Investigating Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 Galaxies with Spatially Resolved Spectroscopy
π Keywords: Active Galactic Nuclei, Optical Astronomy, Spectroscopic Observations
π¨ Supervisor: δΏδΌ―ε (Po-Chieh Yu) - TARA and Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Academia Sinica (TARA, ASIAA)
π₯ Number of Students: 1 (Max: 2)
π Project Description
Narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) galaxies are a unique class of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) characterized by low black hole masses and high Eddington ratios, suggesting they are in a rapid accretion phase. These properties imply that NLS1s may represent an early stage in AGN evolution, where black holes are actively growing before transitioning into more typical Seyfert galaxies or quasars. Previous studies suggested that NLS1 galaxies might evolve primarily through internal secular processes rather than external mergers. This suggests that intrinsic mechanisms, rather than large-scale interactions, drive their AGN activity. Additionally, NLS1s exhibit significant optical and X-ray variability, providing insights into accretion disk dynamics and physical conditions near the supermassive black hole. Therefore, studying NLS1 galaxies is crucial for gaining a deeper understanding of how black holes grow, the role of internal processes in driving early AGN activity, and the overall lifecycle of galaxies hosting active nuclei.
Since integral field unit (IFU) spectroscopy offers spatially resolved spectroscopic data crucial for studying NLS1 galaxies, this project aims to analyze SDSS MaNGA data to investigate:
- Spatial distribution of ionized gas and ionization mechanisms
- Kinematic processes, including inflows and outflows
- Star formation activity and stellar population characteristics
π Required Background
- Programming Languages: Python
- Unix/Linux experience
- Curiosity and passion for astrophysical research