• 천문학회지
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.177-187
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• 2003

Active galactic nuclei (AGNs) are distant, powerful sources of radiation over the entire electromagnetic spectrum, from radio waves to gamma-rays. There is much evidence that they are driven by gravitational accretion of stars, dust, and gas, onto central massive black holes (MBHs) imprisoning anywhere from $\~$1 to $\~$10,000 million solar masses; such objects may naturally form in the centers of galaxies during their normal dynamical evolution. A small fraction of AGNs, of the radio-loud type (RLAGNs), are somehow able to generate powerful synchrotron-emitting structures (cores, jets, lobes) with sizes ranging from pc to Mpc. A brief summary of AGN observations and theories is given, with an emphasis on RLAGNs. Preliminary results from the imaging of 10000 extragalactic radio sources observed in the MITVLA snapshot survey, and from a new analytic theory of the time-variable power output from Kerr black hole magnetospheres, are presented. To better understand the complex physical processes within the central engines of AGNs, it is important to confront the observations with theories, from the viewpoint of analyzing the time-variable behaviours of AGNs - which have been recorded over both 'short' human ($10^0-10^9\;s$) and 'long' cosmic ($10^{13} - 10^{17}\;s$) timescales. Some key ingredients of a basic mathematical formalism are outlined, which may help in building detailed Monte-Carlo models of evolving AGN populations; such numerical calculations should be potentially important tools for useful interpretation of the large amounts of statistical data now publicly available for both AGNs and RLAGNs.

• 천문학논총
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.271-274
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• 2012

We present the result of systematic AKARI IRC infrared $2.5-5{\mu}m$ spectroscopy of >100 nearby luminous infrared galaxies, to investigate the energetic roles of starbursts and optically-elusive buried AGNs. Based on (1) the equivalent widths of the $3.3{\mu}m$ PAH emission features, (2) the optical depths of absorption features, and (3) continuum slopes, we can disentangle emission from starbursts and AGNs. We find that the energetic importance of buried AGNs increases with increasing galaxy infrared luminosities, suggesting that the AGN-starburst connections (and thereby possible AGN feedback to host galaxies) are luminosity dependent.

• 천문학논총
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.265-270
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• 2012

Many observations have found evidence of the presence of a large number of heavily obscured Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs). However, the nature of this population is only poorly understood because heavy obscuration by dust prevents one from finding them at optical wavelengths. Mid-infrared AGN searches can overcome this obstacle by penetrating through dust and by detecting direct emission from the dust torus. Thus, we can identify most of the AGN population, including type-2 and buried AGNs. Using the AKARI mid-infrared all-sky survey, we performed an AGN search in the nearby universe. Utilizing the 2MASS photometry, we selected mid-infrared-excess sources and carried out near-infrared spectroscopic observations in the AKARI Phase 3. During these follow-up observations, we have found three galaxies that show strong near-infrared red continuum from hot dust with a temperature of about 500 K, but do not show any AGN features in other wavelengths. The most suitable explanation of near-infrared continuum is the presence of central AGNs. Therefore, we conclude that they are AGNs obscured by dust. We performed X-ray observations of the two galaxies with SUZAKU. No detections in the 0.4-10 keV suggest that the column density may be much higher than $N_H=10^{23.5}cm^{-2}$. Comparing the masses of the host galaxies with those of the SDSS AGNs, we find that the host galaxies of the dusty AGNs discovered with AKARI are less massive populations than those of optically selected AGNs.

• 천문학회지
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.121-124
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• 2005

High resolution images of the nuclear regions of nearby galaxies show that nuclear spirals are preponderant in normal galaxies as well as in active galaxies. These nuclear spirals, especially the grand-design nuclear spirals are found to be formed by the gas flow driven by the bar. Hydrodynamical simulations exploring a wide range of parameter space show that the morphology of nuclear spirals depends not only on the inner dynamics but on the global dynamics resulting from the global mass distribution of galaxies. Thus, the nuclear morphology can be a diagnostic tool for the inner dynamics of galaxies when the global mass distribution is taken into account.

