Dust beyond the torus: Imaging the dusty nucleus of nearby Seyferts with JWST


Monday, 09 September 2024 1 p.m. — 2 p.m. MST

AURA Lecture Hall

NOIRLab South Colloquia
Houda Haidar (Newcastle University)

Polar dust has been observed in numerous local active galactic nuclei (AGN), with radiation-driven models suggesting that winds may be the primary driver. But what is the true nature of this dust, its spatial extent, and its connection to larger outflows? In this talk, I will present the first JWST study focused on imaging polar dust in a sample of local Seyfert galaxies, with a particular emphasis on ESO 428-G14. Our findings reveal nuclear extended mid-infrared structures up to ~500 pc in size. However, does the mid-infrared emission solely trace dust, or is there a contribution from gas? How is this structure related to the AGN's radio jet, and could the jet be responsible for shaping the observed dust?  Join me as we explore these questions and discuss the broader implications that this has on our understanding of AGN dusty winds.