The huge amount of data obtained by surveys in all wavebands, from radio to X-rays, has allowed major progress in the understanding of Active Galactic Nuclei and of their cosmic evolution. This book contains the proceedings of a conference intended to give a broad overview of the recent results obtained by recent AGN surveys over the whole electromagnetic spectrum. Topics which were discussed during the conference and are included in this volume are: AGN evolution, contribution to the cosmic background, AGN luminosity functions in different wavebands, multiwavelength properties of AGN, unified model and unconventional AGN, connection with the host galaxies, co-evolution of AGN and galaxies, implications for the local density of supermassive black holes. Future AGN surveys planned with forthcoming new observational facilities are also included. The proceedings have been selected for coverage in: . OCo Index to Scientific & Technical Proceedings- (ISTP- / ISI Proceedings). OCo Index to Scientific & Technical Proceedings (ISTP CDROM version / ISI Proceedings). OCo CC Proceedings OCo Engineering & Physical Sciences."

A comprehensive introduction to the theory underpinning our study of active galactic nuclei and the ways we observe them.

This book contains a collection of lecture notes written by recognized experts in the field of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). The collection is aimed at providing both an introduction and at the same time an overview of the state-of-the-art of AGN research. This book also addresses the still not entirely understood link of an AGN with its host galaxy and also the related question of the birth and growth of massive black holes in the Universe.

This is the first comprehensive treatment of active galactic nuclei--the cosmic powerhouses at the core of many distant galaxies. The term active galactic nuclei refers to quasars, radio galaxies, Seyfert galaxies, blazars, and related objects, all of which are believed to share a similar central engine--a supermassive black hole many times the mass of the Sun. Astrophysicists have studied these phenomena for the past several decades and have begun to develop a consensus about many of their properties and internal mechanisms. Julian Krolik, one of the world's leading authorities on the subject, sums up leading ideas from across the entire range of research, making this book an invaluable resource for astronomers, physicists interested in applications of the theory of gravitation, and graduate students. Krolik begins by addressing basic questions about active galactic nuclei: What are they? How can they be found? How do they evolve? He assesses the evidence for massive black holes and considers how they generate power by accretion. He discusses X-ray and g-ray emission, radio emission and jets, emission and absorption lines, anisotropic appearance, and the relationship between an active nucleus and its host galaxy. He explores the mysteries of what ignites, fuels, and extinguishes active galactic nuclei, and concludes with a general review of where the field now stands. The book is unique in paying careful attention to relevant physics as well as astronomy, reflecting in part the importance of general relativity to understanding active galactic nuclei. Clear, authoritative, and detailed, this is crucial reading for anyone interested in one of the most dynamic areas of astrophysics today.

What evidence is there for and against unified schemes for active galactic nuclei (AGN)? How do the AGN populations evolve over cosmological timescales? And what can the variability of their UV and X-ray emission tell us? These are just some of the exciting issues addressed in this volume of papers collected from the 33rd Herstmonceux conference in Cambridge. AGN are among the most spectacular objects known to astronomy. Yet, despite years of intense and wide-ranging research, the debate continues - what is their fundamental source of power? Rapid progress has been made towards answering this question by a variety of large-scale, multi-wavelength monitoring campaigns and the latest generation of satellite-borne observations. This volume provides a valuable overview and timely update of the exciting and rapidly developing field of AGN research - essential reading for graduate students and researchers.

History and Overview -- Is Nature Generic? -- Evolution of Ideas in Modern Cosmology -- Mathematical Cosmology -- Constraints and Evolution in Cosmology -- Cosmological Singularities -- Exact Cosmological Solutions -- to Cosmological Dynamical Systems -- Astrophysical and Observational Cosmology -- The Quest for the Cosmological Parameters -- Modern Cosmological Observations -- Cosmological Perturbations -- Dark Matter: A Particle Theorist's Viewpoint -- Particle and String Cosmology -- An Introduction to Particle Physics -- Quantum Cosmology -- Inflationary Cosmology -- String Cosmology -- Brane Cosmology.