The resolved size and structure of hot dust in the immediate vicinity of AGN

J. Dexter; J. Shangguan; S. Hönig; M. Kishimoto; D. Lutz; H. Netzer; R. Davies; E. Sturm; O. Pfuhl; A. Amorim; M. Bauböck; W. Brandner; Y. Clénet; P. T. De Zeeuw; A. Eckart; F. Eisenhauer; N. M. Förster Schreiber; F. Gao; P. J.V. Garcia; R. Genzel; S. Gillessen; D. Gratadour; A. Jiménez-Rosales; S. Lacour; F. Millour; T. Ott; T. Paumard; K. Perraut; G. Perrin; B. M. Peterson; P. O. Petrucci; M. A. Prieto; D. Rouan; M. Schartmann; T. Shimizu; A. Sternberg; O. Straub; C. Straubmeier; L. J. Tacconi; K. Tristram; P. Vermot; I. Waisberg; F. Widmann; J. Woillez

doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201936767

The resolved size and structure of hot dust in the immediate vicinity of AGN

J. Dexter^*, J. Shangguan, S. Hönig, M. Kishimoto, D. Lutz, H. Netzer, R. Davies, E. Sturm, O. Pfuhl, A. Amorim, M. Bauböck, W. Brandner, Y. Clénet, P. T. De Zeeuw, A. Eckart, F. Eisenhauer, N. M. Förster Schreiber, F. Gao, P. J.V. Garcia, R. GenzelS. Gillessen, D. Gratadour, A. Jiménez-Rosales, S. Lacour, F. Millour, T. Ott, T. Paumard, K. Perraut, G. Perrin, B. M. Peterson, P. O. Petrucci, M. A. Prieto, D. Rouan, M. Schartmann, T. Shimizu, A. Sternberg, O. Straub, C. Straubmeier, L. J. Tacconi, K. Tristram, P. Vermot, I. Waisberg, F. Widmann, J. Woillez

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Physics and Astronomy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

41 Scopus citations

Abstract

We use VLTI/GRAVITY near-infrared interferometry measurements of eight bright type 1 AGN to study the size and structure of hot dust that is heated by the central engine. We partially resolve each source, and report Gaussian full width at half-maximum sizes in the range 0.3-0.8 mas. In all but one object, we find no evidence for significant elongation or asymmetry (closure phases ≲ 1°). The narrow range of measured angular sizes is expected given the similar optical flux of our targets, and implies an increasing effective physical radius with bolometric luminosity, as found from previous reverberation and interferometry measurements. The measured sizes for Seyfert galaxies are systematically larger than for the two quasars in our sample when measured relative to the previously reported R ∼ L1/2 relationship, which is explained by emission at the sublimation radius. This could be evidence of an evolving near-infrared emission region structure as a function of central luminosity.

Original language	English
Article number	A92
Journal	Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume	635
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201936767
State	Published - 1 Mar 2020

Funding

Funders	Funder number
Fun-dação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Programme National Hautes Energies
National Science Foundation	AST 1909711
Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung
Horizon 2020 Framework Programme
Seventh Framework Programme	610058, 677117
European Commission
European Research Council
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science	16H05731
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia	SFRH/BSAB/142940/2018, UID/FIS/00099/2013
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

Keywords

Galaxies: Seyfert
Galaxies: active
Galaxies: nuclei
Quasars: general
Techniques: interferometric

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10.1051/0004-6361/201936767

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Dexter, J., Shangguan, J., Hönig, S., Kishimoto, M., Lutz, D., Netzer, H., Davies, R., Sturm, E., Pfuhl, O., Amorim, A., Bauböck, M., Brandner, W., Clénet, Y., De Zeeuw, P. T., Eckart, A., Eisenhauer, F., Förster Schreiber, N. M., Gao, F., Garcia, P. J. V., ... Woillez, J. (2020). The resolved size and structure of hot dust in the immediate vicinity of AGN. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 635, Article A92. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201936767

@article{93bc3a7f300d454fbea59414f656d465,

title = "The resolved size and structure of hot dust in the immediate vicinity of AGN",

abstract = "We use VLTI/GRAVITY near-infrared interferometry measurements of eight bright type 1 AGN to study the size and structure of hot dust that is heated by the central engine. We partially resolve each source, and report Gaussian full width at half-maximum sizes in the range 0.3-0.8 mas. In all but one object, we find no evidence for significant elongation or asymmetry (closure phases ≲ 1°). The narrow range of measured angular sizes is expected given the similar optical flux of our targets, and implies an increasing effective physical radius with bolometric luminosity, as found from previous reverberation and interferometry measurements. The measured sizes for Seyfert galaxies are systematically larger than for the two quasars in our sample when measured relative to the previously reported R ∼ L1/2 relationship, which is explained by emission at the sublimation radius. This could be evidence of an evolving near-infrared emission region structure as a function of central luminosity.",

keywords = "Galaxies: Seyfert, Galaxies: active, Galaxies: nuclei, Quasars: general, Techniques: interferometric",

