Spectropolarimetric Investigation of Gas Flows in the Inner Parsec of Active Galactic Nuclei

受资助的研究将通过分析和模拟塞弗特星系及其更明亮的对应物，无线电安静类星体的大样本中的光发射线和连续谱的偏振测量来研究活动星系核（AGN）的内部结构。 本文的工作将解决当前活动星系核研究中的以下问题：1）宽发射线区的结构; 2）吸积盘周围散射气体流的几何和运动学; 3）这些结构对黑洞质量和吸积率等基本参数的依赖性。更广泛的影响包括对本科生和博士后的培训，通过网页的传播，以及为当地高中生提供一系列结构化的研究经验。

The funded research will investigate the inner structures of Active Galactic Nucleii (AGN) by analyzing and modeling measurements of the polarization of the optical emission lines and continuum in large samples of Seyfert galaxies and their more luminous counterparts, radio-quiet quasars. The work will address the following problems in current AGN research: 1) the structure of the broad-emission line region; 2) the geometry and kinematics of the scattering gas flows around the accretion disk; and 3) the dependence of these structures on fundamental parameters such as black hole mass and accretion rate.The broader impacts include training of undergraduates and a postdoc, dissemination via web pages, and a structured series of research experiences for local high school students.