Highly compact structures in galactic nuclei and quasars.
Abstract
Rough estimates are given of the linear (and angular) scales associated with various types of emission. The ways in which current ideas about quasars can be clarified by observations with 0.1-arcsec resolution (the level expected from the Space Telescope) are discussed. It is pointed out that if milliarcsec resolution were attainable, there would be the prospect of studying some features of active nuclei that may correlate with VLBI radio data, where this angular precision has already been achieved. Attention is also given to the way in which the apparent shapes of quasars distorted and magnified by the gravitational lens effect can offer clues to galactic structure and the nature of the 'hidden mass' in the universe.
- Publication:
-
Scientific Importance of High Angular Resolution at Infrared and Optical Wavelengths
- Pub Date:
- 1981
- Bibcode:
- 1981siha.conf..423R
- Keywords:
-
- Astronomical Spectroscopy;
- Emission Spectra;
- Galactic Nuclei;
- Galactic Structure;
- Gravitational Lenses;
- Quasars;
- Galactic Evolution;
- Radio Sources (Astronomy);
- Scale (Ratio);
- Spectral Line Width;
- Spectral Resolution;
- Very Long Base Interferometry;
- Astronomy;
- Galactic Nuclei:Structure;
- Quasars:Structure