Detail for Program: GN-2009B-Q-58

Abstract

We propose Q band (16-25 micron) spectroscopy of the nucleus of NGC 1068 with Michelle or T-ReCS. Our Michelle N band data on this galaxy have revealed a wealth of complex structure at its core. We have interpreted this structure in terms of the compact torus of the AGN unified model, an extended disk of material possibly feeding the nucleus, and a dusty narrow-line region, and have used clumpy torus models to constrain the structure and geometry of the torus. Complementing this rich data set with Q band spectroscopy promises to remove degeneracies in the model fits and show whether silicate emission can arise in the narrow-line region of AGN, as proposed to explain Spitzer spectra of (unresolved) QSOs. The proposed observations would be the first spatially resolved, small-aperture Q band spectra of any AGN, and the only sub-arcsecond resolution 20 micron spectra available for constraining models of the torus.

Publications using this program's data

[data] [ADS] Torus and Active Galactic Nucleus Properties of Nearby Seyfert Galaxies: Results from Fitting Infrared Spectral Energy Distributions and Spectroscopy

[data] [ADS] Nuclear Star Formation Activity and Black Hole Accretion in Nearby Seyfert Galaxies

[data] [ADS] Investigating the sensitivity of observed spectral energy distributions to clumpy torus properties in Seyfert galaxies

[data] [ADS] The Differences in the Torus Geometry between Hidden and Non-hidden Broad Line Active Galactic Nuclei

[data] [ADS] AGN Torus Detectability at Submillimeter Wavelengths: What to Expect from ALMA Continuum Data

[data] [ADS] The Complex Infrared Dust Continuum Emission of NGC 1068: Ground-based N- and Q-band Spectroscopy and New Radiative Transfer Models

Title:	Further spectroscopic investigations of NGC 1068
PI:	Rachel Mason
Co-I(s):	Almudena Alonso Herrero, Nancy Levenson, James Radomski, Chris Packham, Pat Roche, Los Piratas (the CanariCam AGN science team)