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AGN, Molecular Gas, and Emission-Line Diagnostics
How does activity around a supermassive black hole change the gas in its host galaxy—and what can its emission lines tell us about that interaction?
Active galactic nuclei (AGN) are powered by accretion onto supermassive black holes. Their radiation and feedback can alter the heating, ionization, chemistry, and dynamics of surrounding gas, potentially changing the emission lines used to study galaxy evolution.
Why the Gas Matters
The interstellar medium responds differently depending on gas density, shielding, metallicity, and radiation environment. Molecular lines can probe relatively cool, shielded gas, while atomic and ionized-gas lines offer complementary information about regions exposed to stronger radiation. No single tracer gives the whole picture.
Understanding AGN–gas coupling therefore requires models that connect the incident radiation field and local physical conditions to the lines that telescopes measure.
Why SLICK?
SLICK provides a framework for calculating emission from physically modeled gas rather than relying only on global luminosity relations. Extending it to include AGN radiation fields creates an opportunity to explore how an active nucleus changes the line-emitting state of gas across a simulated galaxy population.
Radiation-sensitive diagnostics
We aim to study how line luminosities and ratios respond to AGN-influenced radiation environments and how those responses depend on gas conditions.
Multiple gas phases
The SLICK-2 multiphase framework offers a path to connect molecular, neutral, and ionized tracers, which may respond differently to AGN activity.
Separating physical drivers
By varying physical inputs in a controlled model, we can investigate potential degeneracies among AGN radiation, star formation, metallicity, and gas structure.
Connecting to observations
The long-term goal is to develop interpretable predictions for emission-line surveys, including diagnostics relevant to infrared observations and future facilities.
Ongoing Research
My SLICK-AGN project is an extension under development. The central goal is to implement AGN-influenced radiation environments, quantify their impact on gas emission, and identify which diagnostics are most useful for interpreting observations. Specific predicted signatures will be reported once validated.
Related Framework
Read about the SLICK methodology →
SLICK-AGN manuscript in preparation; working title and results will be updated as the project develops.