Characterization and environment of low luminosity active nuclei

• Grant number: 08/06988-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: March 01, 2009
• End date: February 28, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Astronomy - Extragalactic Astrophysics
• Principal Investigator: João Evangelista Steiner
• Grantee: Tiago Vecchi Ricci
• Host Institution: Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Active galatic nuclei (AGN) are compact objects located at the center of normal galaxies. The unification model predicts that its energetics is associated to capture of matter by a supermassive black hole. We intend to determine the weakest part of the luminosity function of these objects. Low luminosity AGNs are harder to be detected because the signal from the galaxy's stellar emission or, even, from H II regions dominate the spectra. We developed a method based on Principal Components Analysis (PCA). With datacubes observed with the Gemini GMOS-IFU, this analysis characterizes weaker components superposed on stronger or even obscured emission. Tests with NGC 6221 and NGC 7582, made in our Master Thesis, were successful. We have already 10 galaxies available for this project. Statistical analysis, even considering that we have an incomplete sample, will be done in this project. Besides detecting and characterizing these objects, a subproduct of the study is a more precise knowledge of their stellar population. Detection of objects like supernovae remnants can also be revealed, like seen in NGC 6221 and NGC 7582, and will be done with these new observations. Fotoionization modeling with CLOUDY will also be made. With high quality data and a powerful analysis, we can get information with unprecedented accuracy for this kind of AGN. (AU)

Scientific publications

(9)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

RICCI, T. V.; STEINER, J. E.; MENEZES, R. B.. IFU spectroscopy of 10 early-type galactic nuclei - III. Properties of the circumnuclear gas emission. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, v. 451, n. 4, p. 3728-3758, AUG 21 2015. (12/21350-7, 11/51680-6, 08/06988-0)

RICCI, T. V.; STEINER, J. E.; MENEZES, R. B.. IFU spectroscopy of 10 early-type galactic nuclei - II. Nuclear emission line properties. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, v. 440, n. 3, p. 2442-2456, MAY 2014. (12/21350-7, 08/06988-0)

MENEZES, R. B.; STEINER, J. E.; RICCI, T. V.. DISCOVERY OF AN H alpha EMITTING DISK AROUND THE SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLE OF M31. Astrophysical Journal Letters, v. 762, n. 2, JAN 10 2013. (08/06988-0, 08/11087-1)

RICCI, T. V.; STEINER, J. E.; MENEZES, R. B.. NGC 7097: THE ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEUS AND ITS MIRROR, REVEALED BY PRINCIPAL COMPONENT ANALYSIS TOMOGRAPHY. Astrophysical Journal Letters, v. 734, n. 1, JUN 10 2011. (08/06988-0, 08/11087-1)

RICCI, T. V.; STEINER, J. E.; MENEZES, R. B.. Integral field unit spectroscopy of 10 early-type galactic nuclei - I. Principal component analysis Tomography and nuclear activity. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, v. 440, n. 3, p. 2419-2441, MAY 2014. (12/21350-7, 08/06988-0)

RICCI, T. V.; STEINER, J. E.; MENEZES, R. B.. IFU spectroscopy of 10 early-type galactic nuclei - IV. Properties of the circumnuclear stellar kinematics. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, v. 463, n. 4, p. 3860-3875, DEC 2016. (12/21350-7, 11/51680-6, 08/06988-0)

MAY, D.; STEINER, J. E.; RICCI, T. V.; MENEZES, R. B.; ANDRADE, I. S.. Digging process in NGC 6951: the molecular disc bumped by the jet. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, v. 457, n. 1, p. 949-970, MAR 21 2016. (12/02268-8, 11/20223-9, 11/51680-6, 08/06988-0, 11/19824-8)

MENEZES, R. B.; STEINER, J. E.; RICCI, T. V.. COLLIMATION AND SCATTERING OF THE ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEUS EMISSION IN THE SOMBRERO GALAXY. Astrophysical Journal Letters, v. 765, n. 2, MAR 10 2013. (08/06988-0, 12/02268-8)

OLIVEIRA, A. S.; STEINER, J. E.; RICCI, T. V.; MENEZES, R. B.; BORGES, B. W.. Optical identification of the transient supersoft X-ray source RX J0527.8-6954, in the LMC. Astronomy & Astrophysics, v. 517, JUL 2010. (08/06988-0, 08/04530-6, 03/12618-7, 08/11087-1)