An X-ray view on the infrared-emitting dust in active galactic nuclei
My main goal is to study the detailed structure of the dusty medium in active galactic nuclei (AGN) using reflected X-ray features. A unified view on the observed variety of AGN types is established by assuming an obscuring, dusty component around their central black hole. Recently, new evidence suggests that in nearby AGN this dust occurs as a complex multi-phase medium, extending in the polar direction and possibly associated to dusty outflows or failed winds. Reflected X-ray features could be an innovative way to trace this infrared (IR) emitting dusty component in AGN. A joint analysis at IR and X-ray wavelengths could break the degeneracies faced when dissecting dusty structures in IR alone. To this goal, I plan to develop the first Monte Carlo radiative transfer (MCRT) code that self-consistently operates from X-ray to IR wavelengths in arbitrary 3D geometries. Using this MCRT code, we will probe the dusty medium in a large pool of AGN in the local Universe.
Recent Work
DaRT is a powerfull light curve simulation code which combines binary dynamics with advanced Monte Carlo radiative transfer in full 3D (DaRT: Dynamics and Radiative Transfer). The DaRT code offers the flexibility to incorporate assymetric component geometries, adjustable reflection properties, advanced transfer media and time-dependent system parameters.
In my Master’s thesis, I focused on observational X-ray data of three novae during their SSS–phase (U Sco, V5116 Sgr and V3890 Sgr). The obtained soft X-ray light curves were highly variable, and by modelling their variability I could better understand the underlying nova system. For this work, the flexible light curve simulation code "DaRT" was developed.
