Properties of type 1 AGNs

We use tidal features, detected in deep images from the DESI Legacy Imaging Survey, as direct evidence of recent mergers. We find that the fraction of type 1 AGN hosts with tidal features (f_T_) is higher for AGNs with higher luminosities and (to a lesser extent) more massive black holes.

Specifically, f_T_ rapidly increases from 0.05+/-0.03 to 0.75+/-0.13 as the luminosity of the [OIII] {lambda}5007 emission line (L_[OIII]_), an indicator for bolometric AGN luminosity, increases in the range of 10^39.5^<~L_[OIII]_/(erg/s)<~10^42.5. In addition, f_T_ increases from 0.13+/-0.03 to 0.43+/-0.09 as black hole mass (M_BH) increases in the range of 10^6.0<~M_BH_/M_{sun}_<~10^8.5. The fraction f_T_ also increases with the Eddington ratio, although the trend is less significant compared to that with L_[OIII]_ and M_BH_.