RUI: A New Paradigm for AGN Obscuration: Observational Constraints for Dynamic Torus Models

RUI：AGN 遮蔽的新范式：动态环面模型的观测约束

• 批准号: 2308393
• 负责人: Erin Hicks
• 金额: $ 15.34万
• 依托单位: University of Alaska Anchorage Campus
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-08-15 至 2026-07-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2308393&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; New; Paradigm; AGN; Obscuration

This program will advance our understanding of the role supermassive black holes play in the formation and evolution of galaxies. This will be achieved through a comprehensive study of the regions surrounding supermassive black holes in a large sample of nearby galaxies with actively growing black holes. The observations will measure the distribution and motions of the molecular, ionized, and coronal gas, as well as that of the stars, within vicinity of the central black hole. This sample of galaxies will support a robust investigation of the inflow of materials feeding the black hole growth and the influence this activity has on the rest of the galaxy. The research will include substantial involvement by at least six undergraduate students and will provide them an authentic research experience working with state-of-the-art data in an educational experience that will prepare them for advancement to graduate school or workforce placement. A particular focus will be placed on recruiting undergraduate students from traditionally underrepresented groups. The general public and youth groups will also be engaged during planetarium shows, multiweek courses held for an Anchorage lifelong learners program, and through hands-on activities to be offered during established campus public events. While it is acknowledged that supermassive black holes play a fundamental role in the evolution of galaxies, the nature of the relationship between these black holes and their host galaxies has yet to be established. Theoretical models attempt to reproduce the observed black hole-host galaxy correlations, but due to a lack of observational constraints these models must make broad assumptions about the physical processes responsible. Only local active galactic nuclei (AGN) offer adequate spatial resolution to investigate the circumnuclear regions relevant to the time scales of the AGN lifetime. The distribution and kinematics of the molecular, ionized, and coronal gas, as well as that of the stars will be measured within the relevant central region (central 500pc) in a sample of 90 bona fide AGN with adaptive optics near-infrared integral-field spectroscopic data available from Keck/OSIRIS and VLT/SINFONI.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

该计划将促进我们对超大质量黑洞在星系形成和演化中所起作用的理解。这将通过全面研究黑洞活跃增长的邻近星系中超大质量黑洞周围的区域来实现。观测将测量分子，电离和日冕气体的分布和运动，以及中心黑洞附近的恒星。这个星系样本将支持对黑洞生长的物质流入以及这种活动对星系其余部分的影响进行强有力的调查。该研究将包括至少六名本科生的实质性参与，并将为他们提供真实的研究经验，在教育经验中使用最先进的数据，为他们进入研究生院或劳动力安置做好准备。将特别注重从传统上代表性不足的群体中招收本科生。公众和青年团体也将参与天文馆表演，为安克雷奇终身学习者计划举办的为期数周的课程，以及在既定的校园公共活动期间提供的实践活动。虽然人们承认超大质量黑洞在星系演化中发挥着重要作用，但这些黑洞与其宿主星系之间的关系性质尚未确定。理论模型试图重现观测到的黑洞-宿主星系相关性，但由于缺乏观测约束，这些模型必须对物理过程进行广泛的假设。只有局部活动星系核（AGN）提供足够的空间分辨率来研究与AGN寿命时间尺度相关的环核区域。分子、电离和日冕气体的分布和运动学，以及恒星的亮度将在相关的中心区域内测量（中心500 pc）在90个真实活动星系核的样本中，自适应光学近红外积分场光谱数据可从Keck/OSIRIS和VLT/该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估。