Collaborative Proposal: Resolved Mid-IR Observations and Modeling of AGN and Their Hosts

University Of Florida, Gainesville FL

Investigators

Abstract

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). The investigators will carry out high spatial resolution mid-infrared imaging, spectroscopy, and polarimetry of nearby active galactic nuclei (AGN), taking advantage of the subarcsecond, diffraction limited resolution afforded by 8-10m telescopes to probe the inner regions of AGN. The main goal is to elucidate the spectral energy distribution (i.e., the brightness versus wavelength) of the circumnuclear gas/dust torus in the infrared region, and compare the data to detailed models for this emission. The group has substantial guaranteed time using their polarimetric camera CanariCam on the 10.4m-diameter Gran Telescopio CANARIAS (GTC). Broader impacts of this program include developing international collaborations, archival data release, bilingual outreach, and training of graduate students and a postdoctoral researcher. The research will enhance our understanding of the environs of active galactic nuclei, particularly the torus thought to block the light from the central region depending on orientation.