Synergistic Astrophysics in the Ultraviolet using Active Galactic Nuclei

TL;DR

This paper discusses the benefits of multi-objective observing programs in UV astronomy, focusing on active galactic nuclei (AGN) to study black hole growth, galaxy evolution, and cosmic gas through spectroscopic methods.

Contribution

It highlights the scientific synergy of using AGN as background sources for diverse spectroscopic studies in UV astronomy, optimizing mission productivity.

Findings

AGN serve as key background sources for IGM, CGM, and ISM studies.

Multi-objective programs enhance scientific return of UV missions.

Spectroscopic investigations of AGN inform black hole and galaxy evolution.

Abstract

Observing programs comprising multiple scientific objectives will enhance the productivity of NASA's next UV/Visible mission. Studying active galactic nuclei (AGN) is intrinsically important for understanding how black holes accrete matter, grow through cosmic time, and influence their host galaxies. At the same time, the bright UV continuum of AGN serves as an ideal background light source for studying foreground gas in the intergalactic medium (IGM), the circumgalactic medium (CGM) of individual galaxies, and the interstellar medium (ISM) and halo of the Milky Way. A well chosen sample of AGN can serve as the observational backbone for multiple spectroscopic investigations including quantitative measurements of outflows from AGN, the structure of their accretion disks, and the mass of the central black hole.