TANAMI 2 – VLBI and Multiwavelength Observations of Southern-Hemisphere AGN Jets

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Matthias Kadler; Professor Dr. Jörn Wilms
• Subject Area: Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 434448349

Extragalactic jets launched from the immediate vicinity of supermassive black holes in radio-loud active galactic nuclei (AGN) are key objects in modern astronomy and astroparticle physics. AGN jets carry a fraction of the total gravitational energy released during the accretion of matter onto supermassive black holes and are prime suspects as possible sources of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays and the recently detected high-energy extraterrestrial neutrino flux. TANAMI is a multiwavelength program monitoring AGN jets of the southern sky. It combines high-resolution imaging and spectral monitoring at radio wavelengths with higher-frequency observations at IR, optical/UV, X-ray and γ-ray energies. During TANAMI phase 1, the German contribution to this international collaborative program was partially funded by DFG. Here we propose to support the analysis of TANAMI data collected after the end of phase 1, i.e., in 21 very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) observing epochs and complementary multiwavelength observations between Jun 2013 and Dec 2018 and in additional epochs throughout the TANAMI 2 project duration. We will study of the physical structure and intrinsic properties of AGN jets at high angular resolution and its connection to their high-energy variability. We will further study the broadband emission processes in AGN jets and consolidate the picture regarding AGN jets as possible sources of high-energy neutrinos.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants