Program: GS-2005A-Q-6

Title:High-Resolution Mid-IR Observations of Nearby Seyfert Nuclei
PI:James T Radomski
Co-I(s): Christopher Packham, Charles Telesco, Eric Perlman

Abstract

In the classical unified model of Seyfert (Sy) galaxies, the classification as a type 1 or 2 AGN (active galactic nucleus) is dependent on the orientation of the line of sight to an optically and geometrically thick torus surrounding the central engine (Antonucci \& Miller 1985). Thus, observations and models of the torus are crucial to unified models. As the dusty torus intercepts a substantial amount of the energy from the central engine, the torus re-radiates this energy, with the observed emission peaking at mid-infrared (MIR) wavelengths. Hence, MIR observations of the nuclear environments of AGN provide a powerful diagnostic of the torus and central activity in AGN. We plan to make high spatial resolution imaging and spectroscopy of the central regions of 3 bright, nearby AGN. Such high spatial resolution observations are essential to constrain published models of torus emission.

Publications using this program's data