Multi-scale three-dimensional visualization of emission, scattering and absorption in active galactic nuclei using Virtual Observatories tools

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel 3D visualization software for radiative transfer simulations of active galactic nuclei, enabling detailed analysis of emission, scattering, and absorption processes across vast scales.

Contribution

The work introduces a new visualization tool that allows zooming over ten orders of magnitude and inside multiple scattering regions in AGN simulations.

Findings

Enhanced understanding of emission, scattering, and absorption regions in AGN

Ability to test single-scattering hypothesis in complex environments

Evaluation of fragmentation effects on light echo propagation

Abstract

Whether aimed for the study of the planetary systems, the distribution of the stars in the galaxies or the formation of the large-scale structures in the Universe, the sizes of numerical simulations are becoming increasingly important in terms of their virtual volumes and computer memories. The visualization of the data becomes more complicated with the requirement of the exposition of the large number of data points. In order to lighten such burden, Virtual Observatories (VO) have been developed and are now essential tools in astronomy to share existing data, for visualization and for data analysis. Using a software, currently being developed at the Centre de Donn\'ees de Strasbourg (CDS) jointly with the Astronomical Observatory of Strasbourg, we show how three-dimensional radiative transfer simulations of active galactic nuclei (AGN) can be visualized in order to extract new information. The ability to zoom over ten orders of magnitude and to journey inside/between the multiple scattering regions allows to identify where emission, scattering, and absorption truly take place. Among all the new possibilities offered by the software, it is possible to test the single-scattering hypothesis or evaluate the impact of fragmentation onto the propagation of light echoes within the broad line region (BLR) or the circumnuclear region (torus).