminosity NLS1s are also revealed in these targets. The results show that obscuration and scattering can be powerful probes to obscured NLS1s. Analogues of these obscured NLS1s are found to widely exist. In addition, they will be followed up in our future works, so as to understand the nuclei, circum-nucleus clouds, and host galaxies of NLS1s.