Skip to main content
Book cover

Planets, Stars and Stellar Systems pp 305–386Cite as

Active Galactic Nuclei

  • Reference work entry

  • 2651 Accesses

Abstract

Active galactic nuclei (AGN) represent an extreme stage in the life cycle of a galaxy. For a relatively short period of time ( ∼ 108 years or less), a region less than a parsec across at the center of a galaxy produces tremendous amounts of energy, often outshining the rest of the galaxy by orders of magnitude. The most luminous of these objects are the most powerful, continuously emitting sources in the universe. The observational characteristics of AGN are reviewed, as well as how these properties are used to sort them into different classes. The evidence that supports the current paradigm, under which the central source powering AGN is a supermassive black hole, is discussed. While these are found in virtually all bright galaxies, in AGN the black holes are actively accreting matter, most likely as a result of an increased matter density in their immediate environs. A variety of accretion models are considered, particularly disk and Bondi accretion, along with the mechanisms by which material is carried inward and angular momentum is dissipated. Photoionization models for the broad and narrow emission line regions are reviewed in detail, including the physical conditions that prevail in each and their location relative to the central black hole. The evidence for unified models is presented. Under unified models, different types of AGN are related by means of viewing angle. A key aspect of these models is the presence of large-scale obscuring regions within the active nucleus. The phenomenology of nuclear absorption is discussed, both within the torus as well as in lines, along with present models for these obscuring regions. Also discussed are generation mechanisms for and the physics of relativistic jets, which are present in 10–20% of AGN. Finally, the entire picture is brought together by discussing the evolution of AGN.

Keywords

  • Accretion
  • Active galactic nuclei (AGN)
  • BAL quasars
  • Blazars
  • Bremsstrahlung
  • Continuum emission
  • Coronal processes
  • Emission line regions
  • Galaxy evolution
  • Gamma-ray emission
  • General relativistic effects
  • Infrared emission
  • Inverse-Compton radiation
  • Jets
  • LINERs
  • Nuclear absorption
  • Nuclear structure
  • Outflows
  • Photoionization
  • Polarization
  • Quasars
  • Radio emission
  • Radio lobes
  • Reverberation mapping
  • Seyfert galaxies
  • Special relativistic effects
  • Superluminal motion
  • Supermassive black holes
  • Synchrotron radiation
  • Torus
  • Unified AGN models (Unified Schemes)
  • Variability
  • Winds
  • X-ray emission

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-5609-0_7
  • Chapter length: 82 pages
  • Instant PDF download
  • Readable on all devices
  • Own it forever
  • Exclusive offer for individuals only
  • Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout
eBook
USD   499.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • ISBN: 978-94-007-5609-0
  • Instant PDF download
  • Readable on all devices
  • Own it forever
  • Exclusive offer for individuals only
  • Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout
Hardcover Book
USD   499.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
Learn about institutional subscriptions
Fig. 7-1
Fig. 7-2
Fig. 7-3
Fig. 7-4
Fig. 7-5
Fig. 7-6
Fig. 7-7
Fig. 7-8
Fig. 7-9
Fig. 7-10
Fig. 7-11
Fig. 7-12
Fig. 7-13
Fig. 7-14
Fig. 7-15
Fig. 7-16
Fig. 7-17
Fig. 7-18
Fig. 7-19
Fig. 7-20
Fig. 7-21
Fig. 7-22
Fig. 7-23
Fig. 7-24
Fig. 7-25
Fig. 7-26
Fig. 7-27
Fig. 7-28
Fig. 7-29
Fig. 7-30
Fig. 7-31
Fig. 7-32
Fig. 7-33
Fig. 7-34
Fig. 7-35
Fig. 7-36
Fig. 7-37
Fig. 7-38
Fig. 7-39
Fig. 7-40
Fig. 7-41
Fig. 7-42
Fig. 7-43
Fig. 7-44
Fig. 7-45

References

  • Abdo, A. A., et al. 2009a, ApJS, 183, 46

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Abdo, A. A., et al. 2009b, ApJ, 700, 597

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Abdo, A. A., et al. 2009c, ApJ, 707, 55

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Abraham, Z., Barres de Almeida, U., Dominici, T. P., & Caproni, A. 2007, MNRAS, 375, 171

    Google Scholar 

  • Ackerman, et al. 2010, ApJ, 721, 1383

    Google Scholar 

  • Aharonian, F., et al. 2006, Science, 314, 1424

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Aharonian, F., et al. 2009, A&A, 502, 749

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Alef, W., Gotz, M. M. A., Preuss, E., & Kellermann, K. I. 1988, A&A, 192, 53

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Alef, W., Wu, S. Y., Preuss, E., Kellermann, K. I., & Qiu, Y. H. 1996, A&A, 308, 376

