Active Galactic Nuclei

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Bradley M. PetersonCambridge University Press, 8/21/2008EAN 9780521479110, ISBN10: 0521479118Paperback, 256 pages, 24.5 x 19 x 1.5 cmLanguage: EnglishHow can we test if a supermass ive black hole lies at the heart of every active galactic nucleus? What are LINERS, BL Lacs, N galaxies, broad-line radio galaxies and radio-quiet quasars and how do they compare? This timely textbook answers these questions in a clear, comprehensive and self-contained introduction to active galactic nuclei - for graduate students in astronomy and physics. The study of AGN is one of the most dynamic areas of contemporary astronomy, involving one fifth of all research astronomers. This textbook provides a systematic review of the observed properties of AGN across the entire electromagnetic spectrum, examines the underlying physics, and shows how the brightest AGN, quasars, can be used to probe the farthest reaches of the Universe. This book serves as both an entry point to the research literature and as a valuable reference for researchers in the field.PrefaceAcknowledgements1. Basic properties and a brief historical perspective2. Taxonomy of active galactic nuclei3. The black hole paradigm4. Continuum emission5. The broad-line region6. The narrow-line region7. Unified models of AGNs8. The environment of AGNs9. The geometry of the expanding universe10. Quasar surveys11. The quasar luminosity function and evolution12. Quasar absorption linesReferencesBibliography. Show more