Studying the spectral properties of Active Galactic Nuclei in the JWST era

TL;DR

This paper discusses the potential of JWST's NIRSpec and MIRI spectrographs to advance the study of Active Galactic Nuclei by providing detailed spectral data in the near and mid-infrared range.

Contribution

It offers an overview of the spectral capabilities of JWST's instruments for AGN research, preparing the community for upcoming observations.

Findings

Enhanced spectral resolution in 0.6-28 micron range.

Potential to identify new spectral features of AGN.

Improved understanding of AGN properties in infrared.

Abstract

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), due to launch in 2014, shall provide an unprecedented wealth of information in the near and mid-infrared wavelengths, thanks to its high-sensitivity instruments and its 6.5 m primary mirror, the largest ever launched into space. NIRSpec and MIRI, the two spectrographs onboard JWST, will play a key role in the study of the spectral features of Active Galactic Nuclei in the 0.6-28 micron wavelength range. This talk aims at presenting an overview of the possibilities provided by these two instruments, in order to prepare the astronomical community for the JWST era.