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Allen, S. W., Dunn, R. J. H., Fabian, A. C., Taylor, G. B., & Reynolds, C. S. 2006, MNRAS, 372, 21

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Aloy, M.-A., Marti, J.-M., Gómez, J.-L., Agudo, I., Müller, E., & Ibáñez, J.-M. 2003, ApJ, 589, L109

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Antonucci, R. R. J. 1983, Nature, 303, 158

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Antonucci, R. R. J. 1984, ApJ, 278, 499

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Antonucci, R. R. J. 1993, ARAA, 31, 473

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Antonucci, R. R. J., & Miller, J. S. 1985, ApJ, 297, 621

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Antonucci, R. R. J., Hurt, T., & Kinney, A., 1994, ApJ, 430, 210

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Antonucci, R. R. J., Geller, R., Goodrich, R. W., & Miller, J. S. 1996, ApJ, 472, 502

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Arav, N., Barlow, T. A., Laor, A., & Blandford, R. D. 1997, MNRAS, 288, 1015

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Arav, N., et al. 2007, ApJ, 658, 829

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Arav, N., Barlow, T. A., Laor, A., Sargent, W. L. W., & Blandford, R. D. 1998, MNRAS, 297, 990

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Arav, N., Kaastra, J., Kriss, G., Korista, K. T., Gabel, J., & Proga, D. 2005, ApJ, 620, 665

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Aretxaga, I., & Terlevich, R. 1994, MNRAS, 269, 462

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Armus, L., et al. 2006, ApJ, 640, 204

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Arshakian, T. G., Léon-Tavares, J., Lobanov, A. P., Chavushyan, V. H., Shapovalova, A. I., Burenkov, A. N., & Zensus, J. A. 2010, MNRAS, 401, 1231

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Babadzhanyants, M. K., & Hagen-Thorn, V. A. 1969, Astron. Tsirk., 526, 1

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Balbus, S. A. 2003, ARAA, 41, 555

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Barnes, T. G. 1968, ApL, 171, 1

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnes, J. E., & Hernquist, L. 1992, ARAA, 30, 705

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Batcheldor, D., Robinson, A., Axon, D. J., Perlman, E. S., & Merritt, D. 2010, ApJ (in press). arXiv: 1005.2173

    Google Scholar 

  • Beckmann, V., Barthelmy, S. D., Courvoisier, T. J.-L., Gehrels, N., Soldi, S., Tueller, J., & Wendt, G. 2007, A&A, 475, 827

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Begelman, M. C., & Sikora, M. 1987, ApJ, 322, 650

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Begelman, M. C., Blandford, R. D., & Rees, M. J. 1984, Rev. Mod. Phys., 56, 255

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Begelman, M. C., de Kool, M., & Sikora, M. 1991, ApJ, 382, 416

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Beilicke, M., Benbow, W., Cornils, R., Heinzelmann, G., Horns, D., Raue, M., Ripken, J., & Tluzczykont, M. 2005, astro-ph/0504395

    Google Scholar 

  • Benbow, W., Boisson, C., & Costamante, L. 2008, Proc. ICRC, 3, 1081, arXiv: 0709.4608

    Google Scholar 

  • Bentz, M. C., Peterson, B. M., Pogge, R. W., Vestergaard, M., & Onken, C. A. 2006, ApJ, 644, 133

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Bentz, M. C., et al. 2007, ApJ, 662, 205

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Bentz, M. C., et al. 2009a, ApJ, 705, 199

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Bentz, M. C., Peterson, B. M., Netzer, H., Pogge, R. W., & Vestergaard, M. 2009b, ApJ, 697, 160

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Bentz, M. C., Peterson, B. M., Pogge, R., & Vestergaard, M. 2009c, ApJ, 694, L166

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Bianchi, S., Chiaberge, M., Piconcelli, E., Guainazzi, M., & Matt, G. 2008, MNRAS, 386, 105

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Bicknell, G. V., Dopita, M. A., & O’Dea, C. P. 1997, ApJ, 485, 112

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Biretta, J. A., Zhou, F., & Owen, F. N. 1995, ApJ, 447, 582

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Biretta, J. A., Sparks, W. B., & Macchetto, F. D. 1999, ApJ, 520, 621

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Blandford, R. D., & Znajek, R. L. 1977, MNRAS, 179, 433

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Bolton, J. G., Stanley, J. G., & Slee, O. B. 1949, Nature, 164, 101

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Brenneman, L. W., & Reynolds, C. S. 2009, ApJ, 702, 1367

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Brotherton, M. S., Tran, H. D., van Breugel, W., Dey, A., & Antonucci, R. 1997, ApJ, 487, L113

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Brotherton, M. S., van Breugel, W., Smith, R. J., Boyle, B. J., Shanks, T., Croom, S. M., Miller, L., & Becker, R. H. 1998, ApJ, 505, L8

