Observational evidence of spin-induced precession in active galactic nuclei

• Grant number: 05/03469-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Scientific article
• Start date: November 01, 2005
• End date: April 30, 2006
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Astronomy - Extragalactic Astrophysics
• Principal Investigator: Zulema Abraham
• Grantee: Zulema Abraham
• Host Institution: Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

We show that it is possible to explain the physical origin of jet precession in active galactic nuclei through the misalignment between the rotation axes of the accretion disk and of the Kerr black hole. We apply this scenario to quasars, Seyfert galaxies, and also to the Galactic center black hole Sgr A*, for which signatures of either jet or disk precession have been found. The formalism adopted is parameterized by the ratio of the precession period to the black hole mass and can be used to put constraints on the physical properties of the accretion disk as well as on the black hole spin in those systems. (AU)