We present the surface brightness profile fitting of a sample of double nucleus disk galaxies, minor merger candidates. We have decomposed these systems into two compact nuclear components and one or two extended galaxy disk components and estimated the luminosity of the primary and secondary nucleus and of the host galaxy and the separation between the two nuclei. Based on the ratio of nuclear luminosities we find that most of the sources qualify as major mergers despite their initial classification as minor merging systems. This is supported by the finding that 65% of the host galaxies are fitted only by one galaxy disk and that the luminosity of both the primary and the secondary nucleus decreases with decreasing nuclear separation, as expected from simulations of disk galaxy mergers. All these results indicate that these sources are most plausibly in the post-merger state of a major merger event. We also identify 19 candidates to binary active nucleus with nuclear separation ≤1 kpc.

We consider the relationship between the masses of the compact nuclear objects in the centers of disky galaxies – supermassive black holes (SMBHs) or nuclear star clusters (NCs) – and such parameters as the maximal velocity of rotation Vmax, obtained from the rotation curves, indicative dynamical mass M25, and the color index (B−V) of their parent galaxies. It was found that the mass of nuclear clusters Mnc correlates more closely with the velocity of rotation and total mass of galaxies than the mass of supermassive black holes Mbh. The dependence of masses of the central objects on the color index is bimodal: galaxies of the red group (red-sequence), which have (B−V) > 0.6−0.7, differ from bluer galaxies, by higher values of Mbh for similar host-galaxy parameters. In contrast, in the diagrams for nuclear clusters the “blue” and “red” galaxies form unified sequences. It agrees with scenarios in which most red-group galaxies form as a result of loss of interstellar gas in a stage of high nuclear activity in galaxies whose central black-hole masses are high, exceeding 106 − 107M⊙ (depending on the total mass of the galaxy). The active growth of nuclear star clusters possibly begun after the violent AGN activity.

The Byurakan-IRAS Galaxy (BIG) sample is the result of optical identifications of IRAS PSC sources at high-galactic latitudes using the First Byurakan Survey (FBS) low-dispersion spectra. Among the 1178 objects most are spiral galaxies and many have been proved to be AGN and starburst by spectroscopic observations, as well as there is a number of ULIRGs among these objects. BIG objects contain galaxy pairs, multiples, and small groups that are subject for study on the matter of the real IR-emitter in these systems. Given that these objects are powerful IR sources, they are considered as young systems indicating high rate of evolution and starburst activity exceeding 100 Mo/yr. Spectroscopic observations show that all these systems are physical ones and we were able to measure the mutual distances and sizes for all components. Cross-correlations with the recent more accurate IR catalogues, such as 2MASS and WISE, as well as radio ones (NVSS, FIRST), provided accurate coordinates of the IR source and possibility to find the individual galaxy responsible for the IR. However, in almost half of the cases, IR position indicates the intermediate region between the components, which means that it comes from the system as a whole. Some more MW data have been matched to IR and radio to have an overall understanding on these systems. Given that these systems are mostly interacting/merging ones often containing AGN and most of them may be considered as powerful starbursts, it is possible to study starburst/activity/interaction phenomena and their interrelationship.

Variability is a successful technique used to identify active galactic nuclei in both ground and space-based galaxy surveys. Optical variability surveys using HST have uncovered a number of AGN in deep extragalactic fields extending to z ~ 3 and probing intrinsically faint sources. Mid-IR variability surveys using Spitzer have identified a significant number of AGN and are particularly sensitive to obscured sources. Many variability-detected AGN are not strong X-ray sources or lack the characteristic colors of AGN and would thus be unidentified using other selection techniques. In this conference proceedings, I discuss the nature of the variable sources and their host galaxies identified in deep extragalactic optical and mid-IR surveys.

Influence of the dark energy at small scales is considered. Interaction and energy exchange between ordinary matter and dark energy is proposed as a working hypothesis. Some observational facts are put into the base of this consideration: the large rate of lunar retreat and the acceleration of cosmic expansion which proves the energy exchange between ordinary matter and dark energy. If the possibility of the space and matter expansion at the scales under consideration is accepted one can show that the dark energy transformed into the object's potential energy is enough to generate cluster of galaxies over the Hubble time due to matter ejection mechanism.