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Brotherton, M. S., Laurent-Muehleisen, S. A., Becker, R. H., Gregg, M. D., Telis, G., White, R. L., & Shang, Z.-H. 2005, AJ, 130, 2006

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Buchanan, C. L., Gallimore, J. F., O’Dea, C. P., Baum, S. A., Axon, D. J., Robinson, A., Elitzur, M., & Elvis, M. 2006, AJ, 132, 401

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Cannon, R. D., Penston, M. V., & Penston, M. J. 1968, Nature, 217, 340

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Cara, M., et al. 2010 (in prepare)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chelouche, D., & Netzer, H. 2001, MNRAS, 326, 916

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Cheung, C. C., Harris, D. E., & Stawarz, L. 2007, ApJ, 663, L65

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Chini, R., Kruegel, E., Kreysa, E., & Gemuend, H.-P. 1989, A&A, 216, L5

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Chitnis, V. R., Pendharkar, J. K., Bose, D., Agrawal, V. K., Rao, A. R., & Misra, R. 2009, ApJ, 698, 1207

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Cirasuolo, M., Magliocchetti, M., Celotti, A., & Danese, L. 2003, MNRAS, 341, 993

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Collin, S., Kawaguchi, T., Peterson, B. M., & Vestergaard, M. 2006, A&A, 456, 75

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Collin, S., & Kawaguchi, T. 2004, A&A, 426, 797

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Contopoulos, J. 1994, ApJ, 432, 508

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Costantini, E., et al. 2007, A&A, 461, 121

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Crenshaw, D. M., Kraemer, S. B., Boggess, A., Maran, S. P., Mushotzky, R. F., & Wu, C. 1999, ApJ, 516, 750

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Crenshaw, D. M., Kraemer, S. B., & George, I. M. 2003, ARAA, 41, 117

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Crenshaw, D. M., Kraemer, S. B., Gabel, J. R., Kaastra, J. S., & Steenbrugge, K. C. 2004, ApJ, 607, 794

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Cristiani, S., Trentini, S., La Franca, F., Aretxaga, I., Andreani, P., Vio, R., & Gemmo, A. 1996, A&A, 306, 395

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • de Koff, S., Baum, S. A., Sparks, W. B., Biretta, J. A., Golombek, D., Macchetto, F. D., McCarthy, P., & Miley, G. K. 1996, ApJS, 110, 191

    Google Scholar 

  • di Matteo, T., Springel, V., & Hernquist, L. 2005, Nature, 433, 604

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • di Matteo, T., Colberg, J., Springel, V., Hernquist, L., & Sijaki, D. 2008, ApJ, 676, 33

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • di Serego Alighieri, S., Cimatti, A., & Fosbury, R. A. E. 1994, ApJ, 431, 123

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Dondi, L., & Ghisellini, G. 1995, MNRAS, 273, 583

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Efstathiou, A., & Rowan-Robinson, M. 1995, MNRAS, 273, 649

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Ekers, R. D., Fanti, R., & Miley, G. K. 1983, A&A, 120, 297

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Elitzur, M. 2007, in The Central Engine of Active Galactic Nuclei, eds. L. C. Ho & J.-M. Wang (San Francisco: ASP), 415. astro-ph/0612458

    Google Scholar 

  • Elitzur, M., & Shlosman, I. 2006, ApJ, 648, L101

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Elitzur, M., Nenkova, M., & Ivezic, Z. 2004, in The Neutral ISM in Starburst Galaxies, eds. S. Alto, S. Huttemeister, & A. Pedlar (San Francisco: ASP), 242. astro-ph/0309040

    Google Scholar 

  • Fabian, A. C., Vaughan, S., Nandra, K. P., Iwasawa, K., Ballantyne, D. R., Lee, J. C., De Rosa, A., Turner, A., & Young, A. J. 2002, MNRAS, 335, L1

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Fanaroff, B. L., & Riley, J. M. 1974, MNRAS, 167, 31

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Fath, E. A. 1909, Lick Obs. Bull. 5, 71

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, J. W., Korista, K. T., Baldwin, J. A., & Ferland, G. J. 1997, ApJ, 487, 122

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Ferland, G. J., Korista, K. T., Verner, D. A., Ferguson, J. W., Kingdon, J. B., & Verner, E. M. 1998, PASP, 110, 761

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrarese, L., & Merritt, D. 2000, ApJ, 539, L9

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Filippenko, A. V. 1989, AJ, 97, 726

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Fossati, G., et al. 2008, ApJ, 677, 906

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Francis, P. J. 1996, PASA, 13, 212

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Gabel, J. R., et al. 2005, ApJ, 631, 741

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Gallagher, S. C., Brandt, W. N., Chartas, G., Priddey, R., Garmire, G. P., & Sambruna, R. M. 2006, ApJ, 644, 709

