Hot dust and the near-infrared bump in the continuum spectra of quasars and active galactic nuclei

Journal Article · Tue Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/165571· OSTI ID:5748848

Barvainis, R

It is shown here that thermal radiation by dust can reproduce the overall shape of the bump seen in the near-infrared continua of many QSOs and AGN. A simple model in which dust grains are heated by the primary nuclear optical/ultraviolet continuum produces the required emission at short wavelengths. The model naturally explains the onset of the bump at about 2 microns. This wavelength corresponds to the optically thin emission peak for the hottest possible grains, i.e., graphite grains at their evaporation temperature near 1500 K. Emission longward of 2 microns is due to cooler grains farther from the central source. 33 references.

• Research Organization: National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Charlottesville, VA
• OSTI ID: 5748848
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 320; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
640105 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BLACKBODY RADIATION
CARBON
COSMIC DUST
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
DUSTS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTAL MINERALS
ELEMENTS
GALAXY NUCLEI
GRAPHITE
INFRARED RADIATION
INFRARED SPECTRA
MINERALS
NEAR INFRARED RADIATION
NONMETALS
QUASARS
RADIATIONS
SPECTRA
THERMAL RADIATION
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION