GAMA survey insights into low-z type I quasar host star formation history and close companions

In this talk, I will discuss the insights we learned by studying the nearby environments of more than 200 low-redshift Type I quasar fields using archival data from the GAMA spectroscopic survey. We looked at the properties of close companion galaxies to each quasar. Furthermore, we studied the star formation history of the quasar hosts as well. Crucially, our studies have comparison samples of normal (inactive) galaxies. Our results reveal that major mergers are not responsible for the ignition of the AGN in these systems. It is possible that instead minor mergers and secular events (such as bar instability) drive the activation of the central SMBH.