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Georganopoulos, M., Kazanas, D., Perlman, E. S., & Stecker, F. W. 2005, ApJ, 625, 656

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Georganopoulos, M., Perlman, E. S., Kazanas, D., & Wingert, B. 2006, in Blazar Variability Workshop II: Entering the GLAST Era, ed. H. R. Miller, K. Marshall, J. R. Webb, & M. F. Aller (San Francisco: ASP), 178

    Google Scholar 

  • George, I. M., Turner, T. J., Mushotzky, R. F., Nandra, K., & Netzer, H. 1998, ApJ, 503, 174

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Ghisellini, G., Tavecchio, F., & Chiaberge, M. 2005, A&A, 432, 401

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Giovannini, G., Taylor, G. B., Arbizzani, E., Bondi, M., Cotton, W. D., Feretti, L., Lara, L., & Venturi, T. 1999, ApJ, 522, 101

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Giovannini, G., Giroletti, M., & Taylor, G. B. 2007, A&A, 474, 409

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Giustini, M., Cappi, M., & Vignali, C. 2008, A&A, 491, 425

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Gliozzi, M., Papadakis, I. E., Eracleous, M., Sambruna, R. M., Ballantyne, D. R., Braito, V., & Reeves, J. N. 2009, ApJ, 703, 1021

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Gomez, J.-L., Marscher, A. P., Alberdi, A., Marti, J. M. A., & Ibanez, J. M. A. 1998, ApJ, 499, 221

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Goodrich, R. W., & Cohen, M. H. 1992, ApJ, 391, 623

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Granato, G. L., & Danese, L. 1994, MNRAS, 268, 235

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Green, P. J., et al., 2009, ApJ, 690, 644

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Green, P. J., & Mathur, S. 1996, ApJ, 462, 637

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Greene, J. E., & Ho, L. C. 2007, ApJ, 667, 131

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Greenhill, L. J., Gwinn, C. R., Antonucci, R. R. J., & Barvainis, R. 1996, ApJ, 472, L21

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Greenstein, J. L., & Matthews, T. 1963, Nature, 197, 1041

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Greenstein, J. L., & Schmidt, M. 1963, Nature, 197, 1041

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Greenstein, J. L., & Schmidt, M. 1963, ApJ, 1

    Google Scholar 

  • Guainazzi, M., Matt, G., Brandt, W. N., Antonelli, L. A., Barr, P., & Bassani, L. 2000, A&A, 356, 463

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Gualandris, A., & Merritt, D. 2008, ApJ, 678, 780

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hardcastle, M. J., Birkinshaw, M., & Worrall, D. M. 2001, MNRAS, 326, 1499

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hardcastle, M. J., Harris, D. E., Worrall, D. M., & Birkinshaw, M. 2004, ApJ, 612, 729

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hardee, P. E. 2003, ApJ, 597, 798

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hardee, P. E., & Rosen, A. 2002, ApJ, 576, 204

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hardee, P. E., Hughes, P. A., Rosen, A., & Gomez, E. A. 2001, ApJ, 555, 744

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hardee, P. E., Walker, R. C., & Gómez, J. L. 2005, ApJ, 620, 646

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hardee, P. E., Mizuno, Y., & Nishikawa, K. 2007, Ap&SS, 311, 281

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, D. E., & Krawczynski, H. 2002, ApJ, 566, 244

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, D. E., & Krawczynski, H. 2006, ARAA, 44, 463

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, D. E., Biretta, J. A., Junor, W., Perlman, E. S., Sparks, W. B., & Wilson, A. S. 2003, ApJ, 586, L41

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, D. E., Cheung, C. C., Stawarz, L., Biretta, J. A., & Perlman, E. S. 2009, ApJ, 699, 305

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hazard, C., Mackey, M. B., & Shimmins, A. J. 1963, Nature, 197, 1037

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hicks, E. K. S., & Malkan, M. A. 2008, ApJS, 174, 31

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins, P. F., Hernquist, L., Cox, T. J., Di Matteo, T., Martini, P., Robertson, B., & Springel, V. 2005, ApJ, 630, 705

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins, P. F., Hernquist, L., Cox, T. J., Di Matteo, T., Robertson, B., & Springel, V. 2006, ApJS, 163, 1

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins, P. F., Cox, T. J., Keres, D., & Hernquist, L. 2008a, ApJS, 175, 356

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins, P. F., Hernquist, L., Cox, T. J., & Keres, D. 2008b, ApJS, 175, 390

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hubble, E. 1926, ApJ, 64, 321

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, P. A., Duncan, C., & Mioduszewski, A. 1996, in Energy Transport in Radio Galaxies and Quasars, eds. P. E. Hardee, A. H. Bridle, & J. A. Zensus (San Francisco: ASP), 137

