2022MNRAS.516.4338D

Different physical processes in galaxy evolution, such as galaxy mergers that lead to coalescence of dual Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) and outflows emanating from the narrow line region, can leave their imprint on the optical spectra of AGN in the form of double-peaked narrow emission lines. To investigate the neutral gas in the centres of such AGN, we have conducted a pilot survey of H I 21-cm absorption, using the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT), in radio-loud AGN whose optical spectra show double-peaked [O III] emission lines at z ≤ 0.4 (median z ≈ 0.14). Among the eight sources for which we could obtain clean spectra, we detect H I 21-cm absorption in three sources (detection rate of $38^{+36}_{-20}$ per cent) and find tentative indication of absorption in two other sources. The detection rate of H I 21-cm absorption is tentatively higher for the systems that show signatures of interaction or tidal disturbance (≳ 50 per cent) in the ground-based optical images than that for the systems that appear single and undisturbed (≈25 per cent). This is consistent with the high incidence of H I 21-cm absorption observed in z ≤ 0.2 galaxy mergers. Higher spatial resolution spectroscopy is required to confirm the origin of the H I absorbing gas, i.e. either gas infalling on to the radio-loud AGN, outflowing gas ejected by the AGN, or gas in rotation on the galactic-scale or circumnuclear discs.