Astrophysical Phenomena in Galaxies and Active Galactic Nuclei
Summary
Galaxies are dynamic systems whose observable properties—from star formation and interstellar media to large‐scale jets and radio lobes—are intimately linked to the activity of their central supermassive black holes. In active galactic nuclei (AGN), accretion onto the black hole powers luminous emission across the electromagnetic spectrum and launches relativistic jets that propagate into the host galaxy and beyond. These jets can inflate giant radio lobes, drive shocks into the surrounding medium and trigger or quench star formation through feedback processes. The distribution and kinematics of molecular gas in circumnuclear discs regulate the feeding of the AGN, while polarimetric signatures trace magnetic field geometries essential for particle acceleration. Together, these phenomena shape galaxy evolution, influence the large‐scale structure of the Universe and offer natural laboratories for high‐energy physics and plasma processes.
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Astrophysical Phenomena in Galaxies and Active Galactic Nuclei publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in astrophysical phenomena in galaxies and active galactic nuclei across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN): A compact region at the centre of a galaxy where a supermassive black hole accretes matter, releasing vast energy across the electromagnetic spectrum.
Relativistic Jet: A narrow, high-velocity outflow of plasma ejected from the vicinity of an accretion disc around a black hole, often extending over kiloparsec scales.
Synchrotron Emission: Radiation produced when charged particles spiral at relativistic speeds in magnetic fields, emitting across radio to X-ray bands.
Circumnuclear Disc (CND): A rotating structure of molecular gas and dust within a few hundred parsecs of an AGN that can feed the central black hole.
Polarimetry: The measurement of the polarisation state of electromagnetic radiation, used to probe magnetic field geometries and emission mechanisms.
References
- The Complex Star Formation History of the Halo of NGC 5128 (Cen A). The Astrophysical Journal (2024).
- An X-rays-to-radio investigation of the nuclear polarization from the radio-galaxy Centaurus A. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (2023).
- Disentangling the Circumnuclear Environs of Centaurus A. III. An Inner Molecular Ring, Nuclear Shocks, and the CO to Warm H2 Interface. The Astrophysical Journal (2017).
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