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, P. A., Miller, M. A., & Duncan, G. C. 2002, ApJ, 572, 713

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Impey, C. D., & Neugebauer, G. 1988, AJ, 95, 307

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Ivezic, Z., et al. 2002, AJ, 124, 2364

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Ivezic, Z., et al. 2004, in AGN Physics with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, eds. G. T. Richards & P. B. Hall, ASP Conference Series, Vol. 311, 347. astro-ph/0310569

    Google Scholar 

  • Iwasawa, K., & Taniguchi, Y. 1993, ApJ, 413, L15

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, N., & Tadhunter, C. N. 1993, A&A, 272, 105

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Jaffe, W., et al. 2004, Nature, 429, 407

    Google Scholar 

  • Jansky, K. G. 1932, Proc. IRE, 20, 1920

    Google Scholar 

  • Jansky, K. G. 1933, Proc. IRE, 21, 1387

    Google Scholar 

  • Jansky, K. G. 1935, Proc. IRE, 23, 1158

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang, L., Fan, X., Ivezic, Z., Richards, G., Schneider, D. P., Strauss, M. A., & Kelley, B. C. 2007, ApJ, 656, 680

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Jorstad, S. G., Marscher, A. P., Mattox, J. R., Wehrle, A. E., Bloom, S. D., & Yurchenko, A. V. 2001, ApJS, 134, 181

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Jorstad, S. G., et al. 2005, AJ, 130, 1418

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Joshi, et al. 2011, arXiv: 1111.0984

    Google Scholar 

  • Jourdain, E., et al. 1993, ApJ, 412, 586

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Kallman, T., & Bautista, M. 2001, ApJ Suppl., 133, 221

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaspi, S., et al. 2002, ApJ, 574, 643

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaspi, S., Brandt, W. N., Maoz, D., Netzer, H., Schneider, D. P., & Shemmer, O. 2007, ApJ, 659, 997

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Kataoka, J., et al. 2007, PASJ, 59, 279

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Kellermann, K. I., Sramek, R., Schmidt, M., Shaffer, D. B., & Green, R. 1989, AJ, 98, 1195

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, B. C., & Bechtold, J. 2007, ApJS, 168, 1

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Kinman, T. D. 1968, Science, 162, 1081

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Kniffen, D. A., et al. 1993, ApJ, 411, 133

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Komossa, S., Burwitz, V., Hasinger, G., Predehl, P., Kaastra, J. S., & Ikebe, Y. 2003, ApJ, 582, L15

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Koratkar, A., & Blaes, O. 1999, PASP, 111, 1

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • K&;rding, E. G., Jester, S., & Fender, R. 2006, MNRAS, 372, 1366

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • K&;rding, E. G., Jester, S., & Fender, R. 2008, MNRAS, 383, 277

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Korista, K. T., & Goad, M. R. 2000, ApJ, 536, 284

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Korista, K. T., & Goad, M. R. 2004, ApJ, 606, 749

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Korista, K. T., et al. 1995, ApJS, 97, 285

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Kraemer, S. B., Crenshaw, D. M., & Gabel, J. R. 2001a, ApJ, 557, 30

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Kraemer, S. B., et al. 2001b, ApJ, 551, 67

    Google Scholar 

  • Krichbaum, T. P., Graham, D. A., Bremer, M., Alef, W., Witzel, A., Zensus, J. A., & Eckart, A., 2006, in The Universe Under the Microscope – Astrophysics at High Angular Resolution, Journal of Physics: Conference Series, Vol. 54, 328

    Google Scholar 

  • Krolik, J. H., 1998, Active Galactic Nuclei: From the Central Black Hole to the Galactic Environment, (Princeton: Princeton University Press)

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsson, J., Levan, A. J., Davies, M. B., & Fruchter, A. S. 2007, MNRAS, 376, 1285

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Leahy, J. P., & Perley, R. A. 1991, AJ, 102, 537

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, Z.-Y., Chiueh, T., & Begelman, M. C. 1992, ApJ, 394, 459

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Longair, M. S. 1994, High Energy Astrophysics, vol. 2: Stars and the Interstellar Medium (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lynden-Bell, D. 1969, Nature, 223, 690

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Magorrian, J., Tremaine, S., Richstone, D., Bender, R., Bower, G., Dressler, A., Faber, S. M., Gebhardt, K., Green, R., Grilllmair, C., Kormendy, J., & Lauer, T. 1998, AJ, 115, 2285

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Maiolino, R., & Risaliti, G. 2007, in The Central Engine of Active Galactic Nuclei, ed. L. C. Ho, & J.-M. Wang (San Francisco: ASP), 447

    Google Scholar 

  • Maraschi, L., Ghisellini, G., & Celotti, A. 1992, ApJ, 397, L5

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Maraschi, L., et al. 1994a, ApJ, 435, L91

