Feeding and Feedback in Active Galactic Nuclei

该项目的目标是利用积分场光谱技术，对核活动范围广泛的活动星系的大样本中的环核气体进行系统研究，以确定质量流入中央黑洞的机制。具体而言，该研究将（1）确定与螺旋尘埃特征相关的气体流动运动的发生率，并量化质量流入率;（2）在类似尺度上绘制高激发气体的流出图，以研究流入，黑洞功率和流出之间的关系。这项工作将测试理论预测，即亚千秒差距尺度上的螺旋不稳定性产生的气体流入与为当地活跃星系推断的吸积率兼容，为核触发和燃料机制提供新的见解，并限制当地宇宙中的超大质量黑洞增长率。这项工作的更广泛影响包括对本科生和研究生进行光谱研究技术的培训。 参与的本科生和高中生将参加RIT Insight Lab的“研究孵化器”，该孵化器提供了许多促进他们发展的机会。

The goal of this project is to use the technique of integral field spectroscopy to conduct a systematic study of the circum-nuclear gas in a large sample of active galaxies spanning a wide range in nuclear activity, to identify the mechanism for mass inflow into the central black hole. Specifically, the research will (1) determine the incidence of gas streaming motions associated with spiral dust features and quantify the mass inflow rates; (2) map outflows in high excitation gas on similar scales, to investigate the relationship between inflows, black hole power and outflows. The work will test theoretical predictions that spiral instabilities on sub-kiloparsec scales generate gas inflows compatible with the accretion rates inferred for local active galaxies, providing new insights into nuclear triggering and fuelling mechanisms and constraining supermassive black hole growth rates in the local Universe. Broader impacts of the work include training of undergraduate and graduate students in spectroscopic research techniques. Involved undergraduate and high school students will participate in the RIT Insight Lab's "Research Incubator," which offers many opportunities to promote their development.