author = "J. Dexter and J. Shangguan and S. H{\"o}nig and M. Kishimoto and D. Lutz and H. Netzer and R. Davies and E. Sturm and O. Pfuhl and A. Amorim and M. Baub{\"o}ck and W. Brandner and Y. Cl{\'e}net and {De Zeeuw}, {P. T.} and A. Eckart and F. Eisenhauer and {F{\"o}rster Schreiber}, {N. M.} and F. Gao and Garcia, {P. J.V.} and R. Genzel and S. Gillessen and D. Gratadour and A. Jim{\'e}nez-Rosales and S. Lacour and F. Millour and T. Ott and T. Paumard and K. Perraut and G. Perrin and Peterson, {B. M.} and Petrucci, {P. O.} and Prieto, {M. A.} and D. Rouan and M. Schartmann and T. Shimizu and A. Sternberg and O. Straub and C. Straubmeier and Tacconi, {L. J.} and K. Tristram and P. Vermot and I. Waisberg and F. Widmann and J. Woillez",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} GRAVITY Collaboration et al. 2020.",

year = "2020",

month = mar,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1051/0004-6361/201936767",

language = "אנגלית",

volume = "635",

journal = "Astronomy and Astrophysics",

issn = "0004-6361",

publisher = "EDP Sciences",

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Dexter, J, Shangguan, J, Hönig, S, Kishimoto, M, Lutz, D, Netzer, H, Davies, R, Sturm, E, Pfuhl, O, Amorim, A, Bauböck, M, Brandner, W, Clénet, Y, De Zeeuw, PT, Eckart, A, Eisenhauer, F, Förster Schreiber, NM, Gao, F, Garcia, PJV, Genzel, R, Gillessen, S, Gratadour, D, Jiménez-Rosales, A, Lacour, S, Millour, F, Ott, T, Paumard, T, Perraut, K, Perrin, G, Peterson, BM, Petrucci, PO, Prieto, MA, Rouan, D, Schartmann, M, Shimizu, T, Sternberg, A, Straub, O, Straubmeier, C, Tacconi, LJ, Tristram, K, Vermot, P, Waisberg, I, Widmann, F & Woillez, J 2020, 'The resolved size and structure of hot dust in the immediate vicinity of AGN', Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 635, A92. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201936767

TY - JOUR

T1 - The resolved size and structure of hot dust in the immediate vicinity of AGN

AU - Dexter, J.

AU - Shangguan, J.

AU - Hönig, S.

AU - Kishimoto, M.

AU - Lutz, D.

AU - Netzer, H.

AU - Davies, R.

AU - Sturm, E.

AU - Pfuhl, O.

AU - Amorim, A.

AU - Bauböck, M.

AU - Brandner, W.

AU - Clénet, Y.

AU - De Zeeuw, P. T.

AU - Eckart, A.

AU - Eisenhauer, F.

AU - Förster Schreiber, N. M.

AU - Gao, F.

AU - Garcia, P. J.V.

AU - Genzel, R.

AU - Gillessen, S.

AU - Gratadour, D.

AU - Jiménez-Rosales, A.

AU - Lacour, S.

AU - Millour, F.

AU - Ott, T.

AU - Paumard, T.

AU - Perraut, K.

AU - Perrin, G.

AU - Peterson, B. M.

AU - Petrucci, P. O.

AU - Prieto, M. A.

AU - Rouan, D.

AU - Schartmann, M.

AU - Shimizu, T.

AU - Sternberg, A.

AU - Straub, O.

AU - Straubmeier, C.

AU - Tacconi, L. J.

AU - Tristram, K.

AU - Vermot, P.

AU - Waisberg, I.

AU - Widmann, F.

AU - Woillez, J.

PY - 2020/3/1

Y1 - 2020/3/1

N2 - We use VLTI/GRAVITY near-infrared interferometry measurements of eight bright type 1 AGN to study the size and structure of hot dust that is heated by the central engine. We partially resolve each source, and report Gaussian full width at half-maximum sizes in the range 0.3-0.8 mas. In all but one object, we find no evidence for significant elongation or asymmetry (closure phases ≲ 1°). The narrow range of measured angular sizes is expected given the similar optical flux of our targets, and implies an increasing effective physical radius with bolometric luminosity, as found from previous reverberation and interferometry measurements. The measured sizes for Seyfert galaxies are systematically larger than for the two quasars in our sample when measured relative to the previously reported R ∼ L1/2 relationship, which is explained by emission at the sublimation radius. This could be evidence of an evolving near-infrared emission region structure as a function of central luminosity.

AB - We use VLTI/GRAVITY near-infrared interferometry measurements of eight bright type 1 AGN to study the size and structure of hot dust that is heated by the central engine. We partially resolve each source, and report Gaussian full width at half-maximum sizes in the range 0.3-0.8 mas. In all but one object, we find no evidence for significant elongation or asymmetry (closure phases ≲ 1°). The narrow range of measured angular sizes is expected given the similar optical flux of our targets, and implies an increasing effective physical radius with bolometric luminosity, as found from previous reverberation and interferometry measurements. The measured sizes for Seyfert galaxies are systematically larger than for the two quasars in our sample when measured relative to the previously reported R ∼ L1/2 relationship, which is explained by emission at the sublimation radius. This could be evidence of an evolving near-infrared emission region structure as a function of central luminosity.

KW - Galaxies: Seyfert

KW - Galaxies: active

KW - Galaxies: nuclei

KW - Quasars: general

KW - Techniques: interferometric

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85086850644&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1051/0004-6361/201936767

DO - 10.1051/0004-6361/201936767

M3 - ???researchoutput.researchoutputtypes.contributiontojournal.article???

AN - SCOPUS:85086850644

SN - 0004-6361

VL - 635

JO - Astronomy and Astrophysics

JF - Astronomy and Astrophysics

M1 - A92

ER -

The resolved size and structure of hot dust in the immediate vicinity of AGN

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

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