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, H. L., Miller, B. P., Davis, D. S., Perlman, E. S., Wise, M., Canizares, C. R., & Harris, D. E. 2002, ApJ, 564, 683

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, K., Ryle, W. T., Miller, H. R., Marscher, A. P., Jorstad, S. G., Chicka, B., & McHardy, I. M. 2009, ApJ, 696, 601

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Mason, R. E., Geballe, T. R., Packham, C., Levenson, N. A., Elitzur, M., Fisher, R. S., & Perlman, E. 2006, ApJ, 640, 612

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Matt, G., et al. 1997, A&A, 327, L13

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • McGill, K. L., Woo, J.-H., Treu, T., & Malkan, M. 2008, ApJ, 673, 703

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • McNamara, A. L., Kuncic, Z., & Wu, K. 2009, MNRAS, 395, 1507

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Mehta, K. T., Georganopoulos, M., Perlman, E. S., Padgett, C. A., & Chartas, G. 2009, ApJ, 690, 1706

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Meier, D. L., Koide, S., & Uchida, Y. 2001, Science, 291, 84

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Meisenheimer, K., et al. 2007, A&A, 471, 453

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Melia, F. 2009, High-Energy astrophysics, (Princeton)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mihos, J. C., & Hernquist, L. 1996, ApJ, 464, 641

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, J. S., Goodrich, R. W., & Mathews, W. G. 1991, ApJ, 378, 47

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, J. H. 1915, PASP, 21, 192

    Google Scholar 

  • Mutel, R., Phillips, R., Su, B., & Buciferro, R. 1990, ApJ, 352, 81

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Nandra, K., George, I. M., Mushotzky, R. F., Turner, T. J., & Yaqoob, T. 1997, ApJ, 488, L91

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Nenkova, M., Sirocky, M. M., Ivezic, Z., & Elitzur, M. 2008a, ApJ, 685, 147

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Nenkova, M., Sirocky, M. M., Nikutta, R., Ivezic, Z., & Elitzur, M. 2008b, ApJ, 685, 160

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Netzer, H. 1990, in Active Galactic Nuclei, ed. T. Courvoisier, & M. Mayor (Berlin: Springer)

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Neill, S. M., Tregillis, I. L., Jones, T. W., & Ryu, D. 2005, ApJ, 633, 717

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Ogle, P. M., Cohen, M. H., Miller, J. S., Tran, H. D., Goodrich, R. W., & Martel, A. R. 1999, ApJ Suppl., 125, 1

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Onken, C. A., & Kollmeier, J. A. 2008, ApJ, 689, 13

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Onken, C. A., et al. 2007, ApJ, 670, 105

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Oke, J. B. 1963, Nature, 197, 1040

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Osterbrock, D. E. 1999, ApJ, 525, 337

    Google Scholar 

  • Osterbrock, D. E., & Ferland, G. J. 2006, in Astrophysics of Gaseous Nebulae and Active Galactic Nuclei (2nd ed.; Sausalito: University Science Books)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pacholczyk, A. G., & Wyemann, R. T. 1968, AJ, 73, 850

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Packham, C., Young, S., Hough, J. H., Axon, D. J., & Bailey, J. A. 1997, MNRAS, 288, 375

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Packham, C., Radomski, J. T., Roche, P. F., Aitken, D. K., Perlman, E. S., Alonso-Herrero, A., Colina, L., & Telesco, C. M. 2005, ApJ, 618, L17

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Padovani, P., Giommi, P., Landt, H., & Perlman, E. S. 2007, ApJ, 662, 182

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Pease, F. G. 1915, PASP, 27, 133

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Perlman, E. S., et al. 2011, ApJ, 743, 119

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Perlman, E. S., & Wilson, A. S. 2005, ApJ, 627, 140

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Perlman, E. S., Biretta, J. A., Zhou, F., Sparks, W. B., & Macchetto, F. D. 1999, AJ, 117, 2185

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Perlman, E. S., Biretta, J. A., Sparks, W. B., Macchetto, F. D., & Leahy, J. P. 2001a, ApJ, 551, 206

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Perlman, E. S., Stocke, J. T., Conway, J. E., & Reynolds, C. 2001b, AJ, 122, 536

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Perlman, E. S., Addison, B., Georganopoulos, M., Wingert, B., & Graff, P. 2008, in Blazar Variability Across the Electromagnetic Spectrum, http://pos.sissa.it,p.9,arXiv:0807.2119

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, B. M. 1993, PASP, 105, 247

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, B. M., et al. 2005, ApJ, 632, 799; Erratum: 2006, ApJ, 741, 638

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Pier, E. A., & Krolik, J. H. 1992, ApJ, 399, L23

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Poncelet, A., & Perrin, G., Sol, H. 2006, A&A, 450, 483

