The Central PARSEC of Galaxies using High Spatial Resolution Techniques

Start year
2003

Grants related:

    General
    Description

    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. 

    Principal investigator

    Related publications

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      The relationship between the emission of coronal lines (CLs) and nuclear activity in 36 Type 1 and 18 Type 2 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) is analyzed, for the first time, based on near-infrared (0.8-2.4 μm) spectra. The eight CLs studied, of Si, S, Fe, Al, and Ca elements and corresponding to ionization potentials (IPs) in the range 125-450 eV
      Rodríguez-Ardila, A. et al.

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      12
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    • Radio structures of the nuclei of nearby Seyfert galaxies and the nature of the missing diffuse emission
      We present archival high-spatial-resolution VLA and VLBA data of the nuclei of seven of the nearest and brightest Seyfert galaxies in the Southern Hemisphere. At VLA resolution (~0.1arcsec), the nuclei of the Seyfert galaxies are unresolved, with the exception of MCG-5-23-16 and NGC7469, which show a core-jet structure. Three Seyfert nuclei are
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      2
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    • Parsec-scale Dust Emission from the Polar Region in the Type 2 Nucleus of NGC 424
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      8
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    • Outflows from Active Galactic Nuclei: Kinematics of the Narrow-line and Coronal-line Regions in Seyfert Galaxies
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      10
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      1
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      7
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      1
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      8
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      9
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      6
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      3
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      6
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    • The starburst-active galactic nucleus connection in the merger galaxy Mrk 938: an infrared and X-ray view
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      Advertised on:

      6
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      11
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      Acosta-Pulido, J. A. et al.

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      9
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      Advertised on:

      1
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      Advertised on:

      3
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    • Resolving the nuclear dust distribution of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 3081
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      10
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      9
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      Ramos Almeida, C. et al.

      Advertised on:

      4
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      50

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