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Destruction and survival of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in active galaxiesInfrared spectra of dusty galactic environments often contain emission features attributed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs, which can be considered to be very small grains or very large molecules. Although IR spectra of starburst galaxies almost always show these emission features, similar spectra of active galaxies are usually featureless. Even in those active galaxies that do exhibit PAH emission, the PAHs still appear to be eradicated from the nuclear region. This dichotomy suggests that PAHs are destroyed by the intense hard radiation field from an AGN. Laboratory experiments show that certain PAHs are, in fact, so effectively destroyed by individual EUV and X-ray photons that they cannot survive even at kiloparsec distances from active nuclei. Regions within active galaxies that do show PAH emission must therefore be shielded from the central X-ray source by a substantial column density of X-ray absorbing gas.
Document ID
19930028203
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Voit, G. M.
(California Inst. of Technology Pasadena, United States)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
October 15, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: Royal Astronomical Society, Monthly Notices
Volume: 258
Issue: 4
ISSN: 0035-8711
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
93A12200
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-2144
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-2142
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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