Journal
FRONTIERS OF PHYSICS
Volume 8, Issue 6, Pages 609-629Publisher
HIGHER EDUCATION PRESS
DOI: 10.1007/s11467-013-0310-3
Keywords
active galactic nuclei (AGNs); black hole accretion; relativistic jets; cosmological evolution
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Funding
- NASA [NNX10AJ56G]
- Office of High Energy Physics of the US Department of Energy
- Center of Excellence in Astrophysics and Associated Technologies [PFB 06]
- FONDECYT [1120061]
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In this paper we give a brief review of the astrophysics of active galactic nuclei (AGNs). After a general introduction motivating the study of AGNs, we discuss our present understanding of the inner workings of the central engines, most likely accreting black holes with masses between 10(6) and 10(10) M-circle dot. We highlight recent results concerning the jets (collimated outflows) of AGNs derived from X-ray observations (Chandra) of kpc-scale jets and gamma-ray observations of AGNs (Fermi, Cherenkov telescopes) with jets closely aligned with the lines of sight (blazars), and discuss the interpretation of these observations. Subsequently, we summarize our knowledge about the cosmic history of AGN formation and evolution. We conclude with a description of upcoming observational opportunities.
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