• 천문학논총
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.291-292
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• 2012

We select infrared-luminous galaxies by cross-matching the SDSS spectroscopic sample of galaxies with the WISE all-sky survey catalog. Based on photometric data points covering from SDSS u-band to WISE $22{\mu}m$, their spectral energy distributions (SEDs) are separated into AGN, elliptical, spiral, and irregular galaxy components. The derived luminosities of spiral galaxy and AGN are well correlated with $H{\alpha}$ and [OIII] line luminosities, respectively. Most galaxies are dominated by young stellar populations even for optical AGNs, but at least 10% of optical non-AGNs appear to harbor buried AGNs. The AGN contribution increases dramatically with the total luminosity. These results show that the SED decomposition is successful and is useful to understand the true nature of dusty galaxies.

• 천문학회보
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• 제44권1호
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• pp.75.3-75.3
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• 2019

Understanding how ram pressure stripping (RPS) affects the star formation activity of cluster galaxies is one of the important issues in astrophysics. To examine whether we can identify any discernible trend in the star formation activity of galaxies undergoing ram pressure stripping, we study the star formation properties of galaxies in the Virgo cluster for which high-resolution HI images are available. We first classify galaxies in the Extended Virgo Cluster Catalog into different stages of RPS based on their HI morphology, HI deficiency, and location in phase space. We then examine various star formation activity indicators of these galaxies, which include starburstiness, g - r color, and WISE [3.4]-[12] color. No noticeable enhancement in star formation was identified for galaxies undergoing early or active stripping. Our results suggest that star formation activity at best seems to be enhanced locally in such galaxies, making it challenging to detect with integrated photometry. With the combination of HI deficiencies and locations in phase space, we were instead able to capture the overall quenching of star formation activity with increasing degree of ram pressure stripping, which agree with previous studies.

• 천문학논총
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.193-195
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• 2017

We demonstrate the luminosity dependence of the covering factor (CF) of active galactic nuclei (AGNs), based on AKARI mid-infrared all-sky survey catalog. Combining the AKARI with Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) spectroscopic data, we selected 243 galaxies at $9{\mu}m$ and 255 galaxies at $18{\mu}m$. We then identified 64 AGNs at $9{\mu}m$ and 105 AGNs at $18{\mu}m$ by their optical emission lines. Following that, we estimated the CF as the fraction of type 2 AGN in all AGNs. We found that the CF decreased with increasing $18{\mu}m$ luminosity, regardless of the choice of type 2 AGN classification criteria.

• 천문학회보
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.37.1-37.1
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• 2013

We present a result of a statistical studies on nuclear activities of compact group galaxies. It is suggested that the galaxy interaction can trigger the nuclear activity by producing the gas inflow to the center of galaxies. To understand the connection between galaxy interaction and nuclear activity, we study the fraction of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) host galaxies in compact groups, known as the most favored environment for galaxy interaction. We select 59 spectroscopically confirmed compact groups in the SDSS DR6. Using the emission line ratio, we determine the spectral types of compact group galaxies and obtain the fraction of AGN-host galaxies. We compare this fraction with those in other galaxy environments. For the early type galaxies, we find that the AGN fraction of compact group galaxies are lower than field galaxies, but higher than cluster galaxies. On the other hand, the AGN fraction of compact group galaxies is similar to those for field and cluster environment for the late type galaxies. Implications of this result will be discussed.

• 천문학논총
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.77-82
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• 2010

Recent results from large surveys of the local universe show that the galaxy-black hole connection is linked to host morphology at a fundamental level and that there are two fundamentally different modes of black hole growth. The fraction of early-type galaxies with actively growing black holes, and therefore the AGN duty cycle, declines significantly with increasing black hole mass. Late-type galaxies exhibit the opposite trend: the fraction of actively growing black holes increases with black hole mass. Issues of AGN selection bias and prospects for near-future efforts with high redshift data are discussed.

• 천문학회지
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.1-6
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• 2005

We searched for X-ray emission from the 665 galaxies inside and towards the nearby voids by analyzing the ROSAT All-Sky Survey (RASS) data as well as the ROSAT pointed observations (PSPC). As a result we have detected six X-ray emitting galaxies. Two (UGC 10205 and NGC 7509) are in the high density region in the local void, three (UGC 749, MCG +11-10-073, and Mrk 464) are towards the nearby voids, and UGC 32 is located in the low density region. We carried out a timing analysis for both Mrk 464 and UGC 32, and a spectral analysis for Mrk 464. The light curve of Mrk 464 shows the possibility of periodic X-ray flux variation and UGC 32 shows weak, but rapid variation.