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

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.453-455
• /
• 2015

In this paper we introduce the Plasma Physics of Active Galactic Nuclei project, which is an ongoing experiment with Korean VLBI Network (KVN) and KVN and VERA Array (KaVA) to study multi-frequency polarimetric properties on parsec scales of active galaxies. The goal of the project is to improve our understanding of fundamental jet physics, especially evolution of the relativistic outflow coupled with the large-scale magnetic field. We selected six radio-loud AGN as our targets. So far we (i) detected resolved emissions regions at 86 and 129 GHz on VLBI scales, (ii) constructed 2D spectral index maps of the outflows, and (iii) found polarizations at 22 and 43 GHz for a few targets. Here we present spectral index distributions of 3C 120 between 22 and 43 GHz and a linear polarization map of BL Lac at 43 GHz obtained with KVN.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.74.2-74.2
• /
• 2015

Strong outflows from active galactic nuclei (AGNs) may play a crucial role in galaxy evolution. Integral-field spectroscopy (IFS) is the most powerful tool to study the detailed kinematics of AGN outflows. We present the on-going optical 3D spectroscopic survey of ionized gas outflows. Type 2 AGN sample is uniquely selected from SDSS DR7 with a luminosity-limit (i.e., L[O III] > $10^{41.5}erg/s$) as well as strong kinematic signatures of ionized gas outflows ([O III] velocity shift > ~200 km/s or [O III] velocity dispersion (FWHM) > 1000 km/s), defining an extremely rare population (< ~0.5%). Thus, these AGNs with strong outflow signatures are one of the best suites for investigating AGN feedback. The IFS observations cover several kpc scales for the central region of the host galaxies, providing a detailed information of the kinematics and geometry of the gas outflows. In this contribution, we report the current status of the survey and the preliminary results on gas kinematics of 18 AGNs, based on the Magellan/IMACS-IFU and the VLT/VIMOS data.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.271-273
• /
• 2017

The AKARI North Ecliptic Pole Deep Field is a natural location to accomplish deep extragalactic surveys. It is supported by comprehensive ancillary data extending from radio to X-ray wavelengths, which have been used to classify radio sources as radio-loud and radio-quiet objects and to create a catalogue of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). This has been achieved by using a radio-optical classification and colour-colour diagrams rather than the more usual way based on spectroscopy Furthermore, we explore whether this technique can be extended by using a far-Infrared (FIR) colour-colour diagram which has been used to identify 268 high redshift candidates.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.241-241
• /
• 2012

MOGABA is a project monitoring of gamma-ray bright AGN(Active Galactic Nuclei). Since May 2011, we have observed total flux, degree of linear polarization, and polarization angle of about twenty AGN once a week at 22, 43 and 86GHz using KVN(Korean VLBI Network) 21m radio telescopes. We have observed variation of total flux of BLLAC and OJ287 from May 2011 to March 2012. We have observed flares of total flux at 22GHz for those sources from October 2011 to November 2011. In this paper we report the variation of total flux, degree of linear polarization and polarization angle at 22, 43, 86GHz for BLLAC and OJ287.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.52.1-52.1
• /
• 2011

Black hole masses of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) are one of the most important parameters in AGN physics. Based on the virial assumption, black hole masses can be determined from the product of the width of the broad emission lines and the continuum/line luminosities. Using the Low Resolution Imaging Spectrometer(LRIS) at the Keck telescope, we obtained high quality spectra (S/N~100), covering 2300-5500A in the rest-frame, for a sample of 37 intermediate-luminosity AGN at z~0.4, in order to calibrate various black hole mass estimators based on the Mg II (2798A) and the Hbeta (4861A) emission lines. After subtracting continuum and complex FeII emission under Mg II and Hbeta, we fit the broad emission lines using high order Guass-Hermite models to best constrain the profile and the width of the emission lines. Combining the SDSS spectra covering Halpha emission line with the Keck spectra, we determine a set of 6 black hole masses for each object, based on the line width (MgII, Hbeta, and Halpha) and the luminosity (LMgII, LHbeta, LHalpha, L3000, L5100), and calibrate each black hole mass estimator. We will present uncertainties and limitations of each mass estimator.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.76.1-76.1
• /
• 2019

