• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.53.2-53.2
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• 2021

Quasar luminosity function (QLF) shows the active galactic nucleus (AGN) demography as a result of the combination of the growth and the evolution of black holes, galaxies, and dark matter halos along the cosmic time. The recent wide and deep surveys have improved the census of high-redshift quasars, making it possible to construct reliable ultraviolet (UV) QLFs at 2 < z < 6 down to M1450 = -23 mag. By parameterizing these up-to-date observed UV QLFs that are the most extensive in both luminosity and survey area coverage at a given redshift, we show that the UV QLF has a universal shape, and their evolution can be approximated by a pure density evolution (PDE). In order to explain the observed QLF, we construct a model QLF employing the halo mass function, a number of empirical scaling relations, and the Eddington ratio distribution. We also include the outshining of AGN over its host galaxy, which made it possible to reproduce a moderately flat shape of the faint end of the observed QLF (slope of ~ -1.1). This model successfully explains the observed PDE behavior of UV QLF at z > 2, meaning that the QLF evolution at high redshift can be understood under the framework of halo mass function evolution. The importance of the outshining effect in our model also implies that there could be a hidden population of faint AGNs (M1450 > -24 mag), which are buried under their host galaxy light.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.43.1-43.1
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• 2015

We have discovered an unexplored population of galaxies featuring weak broad-line regions (BLRs) at z < 0.2 from detailed analysis of galaxy spectra in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7. These objects predominantly show a stellar continuum but also a broad $H{\alpha}$ emission line, indicating the presence of a low-luminosity active galactic nucleus (AGN) oriented so that we are viewing the central engine directly without significant obscuration. These accreting black holes have previously eluded detection due to their weak nature. The new BLR AGNs we found increased the number of known type 1 AGNs by 49%. Some of these new BLR AGNs were detected at the Chandra X-ray Observatory, and their X-ray properties confirm that they are indeed type 1 AGN. Based on our new and more complete catalogue of type 1 AGNs, we derived the type 1 fraction of AGNs as a function of [OIII] ${\lambda}5007$ emission luminosity and explored the possible dilution effect on the obscured AGN due to star-formation. The new type 1 AGN fraction shows much more complex behavior with respect to black hole mass and bolometric luminosity than suggested by the existing receding torus model. The type 1 AGN fraction is sensitive to both of these factors, and there seems to be a sweet spot (ridge) in the diagram of black hole mass and bolometric luminosity. Furthermore, we present a hint that the Eddington ratio plays a role in determining the opening angles. This work is submitted to ApJS.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.33.1-33.1
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• 2012

We investigate the disk-jet connection of Young Radio Galaxies (YRGs) by comparing emission-line properties with radio luminosity and jet size. By combining new optical spectra for 21 objects with SDSS archival data for 15 objects, we selected a sample of 36 low-redshift YRGs at z < 0.4. We find that YRGs are classified in high- and low-excitation galaxies based on the relative strength of high-to-low excitation line strengths, suggesting that there are two populations in YRGs as similarly found in large radio galaxies, i.e., FRIs and FRIIs. High-excitation galaxies (HEGs) have higher emission line luminosities than low-excitation galaxies (LEGs) at fixed black hole mass and radio luminosity, suggesting that the Eddington ratio is higher in HEGs than in LEGs and that for given radio activity HEGs have higher accretion activity than LEGs. The difference between HEGs and LEGs is probably due to either mass accretion rate or radiative efficiency.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.109-119
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• 2019

While the reverberation mapping technique is the best available method for measuring black hole mass in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) beyond the local volume, this method has been mainly applied to relatively low-to-moderate luminosity AGNs at low redshift. We present the strategy of the Seoul National University AGN Monitoring Project, which aims at measuring the time delay of the $H{\beta}$ line emission with respect to AGN continuum, using a sample of relatively high luminosity AGNs out to redshift z ~ 0.5. We present simulated cross correlation results based on a number of mock light curves, in order to optimally determine monitoring duration and cadence. We describe our campaign strategy based on the simulation results and the availability of observing facilities. We present the sample selection, and the properties of the selected 100 AGNs, including the optical luminosity, expected time lag, black hole mass, and Eddington ratio.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.35.4-35.4
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• 2019

We have conducted a 22 GHz very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) survey of 281 local (z < 0.05) active galactic nuclei (AGNs) selected from the Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) 70-month ultra hard X-ray (14-195 keV) catalog. The main goal is to investigate the relation between the strengths of black hole accretion and the parsec-scale nuclear jet, which is expected to tightly correlate but has not been observationally confirmed yet. The BAT AGN Spectroscopic Survey (BASS) provides the least biased AGN sample against obscuration including both Seyfert types, hence it makes an ideal parent sample for studying the nuclear jet properties of an overall AGN population. Using the Korean VLBI Network (KVN), the KVN and VERA Array (KaVA), and the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), we observed 281 objects with a 22 GHz flux > 30 mJy, detecting 11 targets (~4% of VLBI detection rate). This implies that the fraction of X-ray AGNs which are currently ejecting a strong nuclear jet is very small. Although our 11 sources span a wide range of pc-scale morphological types, from compact to complex, they lie on a tight linear relation between accretion luminosity and nuclear jet luminosity. Our finding may indicate that the power of nuclear jet is directly responsible for the amount of black hole accretion. We also have probed the fundamental plane of black hole activity in VLBI scale (e.g., few milli-arcsecond). The results from our high-frequency VLBI radio study support that the change of jet luminosity and size follows what is predicted by the AGN evolution scenario based on the Eddington ratio (ƛ$_{Edd}$) - column density ($N_H$) plane, proposed by a previous study.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.83-91
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• 1996