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Poncelet, A., Doucet, C., Perrin, G., Sol, H., & Lagage, P. O. 2007, A&A, 472, 823

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Poncelet, A., Sol, H., & Perrin, G. 2008, A&A, 481, 305

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Proga, D., Stone, J. M., & Kallman, T. R. 2000, ApJ, 543, 686

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Radomski, J. T., Piña, R. K., Packham, C., Telesco, C. M., De Buizer, J. M., Fisher, R. S., & Robinson, A. 2003, ApJ, 587, 117

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Radomski, J. T., et al. 2008, ApJ, 681, 141

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Reber, G. 1940a, Proc. IRE, 28, 68

    Google Scholar 

  • Reber, G. 1940b, ApJ, 100, 279

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Rees, M. J. 1966, Nature, 211, 468

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Reeves, J. N., et al. 2007, PASJ, 59, 301

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Reichard, T. A., Richards, G. T., Hall, P. B., Schneider, D. P., Vanden Berk, D. E., Fan, X.-H., York, D. G., Knapp, G. R., & Brinkmann, J. 2003a, AJ, 126, 2594

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Reichard, T. A., Richards, G. T., Schneider, D. P., Hall, P. B., Tolea, A., Krolik, J. H., Tsvetanov, Z., Vanden Berk, D. E., York, D. G., Knapp, G. R., Gunn, J. E., & Brinkmann, J. 2003b, AJ, 125, 1711

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, C. S. 1996, PhD Thesis, Cambridge University

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, C. S., & Fabian, A. C. 2008, ApJ, 675, 1048

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, C. S., Fabian, A. C., Brenneman, L. W., Miniutti, G., Uttley, P., & Gallo, L. C. 2009, MNRAS, 397, 21

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, C. S., & Miller, M. C. 2009, ApJ, 692, 869

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, C. S., & Nowak, M. A. 2003, Phys. Rep., 389, 466

    Google Scholar 

  • Risaliti, G. 2002, in Inflows, Outflows & Reprocessing Around Black Holes, Proceedings of the 5th Italian AGN Meeting, http://www.unico.it/ilaria/AGNS/proceedings.html,p.111

  • Risaliti, G., & Elvis, M. 2004, in Supermassive Black Holes in the Distant Universe, ed. A. J. Barger (Dordrecht: Kluwer), 187, astro-ph/0403618

    Google Scholar 

  • Risaliti, G., & Elvis, M. 2010, A&A, 516, 89

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Roche, P. F., Packham, C., Telesco, C. M., Radomski, J. T., Alonso-Herrero, A., Aitken, D. K., Colina, L., & Perlman, E. S. 2006, MNRAS, 267, 1689

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Roche, P. F., Packham, C., Aitken, D. K., & Mason, R. E. 2007, MNRAS, 375, 99

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Ross, H. N. 1970, Nature, 226, 431

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Rybicki, G. H., & Lightman, A. P. 1986, Radiative Processes in Astrophysics (New York: Wiley)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryle, M. & Smith, F. G. 1948, Nature, 162, 462

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, M. 1963, Nature, 197, 1040

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Scott, J. E., et al. 2009, ApJ, 694, 438

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Scott, J. E., Kriss, G. A., Brotherton, M., Green, R. F., Hutchings, J., Shull, J. M., & Zheng, W. 2004, ApJ, 615, 135

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Selove, D. M. 1969, ApJ, 158, 19

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Shakura, N. I., & Sunyaev, R. A. 1973, A&A, 24, 337

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Shang, Z., et al. 2005, ApJ, 619, 41

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Shemmer, O., Brandt, W. N., Gallagher, S. C., Vignali, C., Boller, T., Chartas, G., & Comastri, A. 2005, AJ, 130, 2522

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Shields, G. 1999, PASP, 111, 661

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Seyfert, C. K. 1943, ApJ, 98, 20

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Sikora, M., Madejski, G., Moderski, R., & Poutanen, J. 1997, ApJ, 484, 108

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Sikora, M., Stawarz, L., & Lasota, J.-P. 2007, ApJ, 658, 815

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Slipher, V. M. 1917, Lowell Obs. Bull., 3, 59

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Springel, V., di Matteo, T., & Hernquist, L. 2005a, MNRAS, 361, 776

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Springel, V., et al. 2005b, Nature, 435, 629

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Stocke, J. T., Morris, S. L., Weymann, R. J., & Foltz, C. B. 1992, ApJ, 396, 487

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Stone, J. M., & Balbus, S. A. 1996, ApJ, 464, 364

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Stull, M. A. 1970, Nature, 225, 832

