The Past and Future of Mid-Infrared Studies of AGN
Observational studies of AGN in the mid-infrared regime are crucial to our understanding of AGN and their role in the evolution of galaxies. Mid-IR-based selection of AGN is complementary to more traditional techniques allowing for a more complete census of AGN activity across cosmic time. Mid-IR ob...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Universe |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/8/7/356 |
| _version_ | 1827626359665459200 |
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| author | Anna Sajina Mark Lacy Alexandra Pope |
| author_facet | Anna Sajina Mark Lacy Alexandra Pope |
| author_sort | Anna Sajina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Observational studies of AGN in the mid-infrared regime are crucial to our understanding of AGN and their role in the evolution of galaxies. Mid-IR-based selection of AGN is complementary to more traditional techniques allowing for a more complete census of AGN activity across cosmic time. Mid-IR observations including time variability and spatially resolved imaging have given us unique insights into the nature of the obscuring structures around AGN. The wealth of fine structure, molecular, and dust features in the mid-IR allow us to simultaneously probe multiple components of the ISM allowing us to explore in detail the impact on the host galaxy by the presence of an AGN—a crucial step toward understanding galaxy-SMBH co-evolution. This review gives a broad overview of this wide range of studies. It also aims to show the evolution of this field starting with its nascency in the 1960s, through major advances thanks to several generations of space-based and ground-based facilities, as well as the promise of upcoming facilities such as the James Webb Space Telescope (<i>JWST</i>). |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:53:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-257143ce92964248960cd9516cee8571 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2218-1997 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:53:37Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Universe |
| spelling | doaj.art-257143ce92964248960cd9516cee85712023-11-30T22:01:59ZengMDPI AGUniverse2218-19972022-06-018735610.3390/universe8070356The Past and Future of Mid-Infrared Studies of AGNAnna Sajina0Mark Lacy1Alexandra Pope2Department of Physics & Astronomy, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USANational Radio Astronomy Observatory, 520 Edgemont Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USADepartment of Astronomy, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USAObservational studies of AGN in the mid-infrared regime are crucial to our understanding of AGN and their role in the evolution of galaxies. Mid-IR-based selection of AGN is complementary to more traditional techniques allowing for a more complete census of AGN activity across cosmic time. Mid-IR observations including time variability and spatially resolved imaging have given us unique insights into the nature of the obscuring structures around AGN. The wealth of fine structure, molecular, and dust features in the mid-IR allow us to simultaneously probe multiple components of the ISM allowing us to explore in detail the impact on the host galaxy by the presence of an AGN—a crucial step toward understanding galaxy-SMBH co-evolution. This review gives a broad overview of this wide range of studies. It also aims to show the evolution of this field starting with its nascency in the 1960s, through major advances thanks to several generations of space-based and ground-based facilities, as well as the promise of upcoming facilities such as the James Webb Space Telescope (<i>JWST</i>).https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/8/7/356dusty galaxiesobscured AGNISM |
| spellingShingle | Anna Sajina Mark Lacy Alexandra Pope The Past and Future of Mid-Infrared Studies of AGN Universe dusty galaxies obscured AGN ISM |
| title | The Past and Future of Mid-Infrared Studies of AGN |
| title_full | The Past and Future of Mid-Infrared Studies of AGN |
| title_fullStr | The Past and Future of Mid-Infrared Studies of AGN |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Past and Future of Mid-Infrared Studies of AGN |
| title_short | The Past and Future of Mid-Infrared Studies of AGN |
| title_sort | past and future of mid infrared studies of agn |
| topic | dusty galaxies obscured AGN ISM |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/8/7/356 |
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