Paolo Padovani
Karl-Schwarzschild-Str. 2
D-85748 Garching bei München
Germany
Telephone: +49-89-32006478
Fax: +49-89-32006898
My research is centered on the study of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) from a multifrequency point of view. I have in fact worked on radio, infrared, optical, X-ray, gamma-ray, and neutrino data. My research interests can be divided into the following main areas:
- • Unified Schemes. Unified schemes try to simplify the classification of AGN by saying that some objects appear to be different (and are given different names) only as a result of orientation. I have worked on the unification of radio sources through relativistic beaming, that is on the idea that their emission is dominated by collimated radiation from a relativistic jet closely aligned with the line of sight, with enormous effects on their apparent emitted power and their luminosity functions. Here are my recent papers on this subject.
- • AGN Evolution. In this field I have worked on the observed dependence of the fraction of radio-loud quasars on redshift and apparent magnitude and on the relationship between active nucleus and host galaxy in terms of mass-loss from stars as a way to fuel the central AGN and to explain the metallicity of the broad line regions. Here are my recent papers on this subject.
- • BL Lacertae Objects. I have defined the BL Lac classes of High-energy (HBL) and Low-energy peaked (LB) BL Lacs, based on the frequency of their synchrotron peak. This physically based definition has lead researchers to a better understanding of this rare class of astronomical sources. Here are my recent papers on this subject.
- • X-ray Spectra of AGN. I have studied the X-ray spectra of various classes of radio-loud AGN, using different X_ray satellites. Here are my recent papers on this subject.
- • Blazar Surveys. I have been involved, amongst others, in the DXRBS survey, a project aimed at putting together a large, deep sample of blazars by cross-correlating radio and X-ray catalogs and selecting flat-spectrum radio sources as blazar candidates for subsequent spectroscopic identification. Here are my recent papers on this subject.
- • Deep Radio Surveys. I have worked with the Chandra Deep Field South (CDFS) team on some extremely deep VLA data of the CDFS area. We find that, while the well-known flattening of the radio number counts below 1 mJy is mostly due to star forming galaxies, these sources and AGN make up an approximately equal fraction of the sub-millijansky sky, contrary to some previous results. The AGN include radio galaxies, mostly of the low-power, Fanaroff-Riley I type, and a significant radio-quiet component, which amounts to approximately one fifth of the total sample. Here are my recent papers on this subject.
- • Neutrino Astronomy. I am trying to figure out which astronomical sources are the counterparts of the high-energy neutrinos observed by IceCube. I believe blazars are most likely. Here are my recent papers on this subject.
- • AGN outflows. I am working on AGN outflows and the so-called AGN feedback, which could play an important role in galaxy evolution. Here are my recent papers on this subject.
