Probing AGN Shutdown on the Shortest Timescales
Abstract
Extended Emission Line Regions provide important clues to the radiative and kinematic history of galactic nuclei. We present results from recent narrow-band Hubble images of a sample of "voorwerpje" galaxies which, like Hanny's Voorwerp, were identified by Galaxy Zoo citizen scientists and provide some of the most detailed clues as to the behavior of galaxies immediately (<100 kyr) after the transition from a bright quasar mode to a state that is relatively deficient in ionizing radiation. These complicated systems show evidence of recent disturbance, loops and filaments, and misaligned ionization cones. These elements point to a likely transition from a radiative state to a kinematic one, and a possible evolutionary role for a massive black hole binary. New Chandra observations will be critical to explaining the nature of these complicated systems.
- Publication:
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AAS/High Energy Astrophysics Division #13
- Pub Date:
- April 2013
- Bibcode:
- 2013HEAD...1310818M