Quasars and Active Galactic Nuclei

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to quasars and active galactic nuclei.

Quasar

A highly luminous object powered by a supermassive black hole at the center of a galaxy.

Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN)

The compact region at the center of a galaxy that is extremely bright and active.

Emission Lines

Bright lines in the spectrum of light emitted by a gas that indicate specific wavelengths of light being emitted.

Redshift (z)

The phenomenon where light from an object is shifted to longer wavelengths due to the object moving away from the observer.

Relativistic Jet

A jet of particles accelerated to nearly the speed of light, emitted from the regions near a supermassive black hole.

Accretion Disk

A disk of gas and dust spiraling into a supermassive black hole, emitting radiation in various forms as material accelerates and heats up.

Seyfert Galaxies

A type of galaxy with a bright nucleus that is less luminous and nearer than quasars.

Schwarzschild Radius (rs)

The radius of the event horizon of a black hole, beyond which nothing can escape.

Photon Sphere

The location around a black hole where gravity is strong enough that photons can orbit the black hole.

Tidal Forces

Gravitational forces that occur between nearby celestial bodies, potentially causing distortion or disruption.