Grants related:
General
PARSEC is a multi-wavelength investigation of the central PARSEC of the nearest galaxies. We work on black-hole accretion and its most energetic manifestations: jets and hot spots, and on its circumnuclear environment conditions for star formation. We resort to the highest available angular resolution observations from gamma-rays to the centimetre, and pursue a physical interpretation in the context of computational astrophysics. We also work on development of Adaptive Optics instrumentation for large telescopes. PARSEC projects are:
PARSEC - Black-Hole activity: The galaxies under study span a wide range of nuclear activity, from quiesent to low luminosity active nuclei to the Seyfert and Qso phase. PARSEC investigates the origin and morphology of dust and gas in the central parsec of active and normal galaxies, those being the pre-conditions for the onset of Black-Hole activity. The spectral energy distribution of the central few parsecs is investigated as a function of nuclear activity and accretion disc efficency. The nature and shape of the ionizing continuum are traced with high ionization coronal lines.
PARSEC - Jets and Hot-Spots: PARSEC further studies the most energetic manisfestations of Black-Hole activity: jets and hot-spots, in the PAIS project.
PARSEC -Star-formation: Nuclear star formation spatially resolved at cluster level is uncovered in many of these near galaxies. PARSEC investigates the properties of nuclear dust filaments, lanes and molecular clouds as pre-sites for star formation.
PARSEC - Theory: A physical insight of many of the PARSEC results is done via close collaboration with the Computational Astrophysics group, CAST, of the Munchen University Sternwarte, using numerical and magnetic-hydrodynamic simulations developped by this group.
PARSEC - Instrumentation: PARSEC is also involved in the definition, development and construction of Adaptive Optics instrumentation for 8 -10 m telescopes. PARSEC instrumentation team is building the first Adpative Optics Integral Field Spectrograph and Imaging Camera, FRIDA, for GTC 10 m teelcope.
PARSEC - Outreach: PARSEC is involved in the science and outreach "Vanishing and Appearing Sources during a Century of Observations (VASCO)" project. VASCO searches for vanishing stars, unusual astrophysical transients and extra-terrestrial intelligence. As such, it is a platform for interacting with the general public. VASCO has strong visibility in the media outets via its associated citizen science project.
Members
Scientific activity
Related publications
-
The central parsecs of active galactic nuclei: challenges to the torusType 2 active galactic nuclei (AGN) are by definition nuclei in which the broad-line region and continuum light are hidden at optical/UV wavelengths by dust. Via accurate registration of infrared (IR) Very Large Telescope adaptive optics images with optical Hubble Space Telescope images we unambiguously identify the precise location of the nucleusPrieto, M. A. et al.
Advertised on:
82014 -
Infrared properties of blazars: putting the GASP-WEBT sources into contextThe infrared properties of blazars can be studied from the statistical point of view with the help of sky surveys, like that provided by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer and the Two Micron All Sky Survey. However, these sources are known for their strong and unpredictable variability, which can be monitored for a handful of objects only. InRaiteri, C. M. et al.
Advertised on:
72014 -
A Candidate Massive Black Hole in the Low-metallicity Dwarf Galaxy Pair Mrk 709The incidence and properties of present-day dwarf galaxies hosting massive black holes (BHs) can provide important constraints on the origin of high-redshift BH seeds. Here we present high-resolution X-ray and radio observations of the low-metallicity, star-forming, dwarf-galaxy system Mrk 709 with the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Karl GReines, A. E. et al.
Advertised on:
62014 -
Evidence of Parsec-scale Jets in Low-luminosity Active Galactic NucleiThe nuclear radio emission of low-luminosity active galactic nuclei (LLAGNs) is often associated with unresolved cores. In this paper we show that most LLAGNs present extended jet radio emission when observed with sufficient angular resolution and sensitivity. They are thus able to power, at least, parsec-scale radio jets. To increase the detectionMezcua, M. et al.
Advertised on:
52014 -
Revealing the Nature of the ULX and X-Ray Population of the Spiral Galaxy NGC 4088We present the first Chandra and Swift X-ray study of the spiral galaxy NGC 4088 and its ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX N4088-X1). We also report very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations at 1.6 and 5 GHz performed quasi-simultaneously with the Swift and Chandra observations, respectively. Fifteen X-ray sources are detected by ChandraMezcua, M. et al.
Advertised on:
42014 -
Age and metallicity gradients support hierarchical formation for M87In order to probe the inside-out formation of the most massive galaxies in the Universe, we have explored the radial (0.1 ≲ R ≲ 8 kpc) variation of the spectral energy distribution of M87 from UV to IR. For this purpose, we have combined high-resolution data in 16 different bands. Our analysis indicate that the age of the stellar population of M87Montes, M. et al.
Advertised on:
32014 -
Radio observations of extreme ULXs: revealing the most powerful ULX radio nebula ever or the jet of an intermediate-mass black hole?The most extreme ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs), with LX > 5 × 1040 erg s-1, are amongst the best candidates for hosting intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) in the haloes of galaxies. Jet radio emission is expected from a sub-Eddington accreting IMBH in the low/hard (radio bright) state. In a search for such IMBH jet radio emission, we haveLobanov, A. P. et al.
Advertised on:
122013 -
The awakening of BL Lacertae: observations by Fermi, Swift and the GASP-WEBTSince the launch of the Fermi satellite, BL Lacertae has been moderately active at γ-rays and optical frequencies until 2011 May, when the source started a series of strong flares. The exceptional optical sampling achieved by the GLAST-AGILE Support Program of the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope in collaboration with the Steward Observatory allows usRaiteri, C. M. et al.
