Program: GN-2011A-Q-55

We propose to assemble comprehensive infrared spectral energy distributions (SEDs) for five low-luminosity AGN (LLAGN), through imaging with NIRI and Michelle. AGN appear to spend most of their lifecycles in a state of low activity, so to understand accretion phenomena, it is necessary to understand LLAGN. Some models predict that the IR-bright dusty torus of Seyferts and quasars disappears at low AGN luminosities, while others suggest that a radiatively-inefficient accretion flow should peak at mid-IR wavelengths. IR SEDs of LLAGN have the potential to test these model predictions. Remarkably, though, the IR SEDs of LINERs and other LLAGN remain poorly-constrained at the high angular resolution necessary to isolate the faint nuclei. Through the proposed observations we aim to construct the first well-sampled, high-resolution IR SEDs of almost any LLAGN and put robust constraints on the processes contributing to the IR emission.