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ReveaLLAGN 1: JWST Emission-Line Spectra Reveal Low-Luminosity AGN with UV-Deficient SEDs and Warm Molecular Gas

  • Kameron Goold
  • , Anil Seth
  • , Mallory Molina
  • , David Ohlson
  • , Nischal Acharya
  • , Torsten Böker
  • , Antoine Dumont
  • , Michael Eracleous
  • , Anja Feldmeier-Krause
  • , Juan Antonio Fernández-Ontiveros
  • , Elena Gallo
  • , Andy D. Goulding
  • , Kayhan Gültekin
  • , Luis C. Ho
  • , Nadine Neumayer
  • , Richard M. Plotkin
  • , Almudena Prieto
  • , Jessie C. Runnoe
  • , Shobita Satyapal
  • , Glenn van de Ven
  • Jonelle L. Walsh, Feng Yuan, Nora Lützgendorf

Publications: Contribution to journalArticlePeer Reviewed

Abstract

We present near- and mid-infrared spectra of eight Low-Luminosity Active Galactic Nuclei (LLAGN), spanning nearly four orders of magnitude in black hole mass and Eddington ratio, obtained with JWST/NIRSpec and MIRI as part of the ReveaLLAGN program along with identical archival data of Cen A. The high spatial resolution of JWST cleanly separates AGN emission from host-galaxy contamination, enabling detections of high-ionization potential lines more than an order of magnitude fainter than previously measured. Emission-line diagnostics reveal a transition at log($L_{bol}/L_{Edd}$) ~ -3.5, where the spectral energy distribution becomes increasingly deficient in ultraviolet photons. We find that rotational H$_2$ excitation temperatures are elevated (~500 K higher) compared to both higher-luminosity AGN and star-forming galaxies, while the H$_2$(0-0)S(3)/PAH$_{11.3 μm}$ ratios are consistent with those observed in the AGN population. We discuss the possible roles of outflows, jets, and X-ray dominated regions in shaping the interstellar medium surrounding LLAGN. Silicate emission at ~10 $μ$m, localized to the nuclear region, is detected in most ReveaLLAGN targets. This dataset offers the first comprehensive JWST-based characterization of infrared emission lines in the nuclear regions of LLAGN.
Original languageEnglish
JournalThe Astrophysical Journal
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2026

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

  • 103003 Astronomy
  • 103004 Astrophysics

Keywords

  • Astrophysics of Galaxies

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