Jet Directions in Seyfert Galaxies

Abstract

We present the study of the relative angle between the accretion disk (orradio jet) and the galaxy disk for a sample of Seyfert galaxies selected from amostly isotropic property, the 60$\\mu$m flux. For each galaxy we have a pair ofpoints ($i$,$\\delta$), which are the inclination of the galaxy relative to theline of sight and the angle between the jet projected into the plane of the skyand the host galaxy major axis, respectively. This data is combined with astatistical technique to determine the distribution of $\\beta$ angles {\\it in 3dimensions}, the angle between the jet and the host galaxy plane axis. Theanalysis of the data, not differentiating between Seyfert 1's and 2's, showedthat the observed distribution of $i$ and $\\delta$ values can be wellrepresented by a homogeneous $\\beta-$distribution in the range$0^{\\circ}\\leq\\beta\\leq90^{\\circ}$. However, when we distinguished betweenSeyfert 1's and 2's, the models could not represent Seyfert 1's adequately. Itwas necessary to introduce viewing angle restrictions, that a galaxy can onlybe recognized as a Seyfert 1 if the angle between the jet and the line of sight($|\\phi|$) is smaller than a given angle $\\phi_c$ and that the galaxyinclination $i$ is smaller than an angle $i_c$, in order to have statisticallyacceptable models. This is a direct and independent confirmation of theunderlying concepts of the Unified Model. We discuss several ways to explainthe misalignment between the accretion disk axis and the host galaxy disk axis.