Program: GN-2013A-Q-16

Title:NIR spectroscopy of Palomar AGN
PI:Rachel Mason
Co-I(s): Alberto Rodriguez-Ardila, Daniel Ruschel Dutra, Almudena Alonso-Herrero, Omaira Gonzalez-Martin, Ruben Diaz, Rogerio Riffel, Helene Flohic, Paulina Lira, Richardo Schiavon, Luis Colina, Claudia Winge, Karun Thanjavur, Inger Jorgensen, Marie Lemoine-Busserolle, Cristina Ramos Almeida, Tanio Diaz-Santos, Richard McDermid, Nancy Levenson, Luis Ho, Percy Gomez, Eric Perlman

Abstract

We propose to continue our infrared investigation of Palomar AGN with GNIRS cross- dispersed spectroscopy of a further 27 Seyferts and LINERs. The spectra will advance our knowledge of AGN physics and lifecycles by demonstrating whether the accretion disk and nuclear dust properties change as a function of accretion rate, as predicted by theoretical models. They will be used to investigate the mechanisms powering the emission lines, with implications for AGN demographics, and to assess the contribution of AGB stars and late-type dwarfs to the NIR light. The number and variety of spectral features that will appear in the data are expected to enable a wide range of science besides that highlighted in this proposal. For this reason, we plan to quickly make the reduced spectra available to the community (see technical section). We anticipate applying for time to observe the remaining AGN in the (near-complete) Palomar sample over the next few semesters. The targets are distributed throughout the northern sky, making Gemini's queue mode ideal for this work. The fairly short observations are easily scheduled and can be carried out in suboptimal observing conditions.

Publications using this program's data