Probing AGN-Driven Feedback in Low-Mass Galaxies

Virtual seminar, 26 March 2026, 4:00pm ET / 1:00pm PT. Presented to the DGCE SIG community, this seminar features Dr. Archana Aravindan of the University of Texas, Austin, and focuses on active galactic nuclei (AGN) in low-mass galaxies. Black holes are often linked with massive galaxies, yet more are being identified in smaller systems.

Detecting active black holes and measuring their impact in these hosts can be difficult because their signals are weak and can be confused with emission from stars and ongoing star formation. Dr. Aravindan will show how multi-wavelength observations combined with integral field spectroscopy can reveal the effects of AGN activity on surrounding gas.

Comparisons between outflows driven by stars and those powered by accreting black holes indicate AGN-driven outflows in low-mass galaxies can be both faster and more energetic. New near-infrared JWST observations highlighted in the talk reveal highly ionized coronal line emission tracing energetic gas on scales beyond the nucleus.

United States, Austin, Texas

agn, low-mass galaxies, black holes, outflows, jwst, integral field, multi-wavelength, near-infrared, coronal lines, feedback