Extended Line Emission in Active Galactic Nuclei / AGN - Looking at the Central Engine
Abstract
The regions of high excitation gas detected around various Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) are examined. The radiation emitted by the nucleus may be responsible for the high ionization of the line emitting gas. Evidence that the radiation field is anisotropic and collimated in a direction close to the cone axis is found. The possibility that a geometrically thick accretion disk is the source of the ionizing continuum is considered. Theoretical predictions and observational data are compared. The energetics requirements and the spatial distribution of the extended emitting gas for Seyfert and radio galaxies are analyzed.
- Publication:
-
Two Topics in X-Ray Astronomy, Volume 1: X Ray Binaries. Volume 2: AGN and the X Ray Background
- Pub Date:
- November 1989
- Bibcode:
- 1989ESASP.296..877A
- Keywords:
-
- Accretion Disks;
- Active Galactic Nuclei;
- Emission Spectra;
- Line Spectra;
- Radio Galaxies;
- Astronomical Models;
- Background Radiation;
- Galactic Radiation;
- Gas Ionization;
- Seyfert Galaxies;
- Spectrum Analysis;
- Astronomy