Neutral Hydrogen Absorption against the Radio Galaxy 3C 293 and the LIRG NGC 6240

R. J. Beswick, A. Pedlar, Carole G. Mundell, Jack F. Gallimore, A. B. Peck, G. B. Taylor, A. J. Holloway

Research output: Chapter or section in a book/report/conference proceedingChapter in a published conference proceeding

Abstract

Supermassive black holes are thought to be ubiquitous in bulge-dominated galaxies and the standard model of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) invokes the release of gravitational energy due to accretion of material onto a central black hole. What determines the presence and degree of nuclear activity, however, remains an unanswered question. Unlike quasar activity, which seems to coincide with the build-up of galactic-size structures, activity in nearby AGN with well-established host galaxies, must involve re-activation of their central black holes. Neutral hydrogen (HI) is a key tracer of galactic structure and dynamics and responds most readily to perturbations caused by tidal disturbance and non-axisymetric gravitational potentials - perturbations which have been mooted as possible triggers of nuclear activity. I present here an HI imaging study of a heterogeneous sample of nine nearby Seyfert galaxies and describe plans for a new HI survey which aims to investigate the role of the host gas in triggering and fuelling of nuclear activity on a statistical basis.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationActive Galactic Nuclei: from Central Engine to Host Galaxy, 2002
EditorsS. Collin, F. Combes, I. Shlosman
PublisherAstronomical Society of the Pacific
Pages481
ISBN (Print)9781583811351
Publication statusPublished - 31 Dec 2003
EventActive Galactic Nuclei: from Central Engine to Host Galaxy, 2002 - Meudon, France
Duration: 23 Jul 200227 Jul 2002

Publication series

NameAstronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series
Volume290

Other

OtherActive Galactic Nuclei: from Central Engine to Host Galaxy, 2002
Country/TerritoryFrance
CityMeudon
Period23/07/0227/07/02

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Neutral Hydrogen Absorption against the Radio Galaxy 3C 293 and the LIRG NGC 6240'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this