Models of emission line profiles and spectral energy distributions to characterize the multi-frequency properties of active galactic nuclei

TL;DR

This paper develops models of emission line profiles and spectral energy distributions to better understand the multi-frequency properties of active galactic nuclei, aiding in classification and insight into their inner structures.

Contribution

It introduces a revised technique for selecting AGN types from line emitters and compares multi-frequency data with the Unified Model predictions.

Findings

New constraints on AGN nature and evolution from multi-frequency data

A revised method for AGN classification based on spectral properties

Insights into the innermost structures of AGNs

Abstract

The spectra of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) are often characterized by a wealth of emission lines with different profiles and intensity ratios that led to a complicated classification. Their electro-magnetic radiation spans more than 10 orders of magnitude in frequency. In spite of the differences between various classes, the origin of their activity is attributed to a combination of emitting components, surrounding an accreting Super Massive Black Hole, in the so called Unified Model. Currently, the execution of sky surveys, with instruments operating at various frequencies, provides the possibility to detect and to investigate the properties of AGNs on very large statistical samples. Thanks to the spectroscopic surveys that allow investigation of many objects, we have the opportunity to place new constraints on the nature and evolution of AGNs. In this contribution we present the results obtained by working on multi-frequency data and we discuss their relations with the available optical spectra. We compare our findings with the AGN Unified Model predictions, and we present a revised technique to select AGNs of different types from other line emitting objects. We discuss the multi-frequency properties in terms of the innermost structures of the sources.