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Suganuma, M., Kobayashi, Y., Yoshii, Y., Minezaki, T., Tomita, H., Aoki, T., Enya, K., Koshida, S., & Peterson, B. A. 2007, in The Central Engine of Active Galactic Nuclei, ed. L. C. Ho, & J.-M. Wang (San Francisco: ASP), 462

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang, S. M., Zhang, S. N., & Hopkins, P. F. 2007, MNRAS, 377, 1133

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Tchekhovskoy, A., Narayan, R., & McKinney, J. C. 2010, ApJ, 711, 50

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Tchekhovskoy, A., Narayan, R., & McKinney, J. C. 2011, ApJ, 711, 50

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Terlevich, R., Tenorio-Tagle, G., Franco, J., & Melnick, J. 1992, MNRAS, 255, 713

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Tichy, W., & Marronetti, P. 2007, Phys. Rev. D., 76, 061502

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Tristram, K. R. W., et al. 2007, A&A, 474, 837

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Tristram, K. R. W., et al. 2009, A&A, 502, 67

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Tsvetanov, Z. I., Hartig, G. F., Ford, H. C., Dopita, M. A., Kriss, G. A., Pei, Y. C., Dressel, L. L., & Harms, R. J. 1998, ApJ, 493, L83

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Turnshek, D. A. 1987, in QSO Absorption Lines, STScI Symposium Series 2, ed. J. C. Blades, D. A. Turnshek, & C. A. Norman (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press), 17

    Google Scholar 

  • Uchiyama, Y., & Coppi, P. 2010 (in prepare)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulrich, M.-H., Maraschi, L., & Urry, C. M. 1997, ARAA, 35, 445

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Urry, C. M., & Padovani, P. 1995, PASP, 107, 803

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Valtaoja, E., Terasranta, H., Urpo, S., Nesterov, N. S., Lainela, M., & Valtonen, M. 1992, A&A, 254, 80

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Van den Berk, D. E., et al. 2001, AJ, 122, 549

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Veilleux, S., & Osterbrock, D. 1987, ApJS, 63, 295

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Veron-Cetty, M. P., Veron, P. 2000, A&AR, 10, 81

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Vestergaard, M., & Osmer, P. S. 2009, ApJ, 699, 800

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Vestergaard, M., & Peterson, B. M. 2006, ApJ, 641, 689

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Vestergaard, M., Fan, X., Tremonti, C. A., Osmer, P. S., & Richards, G. T. 2008, ApJ, 674, L1

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Vlahakis, N., & K&;nigl, A. 2003, ApJ, 596, 1104

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Vlahakis, N., & K&;nigl, A. 2004, ApJ, 605, 656

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, R. C., Ly, C., Junor, W., & Hardee, P. 2009, in Approaching Micro-Arcsecond Resolution with VSOP-2: Astrophysics and Techniques, ed. Y. Hagiwara, E. Fomalont, M. Tsuboi, & Y. Murata (Astronomical Society of the Pacific: San Francisco), 227

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, H.-Y., Wang, T.-G., & Wang, J.-X. 2005, ApJ, 634, 149

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, J.-G., Dong, X.-B., Wang, T.-G., Ho, L. C., Yuan, W., Wang, H., Zhang, K., Zhang, S., & Zhou, H. 2009, ApJ, 707, 1334

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Wehrle, A. E., et al. 1998, ApJ, 497, 178

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Weymann, R. J., Morris, S. L., Foltz, C. B., & Hewett, P. C. 1991, ApJ, 373, 23

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, A. S., & Colbert, E. J. M. 1995, ApJ, 438, 62

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, A. S., Braatz, J. A., Heckman, T. M., Krolik, J. H., & Miley, G. K. 1993, ApJ, 419, L61

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, Y., Charmandaris, V., Huang, J., Spinoglio, L., & Tommasin, S. 2009, ApJ, 701, 658

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Yip, C. W., et al. 2004, AJ, 128, 2603

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Young, S., Packham, C., Mason, R. E., Radomski, J. T., & Telesco, C. M. 2007, MNRAS, 378, 888

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Zaitseva, G. V., & Lyutyi, V. M. 1969, Astron. Zh., 526, 1

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, S.-Y., Bian, W.-H., & Huang, K.-L. 2008, A&A, 488, 113

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng, W., Kriss, G. A., Telfer, R. C., Grimes, J. P., & Davidsen, A. F. 1998, ApJ, 492, 855

    ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and Space Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 West University Boulevard, 32901, Melbourne, FL, USA

    Prof. Eric S. Perlman

Authors
  1. Prof. Eric S. Perlman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics & Space Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology University Boulevard, Melbourne, FL, USA

    Terry D. Oswalt

  2. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA

    William C. Keel

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this entry

Cite this entry

Perlman, E.S. (2013). Active Galactic Nuclei. In: Oswalt, T.D., Keel, W.C. (eds) Planets, Stars and Stellar Systems. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5609-0_7

Download citation