Obscured activity: AGN, quasars, starbursts and uligs observed by the infrared space observatory

Some of the most 'active' galaxies in the Universe are obscured by large quantities of dust and emit a substantial fraction of their bolometric luminosity in the infrared. Observations of these infrared luminous galaxies with the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) have provided a relatively...

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Main Authors: Verma, A, Lutz, D, Charmandaris, V, Klaas, U, Haas, M
Format: Journal article
Published: 2005
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author Verma, A
Lutz, D
Charmandaris, V
Klaas, U
Haas, M
author_facet Verma, A
Lutz, D
Charmandaris, V
Klaas, U
Haas, M
author_sort Verma, A
collection OXFORD
description Some of the most 'active' galaxies in the Universe are obscured by large quantities of dust and emit a substantial fraction of their bolometric luminosity in the infrared. Observations of these infrared luminous galaxies with the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) have provided a relatively unabsorbed view to the sources fuelling this active emission. The improved sensitivity, spatial resolution and spectroscopic capability of ISO over its predecessor Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) of enabled significant advances in the understanding of the infrared properties of active galaxies. ISO surveyed a wide range of active galaxies which, in the context of this review, includes those powered by intense bursts of star formation as well as those containing a dominant active galactic nucleus (AGN). Mid-infrared imaging resolved for the first time the dust enshrouded nuclei in many nearby galaxies, while a new era in infrared spectroscopy was opened by probing a wealth of atomic, ionic and molecular lines as well as broad band features in the mid-and farinfrared. This was particularly useful, since it resulted in the understanding of the power production, excitation and fuelling mechanisms in the nuclei of active galaxies including the intriguing but so far elusive ultraluminous infrared galaxies. Detailed studies of various classes of AGN and quasars greatly improved our understanding of the unification scenario. Far-infrared imaging and photometry revealed the presence of a new very cold dust component in galaxies and furthered our knowledge of the far-infrared properties of faint starbursts, ULIGs and quasars. We summarise almost nine years of key results based on ISO data spanning the full range of luminosity and type of active galaxies. © 2005 Springer.
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spelling oxford-uuid:20432838-5db3-405f-b7da-6931da5107aa2022-03-26T11:26:29ZObscured activity: AGN, quasars, starbursts and uligs observed by the infrared space observatoryJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:20432838-5db3-405f-b7da-6931da5107aaSymplectic Elements at Oxford2005Verma, ALutz, DCharmandaris, VKlaas, UHaas, MSome of the most 'active' galaxies in the Universe are obscured by large quantities of dust and emit a substantial fraction of their bolometric luminosity in the infrared. Observations of these infrared luminous galaxies with the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) have provided a relatively unabsorbed view to the sources fuelling this active emission. The improved sensitivity, spatial resolution and spectroscopic capability of ISO over its predecessor Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) of enabled significant advances in the understanding of the infrared properties of active galaxies. ISO surveyed a wide range of active galaxies which, in the context of this review, includes those powered by intense bursts of star formation as well as those containing a dominant active galactic nucleus (AGN). Mid-infrared imaging resolved for the first time the dust enshrouded nuclei in many nearby galaxies, while a new era in infrared spectroscopy was opened by probing a wealth of atomic, ionic and molecular lines as well as broad band features in the mid-and farinfrared. This was particularly useful, since it resulted in the understanding of the power production, excitation and fuelling mechanisms in the nuclei of active galaxies including the intriguing but so far elusive ultraluminous infrared galaxies. Detailed studies of various classes of AGN and quasars greatly improved our understanding of the unification scenario. Far-infrared imaging and photometry revealed the presence of a new very cold dust component in galaxies and furthered our knowledge of the far-infrared properties of faint starbursts, ULIGs and quasars. We summarise almost nine years of key results based on ISO data spanning the full range of luminosity and type of active galaxies. © 2005 Springer.
spellingShingle Verma, A
Lutz, D
Charmandaris, V
Klaas, U
Haas, M
Obscured activity: AGN, quasars, starbursts and uligs observed by the infrared space observatory
title Obscured activity: AGN, quasars, starbursts and uligs observed by the infrared space observatory
title_full Obscured activity: AGN, quasars, starbursts and uligs observed by the infrared space observatory
title_fullStr Obscured activity: AGN, quasars, starbursts and uligs observed by the infrared space observatory
title_full_unstemmed Obscured activity: AGN, quasars, starbursts and uligs observed by the infrared space observatory
title_short Obscured activity: AGN, quasars, starbursts and uligs observed by the infrared space observatory
title_sort obscured activity agn quasars starbursts and uligs observed by the infrared space observatory
work_keys_str_mv AT vermaa obscuredactivityagnquasarsstarburstsanduligsobservedbytheinfraredspaceobservatory
AT lutzd obscuredactivityagnquasarsstarburstsanduligsobservedbytheinfraredspaceobservatory
AT charmandarisv obscuredactivityagnquasarsstarburstsanduligsobservedbytheinfraredspaceobservatory
AT klaasu obscuredactivityagnquasarsstarburstsanduligsobservedbytheinfraredspaceobservatory
AT haasm obscuredactivityagnquasarsstarburstsanduligsobservedbytheinfraredspaceobservatory