AGN at Arcetri

The formation and evolution of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), attributed to accreting massive black holes (BHs), are closely related to the formation and evolution of the galaxies which host them. Our group has been studying the co-evolution of AGN, BHs, and their host galaxies for several years now. We rely on a multiwavelength approach, from the millimeter and the IR to the X-ray. Specifically, our group is engaged in studies of:

• The structure and properties of the circumnuclear medium of AGN and radio galaxies, with application to AGN unification (Sperello di Serego Alighieri, Guido Risaliti, Marco Salvati, Guidetta Torricelli)
• Spectral energy distributions of AGN, with particular regard to bolometric corrections, the extreme IR spectral region, and the AGN contribution to the cosmic background (Guido Risaliti, Marco Salvati, Eleonora Sani)
• Scaling relations between BH mass and host galaxies properties (local AGN, QSOs, and non-AGN) in the context of formation and co-evolution scenarios (Leslie Hunt, Guido Risaliti, Eleonora Sani, Stefano Zibetti)
• Diagnostics of AGN and starburst components in Ultraluminous and Luminous Infrared Galaxies (ULIRGs and LIRGs) through hard X-ray and infrared spectroscopy of dust features (Guido Risaliti, Marco Salvati, Eleonora Sani)
• AGN fueling mechanisms and relation to star formation through morphology and dynamics of circumnuclear molecular gas (NUGA, Leslie Hunt)

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