AGN-Host-Galaxy Interaction

Testing where AGN outflows heat, ionize, or redistribute gas from the nucleus across nearby host galaxies.

Artist's concept of an active galaxy with a luminous nucleus and extended outflow; not an observation.
Artist's conceptESA/AOES Medialab

How I investigate this question

I compare resolved X-ray, optical emission-line, radio, and molecular-gas structures across nuclear, circumnuclear, and kiloparsec scales to locate measurable changes in the host-galaxy gas.

Observatories

ChandraHubbleVLTALMAeMERLIN

What the observations allow us to test

Ionization or morphological alignment identifies an AGN influence, but galaxy-scale feedback requires evidence that the nucleus changes the gas distribution, dynamics, or energy budget.

Questions guiding this work

01

Where do observations indicate that AGN activity may heat, ionize, or redistribute gas in the host galaxy?

02

Which properties of the host regulate whether a nuclear wind produces measurable galaxy-scale effects?

03

Which tracers preserve evidence of accretion-driven structures from nuclear to kiloparsec scales?

Publications and research highlights

storyHot X-Ray WindsRead the story publicationMapping the Multiphase Excitation Structure of NGC 5005View publication publicationThe Weak Active Nucleus and Extended X-Ray Emission of NGC 5005View publication publicationExtended [O III] Emission in Nearby Type 1 QuasarsView publication publicationPhysical Properties of Ionized Outflows in Nearby Type 2 QuasarsView publication