VLTI/VINCI observations of the nucleus of NGC 1068 using the adaptive optics system MACAO

Details VLTI/VINCI observations of the nucleus of NGC 1068 using the adaptive optics system MACAO VLTI/VINCI observations of the nucleus of NGC 1068 using the adaptive optics system MACAO

2004-03-20

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0403497v1

Astron.Astrophys. 418 (2004) L39-L42

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics Letters

Scientific paper

10.1051/0004-6361:20040118

We present the first near-infrared K-band long-baseline interferometric measurement of the prototype Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068 with resolution lambda/B \~ 10 mas obtained with the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) and the two 8.2m Unit Telescopes UT2 and UT3. The adaptive optics system MACAO was employed to deliver wavefront-corrected beams to the K-band commissioning instrument VINCI. A squared visibility amplitude of 16.3 +/- 4.3 % was measured for NGC 1068 at a sky-projected baseline length of 45.8 m and azimuth angle 44.9 deg. This value corresponds to a FWHM of the K-band intensity distribution of 5.0 +/- 0.5 mas (0.4 +/- 0.04 pc) at the distance of NGC 1068) if it consists of a single Gaussian component. Taking into account K-band speckle interferometry observations (Wittkowski et al. 1998; Weinberger et al. 1999; Weigelt et al. 2004), we favor a multi-component model for the intensity distribution where a part of the flux originates from scales clearly smaller than about 5 mas (<0.4 pc), and another part of the flux from larger scales. The K-band emission from the small (< 5 mas) scales might arise from substructure of the dusty nuclear torus, or directly from the central accretion flow viewed through only moderate extinction.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

VLTI/VINCI observations of the nucleus of NGC 1068 using the adaptive optics system MACAO does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with VLTI/VINCI observations of the nucleus of NGC 1068 using the adaptive optics system MACAO, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and VLTI/VINCI observations of the nucleus of NGC 1068 using the adaptive optics system MACAO will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-701100