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Synthesis of accretion disk and nonthermal source models for AGN

Conference ·
OSTI ID:7182955
A scenario for the central engine of AGN has been developed consisting of a massive black hole (MBH) onto which gas accretes through an accretion disk. The accretion disk radiates the observed optical and ultraviolet continua. Surrounding the MBH is a nonthermal source which produces the infrared and soft x-ray continua by synchrotron emission, and the x-ray spectrum by inverse Compton scattering of the optical-ultraviolet photons from the accretion disk. Previously we modeled the accretion disk (M.A.M.) and nonthermal source (D.L.B.) separately, and here we combine the two models to form a unified description of the AGN engine. This combined model can be inverted to determine source parameters from observed spectra. A group of AGN for which multiband observations exist can then be modeled to: demonstrate the validity of the combined model for a large number of objects; establish the range of parameter values that describe the source; and search for any correlations between source description and type.
Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab., Livermore, CA (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/ER
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
7182955
Report Number(s):
UCRL-97451; CONF-8710344-1; ON: DE88013098
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English