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5th Conference on Active Galactic Nuclei and Gravitational Lensing |
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SCIENTIFIC RATIONALE
Investigation of nature of the emitting ionized gas in galactic nuclei is one of important subjects in
astrophysics today. Firstly, investigating the processes in the central parts of these objects, we can learn about the
innermost parts of other 'normal' galaxies. Secondly, AGN are the most powerful sources, located at different cosmological
time-scales, and their investigation is cosmologically important. Finally, a part of emission from these objects
(e.g. in the X-rays) has its origin very close to a massive black hole, and investigation of this emission can help us understand
the physical processes in a strong gravitational field. On the other side, a number of AGN are affected by gravitational lensing effect.
Gravitational lensing is in general achromatic: the deflection angle of a light ray does not depend on its wavelength.
However, the wavelength-dependent geometry of the various emission regions may result in chromatic effect. Studies aimed at
determining the influence of microlensing on spectra of lensed quasars (hereafter QSOs) ought to account for the complex structure of
the QSO central emitting region. Since the sizes of the emitting regions are wavelength-dependent, microlensing by stars in a
lens galaxy will lead to a wavelength-dependent magnification.
Many interesting details about the physics of processes that are taking place within AGN can be identified in the signal
of their emitting regions (as e.g. Broad Line Region- BLR), but they suffer from a still missing complete picture of the complex kinematical and
thermodynamical properties of the line emitting plasma. Since it is not yet possible to directly observe the spatial distribution of the broad line
emitting medium, although many important achievements were obtained in the angular resolution of AGN cores at radio wavelengths, spectroscopic
data are still the most useful way to investigate physics within the central part of an AGN.
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