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Active Galaxies
Predicted Ultraviolet and Optical Iron Line Emission from an AGN (Active Galactic Nucleus)
Above is a model of the ultraviolet and optical line emission due to singly and doubly ionized iron from the Broad-Line region of an Active Galaxy. Such models can be used to perform quantitative spectral analysis of the emission spectra of active galaxies in order to discover the nature and basic physical properties of the emitting gas, as well as the abundance of the chemical elements. The latter represent key evidence to the nucleosynthesis history of the gas in these distant objects. Ultimately, these abundances can be used as a unique probe of the star formation history of the universe in these exotic locations.
"Active Galactic" is a generic term for a wide variety of energetic phenomena in the centres of galaxies. It includes such exotic objects as Quasars, Radio Galaxies, and Seyfert Galaxies. The engine which ultimately drives this galactic activity is a massive, central black hole. Research at Western focuses on applying quantitative methods to analyzing the spectra produced by such objects. The goal is to study the physical conditions in the emitting regions and how these change with cosmic epoch.