We present a model that rotating primordial blackholes(PBHs) produced at the end of inflation generate the random, non-oriented primordial magnetic field. PBHs are copiously produced as the Universe completes the cosmic phase transition via bubble nucleation and tunneling processes in the extended inflation hypothesis. The PBHs produced acquire angular momentum through the mutual tidal gravitational interaction. For PBHs of mass less than 1013g, one can show that the evaporation (photon) luminosity of PBHs exceeds the Eddington limit. Thus throughout the lifetime of the rotating PBH, radiation flow from the central blackhole along the Kerr-geodesic exerts torque to ambient plasma. In the process similar to the Bierman's battery mechanism electron current reaching up to the horizon scale is induced. For PBHs of Grand Unified Theories extended inflation with the symmetry breaking temperature of $T_{GUT}\;\~\;10^{10}$ GeV, which evaporate near decoupling, we find that they generate random, non-oriented magnetic fields of $\~10^{-11}G$ on the last-scattering surface on (the present comoving) scales of $\~O(10)Mpc$.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.33.1-33.1
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• 2010

We investigate the relation between the presence of bars in galaxies and AGN activities. Bars are believed to play an important role in fueling of AGN. Although there have been many previous studies on this topic, "the AGN-Bar Connection" is still an open question. To better understand the connection, we use a volume-limited sample of 9,726 late-type galaxies brighter than $M_r$=-19.5+5logh at $0.02{\leqq}z{\leqq}0.05489$, drawn from SDSS DR7. Among galaxies in the sample, 1,963 galaxies are classified as AGN-host galaxies based on the emission-line ratios while barred galaxies are identified by visual inspection. The bar fraction in AGN host galaxies (22.5%) is 3-times higher than in star-forming galaxies (8.6%). However, this trend is simply caused by the fact that the bar fraction increases with galaxy mass or luminosity and that AGN host galaxies are on average more massive than star-forming galaxies. Nevertheless, we find that among AGN host galaxies, the bar fraction increases with the Eddington ratio $(L_{[OIII]}/M_{[BH]})$, and this trend remains intact even at fixed galaxy luminosity and stellar velocity dispersion. These results imply that bars play a role in triggering AGNs.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.72.4-73
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• 2015

Over the last decade, more than 50 quasars have been discovered at redshift about 6 when reionization of the universe occurred. However, most of them are luminous quasars (zAB < 21 mag), implying that such a biased quasar sample, which cannot represent the entire population of quasars at z~6, is not enough to understand the properties of quasars in the early universe. Recently, we have been performing the Infrared Medium-deep Survey (IMS), a moderately wide (120 deg2) and deep (JAB ~ 22.5 - 23 mag) near-infrared imaging survey. Combining this with the optical (ugriz) imaging data from the CFHT Legacy Survey (CFHTLS), we have identified more than 10 faint quasar candidates at z~6 in the IMS field by using multiple color selection criteria. From now on, we will perform spectroscopic confirmations of these faint quasar candidates with IMACS on the Magellan Baade Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory and GMOS on the Gemini South Telescope at Gemini Observatory. The confirmed quasars will be used to constrain the faint-end slope of the quasar luminosity function at z~6 and calculate the ratio of quasar ionizing flux to required flux for reionization of the universe. Moreover, these confirmed quasars will be followed up with near-infrared spectroscopy to determine their black hole masses and Eddington ratios to check the rapidness of their growth.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.28.2-28.2
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• 2015

High redshift quasars (z > 5) hold keys to understanding the evolution of the universe in its early stage. Yet, the number of high redshift quasars uncovered from previous studies is relatively small (70 or so), and are concentrated mostly in a limited redshift range (z ~ 6). To understand the early mass growth of supermassive black holes and the final stage of the cosmic reionization, it is important to find a statistically meaningful sample of quasars with various physical properties. Here we present a survey for high redshift quasars at 5 < z < 7. Through color selection techniques using multi-wavelength data, we found quasar candidates and carried out imaging follow-up observations to reduce contaminants. After optical spectroscopy, we discovered eight new quasars. We obtained near-infrared spectra for 3 of these 8 quasars, measured their physical properties such as black hole masses and Eddington ratios, and found that the high redshift quasars we discovered are growing via accretion more vigorous than those of their lower redshift counterparts. We estimated the quasar number densities from our discoveries and compared them to those expected from the quasar luminosity functions in literature. In contrast to the observed number density of quasars at z ~ 5, which agrees with literature, the observed number density at z ~ 7 shows values lower than what is expected, even after considering an extrapolated number density evolution. We conclude that the quasar number density at z ~ 7 declines toward higher redshift, more steeply than the empirically expected evolution.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.73.4-74
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• 2017

We report preliminary results from our radio study of X-ray selected complete AGN sample in the Local Universe (z < 0.05), using the KVN/KaVA. The main goal is to probe the parsec-scale radio properties of the X-ray selected AGNs, which has not been done systematically before. The BASS (Burst Alert Telescope AGN spectroscopic survey) sample from the Swift-BAT hard X-ray all-sky survey is the least biased AGN sample against dense gas/torus obscurations compared to optically selected AGNs, providing ideal targets to study the general properties of local AGNs in radio wavelengths. Combining our radio data with BASS X-ray/optical measurements, we will probe the relations of radio powers with the fundamental quantities of black holes such as bolometric luminosity, black hole mass, and Eddington ratio. Using these relations, we will discuss our current understandings of how accretions and jets of local AGNs are linked together, and what they imply for the nature of our AGN sample.