CTA 102, one of gamma-ray bright active galactic nuclei (AGN) has been observed with Korean very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) network (KVN) during the period of 2012 December-2018 May as part of interferometric Monitoring Of Gamma-ray Bright AGN (iMOGABA). Multi-frequency VLBI observations enable us to compare the milliarcsecond(mas)-scale iMOGABA images of relativistic jets with those from the Monitoring Of Jets in AGN with Very long baseline array (VLBA) Experiments (MOJAVE) and the VLBA-Boston University(BU)-BLAZAR programs which use VLBA with its angular resolutions of 0.2-1.3 mas. In spite of the relative larger beam sizes of KVN (1-10 mas), we are able to identify jet components of CTA 102 using the KVN multi-frequency VLBI observations with those resolved with VLBA. Considering an instrumental beam blending effect on the jet component identification, we were able to obtain a blending shift of the core position based on a convolution analysis using the VLBA data. When we apply the core position shift to the KVN images of CTA 102, we find that the identified jet components of CTA 102 from the KVN observations are well matched with those from the VLBA observations. Based on the results of the analysis, we may be able to study the jet kinematics and its correlation with gamma-ray flare activity.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.80-80
• /
• 2010

About 50% of Active Galactic Nuclei(AGNs) are found to be red and dust-obscured. They are believed to be in an early dusty stage of AGNs evolution or affected by dust torus in the direction of line of sight. However, optical spectrum is affected by dust extinction, making it difficult to study their properties, such as FWHM and luminosity. In order to reveal the mass of central Black Hole(BH) in red AGN, we establish a new BH mass estimator for typical type1 AGNs using Near InfraRed(NIR) hydrogen line($P_{\alpha}$ and $P_{\beta}$), since these lines are at longer wavelength, less affected by dust extinction than optical hydrogen lines, such as $H_{\alpha}$ and $H_{\alpha}$. To derive the new empirical formula, we use a sample of well-known 36 AGN with a wide BH mass range of $10^6-10^9\;M_{\odot}$, where $M_{BH}s$ are estimated by reverberation mapping method and single epoch method. The $P_{\alpha}/P_{\beta}$ luminosities and FWHMs are derived by analyzing IRTF NIR spectra or taken from literature values. We show that luminosities and FWHMs of these lines correlate well with those of Balmer lines. Suggesting that Paschen and Balmer broad lines are originated from same region. Finally, we present the new $M_{BH}$ formula that are based on $P_{\alpha}/P_{\beta}$ luminosity and FWHM. We hope that our result will be used for investigating red AGNs.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.52.2-52.2
• /
• 2013

We explore the relative importance of the role of small-scale environment and large-scale environment in triggering nuclear activity of the local galaxies using a volume-limited sample with $M_r$ < -19.5 and 0.02 < z < 0.0685 selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7. The active galactic nuclei (AGN) host sample is composed of Type II AGNs identified with flux ratios of narrow emission lines with S/N > 6 and the central velocity dispersion of the sample galaxies is limited to have a narrow range between 130 < ${\sigma}$ < 200($km\;s^{-1}$), corresponding to 7.4 < $log(M_{BH}/M_{\odot})$ < 8.1 in order to fix the mass of the supermassive black hole at the center of its host galaxy. In this study, we find that the AGN fraction ($f_{AGN}$) of late-type galaxies are larger than of early-type galaxies and that for target galaxy with late-type nearest neighbor, $f_{AGN}$ starts to increase as the target galaxy approaches the virial radius of the nearest neighbor (about a few hundred kpc scale). The latter result may support the idea that the hydrodynamic interaction with the nearest neighbor as well as tidal interaction and merger also plays an important role in triggering the nuclear activity of galaxy. We also find that early-type cluster galaxies show decline of AGN activity compared to ones in lower density regions, whereas the direction of dependence of AGN activity for late-type galaxies is opposite.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.48 no.5
• /
• pp.313-323
• /
• 2015

Active galactic nuclei (AGN) are known for irregular variability on all time scales, down to intra-day variability with relative variations of a few percent within minutes to hours. On such short timescales, unexplored territory, such as the possible existence of a shortest characteristic time scale of activity and the shape of the high frequency end of AGN power spectra, still exists. We present the results of AGN single-dish fast photometry performed with the Korean VLBI Network (KVN). Observations were done in a “anti-correlated” mode using two antennas, with always at least one antenna pointing at the target. This results in an effective time resolution of less than three minutes. We used all four KVN frequencies, 22, 43, 86, and 129 GHz, in order to trace spectral variability, if any. We were able to derive high-quality light curves for 3C 111, 3C 454.3, and BL Lacertae at 22 and 43 GHz, and for 3C 279 at 86 GHz, between May 2012 and April 2013. We performed a detailed statistical analysis in order to assess the levels of variability and the corresponding upper limits. We found upper limits on flux variability ranging from ~1.6% to ~7.6%. The upper limits on the derived brightness temperatures exceed the inverse Compton limit by three to six orders of magnitude. From our results, plus comparison with data obtained by the University of Michigan Radio Astronomy Observatory, we conclude that we have not detected source-intrinsic variability which would have to occur at sub-per cent levels.