Advertised on:
122013 -
Milliarcsec-scale radio emission of ultraluminous X-ray sources: steady jet emission from an intermediate-mass black hole?The origin of the high X-ray luminosities of most ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) still remains poorly understood. Most of the scenarios proposed to explain their nature assume that ULXs are powered by accretion on to a black hole (BH). In this case, the detection of compact radio emission and the location of the ULXs in the Fundamental Plane (XMezcua, M. et al.
Advertised on:
122013 -
Dust in the Polar Region as a Major Contributor to the Infrared Emission of Active Galactic NucleiDust around active galactic nuclei (AGNs) is distributed over a wide range of spatial scales and can be observed in the infrared (IR). It is generally assumed that the distribution on parsec scales forms a geometrically and optically thick entity in the equatorial plane around the accretion disk and broad-line region—dubbed "dust torus"—that emitsHönig, S. F. et al.
Advertised on:
72013 -
Probing nuclear activity versus star formation at z ˜ 0.8 using near-infrared multi-object spectroscopyWe present near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopic observations of 28 X-ray and mid-infrared selected sources at a median redshift of z ˜ 0.8 in the Extended Groth Strip (EGS). To date this is the largest compilation of NIR spectra of active galactic nuclei (AGN) at this redshift. The data were obtained using the multi-object spectroscopic mode of theRodríguez-Eugenio, N. et al.
Advertised on:
32013 -
The Central Molecular Gas Structure in LINERs with Low-luminosity Active Galactic Nuclei: Evidence for Gradual Disappearance of the TorusWe present observations of the molecular gas in the nuclear environment of three prototypical low-luminosity active galactic nuclei (LLAGNs), based on VLT/SINFONI AO-assisted integral-field spectroscopy of H2 1-0 S(1) emission at angular resolutions of ~0.''17. On scales of 50-150 pc, the spatial distribution and kinematics of the molecular gas areMüller-Sánchez, F. et al.
Advertised on:
12013 -
Radio spectrum evolution and magnetic field in extreme GPS radio sources. The case of RXJ1459+3337Aims:The knowledge of the properties of the youngest radio sources is very important in order to trace the earliest phase of the evolution of the radio emission. RXJ1459+3337, with its high turnover frequency (~25 GHz) provides a unique opportunity to study this class of extreme objects. Methods: High-sensitivity multi-frequency VLA observationsOrienti, M. et al.
Advertised on:
12008 -
Constraining the nature of high frequency peakers. II. Polarization propertiesAims:The “bright” High Frequency Peakers (HFPs) sample is a mixture of blazars and intrinsically small and young radio sources. We investigate the polarimetric characteristics of 45 High Frequency Peakers, from the “bright” HFP sample, in order to have a deeper knowledge of the nature of each object, and to construct a sample made of genuine youngOrienti, M. et al.
Advertised on:
22008 -
Are young radio sources in equipartition?Aims: The knowledge of physical conditions in young radio sources is important for defining the framework of models describing radio source evolution. We investigate whether young radio sources are in equipartition (i.e. minimum energy) conditions by comparing the equipartition magnetic fields of 5 High Frequency Peakers (HFP) with values directlyOrienti, M. et al.
Advertised on:
92008 -
The last breath of the young gigahertz-peaked spectrum radio source PKS1518+047We present the results from multifrequency VLBA observations from 327MHz to 8.4GHz of the gigahertz-peaked spectrum radio source PKS1518+047 (4C04.51) aimed at studying the spectral index distribution across the source. Further multifrequency archival Very Large Array data were analysed to constrain the spectral shape of the whole source. The pcOrienti, M. et al.
Advertised on:
32010 -
Proper motion and apparent contraction in J0650+6001We present a multi-epoch and multifrequency very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) study of the compact radio source J0650+6001. In VLBI images, the source is resolved into three components. The central component shows a flat spectrum, suggesting the presence of the core, while the two outer regions, with a steeper spectral index, display aOrienti, M. et al.
Advertised on:
72010 -
Adaptive optics near infrared integral field spectroscopy of NGC 2992Aims: NGC 2992 is an intermediate Seyfert 1 galaxy showing outflows on kilo parsec scales which might be due either to AGN or starburst activity. We therefore aim at investigating its central region for a putative starburst in the past and its connection to the AGN and the outflows. Methods: Observations were performed with the adaptive optics nearFriedrich, S. et al.
Advertised on:
92010 -
VLT diffraction-limited imaging at 11 and 18μm of the nearest active galactic nucleiMid-infrared (mid-IR) imaging at resolutions of 300mas of the central kpc region of 13 nearby, well-known active galaxies is presented. The bulk of the mid-IR emission is concentrated on an unresolved central source within a size of less than 5-130pc, depending on the object distance. Further resolved emission is detected in 70 per cent of theReunanen, J. et al.
Advertised on:
22010 -
The spectral energy distribution of the central parsecs of the nearest AGNSpectral energy distributions (SEDs) of the central few tens of parsec region of some of the nearest, most well-studied, active galactic nuclei (AGN) are presented. These genuine AGN-core SEDs, mostly from Seyfert galaxies, are characterized by two main features: an infrared (IR) bump with the maximum in the 2-10μm range and an increasing X-rayPrieto, M. A. et al.
Advertised on:
22010
