A Comparison of Radio Axis with Host Galaxy Plane Axis in Seyfert Galaxies

Abstract

We use the radio axis as an indicator of the orientation of the obscuring torus in Seyfert galaxies, and analyze the difference between the position angles of extended radio structures and host galaxy major axis of Seyfert 1 and Seyfert 2 galaxies. We find that Seyfert 1's are less likely to have extended radio structures along the host galaxy major axis, while Seyfert 2's have these structures distributed in most directions. We also find a zone of avoidance in the distribution of position angles; both Seyfert 1's and Seyfert 2's seem to avoid close alignment between the radio axis and the host galaxy plane axis. These results are analyzed from the point of view of a model in which Seyfert 1's have their obscuring torus axis aligned preferentially along the host galaxy disk axis, and Seyfert 2's have their torus axis laying at an intermediate angle between the galaxy disk and its axis.