An introduction to active galactic nuclei cover

An introduction to active galactic nuclei

by B. M. Peterson

How can we test if a supermassive black hole lies at the heart of every active galactic nucleus? What are LINERs, BL Lac objects, N galaxies, broad-line radio galaxies, and radio-quiet quasars and how do they compare? This timely textbook answers these questions in a clear, comprehensive, and self-contained introduction to active galactic nuclei - for advanced undergraduates and graduate students in astronomy and physics. The study of AGNs is one of the most dynamic areas of contemporary astronomy, involving one fifth of all research astronomers. This textbook provides a systematic review of the observed properties of AGNs across the entire electromagnetic spectrum, examines the underlying physics, and shows how the brightest AGNs, quasars, can be used to probe the farthest reaches of the Universe. This book serves as both an entry point to the research literature and as a valuable reference for researchers in the field.

Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?