A damped random walk is a stochastic process, defined by an exponential covariance matrix that behaves as a random walk for short time scales and asymptotically achieves a finite variability amplitude at long time scales. Over the last few years, it has been demonstrated, mostly but not exclusively using SDSS data, that a damped random walk model provides a satisfactory statistical description of observed quasar variability in the optical wavelength range, for rest-frame timescales from 5 days to 2000 days. The best-fit characteristic timescale and asymptotic variability amplitude scale with the luminosity, black hole mass, and rest wavelength, and appear independent of redshift. In addition to providing insights into the physics of quasar variability, the best-fit model parameters can be used to efficiently separate quasars from stars in imaging surveys with adequate long-term multi-epoch data, such as expected from LSST.

One of the most important features in active galactic nuclei (AGN) is the variability of their emission. Variability has been discovered at X-ray, UV, and radio frequencies on time scales from hours to years. Among the AGN family and according to theoretical studies, Low-Ionization Nuclear Emission Line Region (LINER) nuclei would be variable objects on long time scales. Our purpose is to investigate spectral X-ray variability in LINERs and to understand the nature of these kinds of objects, as well as their accretion mechanism. Chandra and XMM–Newton public archives were used to compile X-ray spectra of LINER nuclei at different epochs with time scales of years. To search for variability we fit all the spectra from the same object with a set of models, in order to identify the parameters responsible for the variability pattern. We found that long term spectral variability is very common, with variations mostly related to hard energies (2-10 keV). These variations are due to changes in the soft excess, and/or changes in the absorber, and/or intrinsic variations of the source.

We present results from a project focused on searching optical microvariabilty (also known as “intra-night” variability) in type 2 - obscured - quasars. Optical microvariability can be described as very small changes in the flux, typically in the order of hundredths of magnitude, which can be observed on timescales of hours. Such studies have been so far conducted for samples of blazars and type 1, unobscured, AGNs, where the optical microvariability was detected with success. We have focused on obscured targets which would pose a challenge to the AGN standard model. In the present work, however, we have observed a sample of three bright (g mag < 17) type 2 quasar, based on the catalog of type 2 quasars from SDSS of Reyes et al. (2008). The observations were carried out with the 1.5 meter telescope at San Pedro Martir observatory in Mexico. The sample was observed during an observation period of four days in Johnsons V filter, resulting in at least two continuous intervals of observations per target during the observational run. We have obtained differential light curves for our sources as well as for the comparison stars. They were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance statistical test (ANOVA), which has been repeatedly used in the past for studies of unobscured targets. Based on the results from the statistical analysis, we show that at least two out of three observed targets appear to be variable on time scales of hours. So far, this is the first study which confirmed existence of optical microvariability in type 2 quasars.

Part of results of the multi-epoch intranight optical spectroscopic monitoring of the Markarian 6 nucleus carried out at the telescopes of 6-m of the Special Astrophysical Observatory (Russia), 2.6-m of the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (Armenia) and 2-m of the Tautenburg Observatory (Germany) is presented.

Observations were made in 1979, 1986, 1988-1991 and 2007-2009 during a total of 33 nights with an average sampling rate of 4 spectra per night. TV-scanner and long-slit spectrographs equipped with Image Tube and CCD detector arrays were used. Altogether we analyzed 110 Hβ and 58 Hα region spectra to search for intranight variability in the broad hydrogen emission line profiles. The typical spectral resolutions were 4 Å for scanner spectra, 6 Å for photographic spectra, and 5 Å and 10 Å for CCD spectra. The S/N ratio at the continuum level near the Hβ and Hα lines was in the range 15–50.

The purpose of the search was to look for the characteristic variability signatures of different kinematical models of the broad emission-line region. We considered the centering and guiding errors which can result in differences between spectra.

We found variations in the broad Balmer line difference profiles on time scale of hour with the level of significance of 3.6 σ to 5.0 σ. Variations take the form of narrow, small bumps located at the blue and red sides or only at the blue side of the lines. In the intermediate level of broad line flux, the Hβ and Hα profiles show fine structure. Detected profile changes occurred at the same radial velocity shifts as the details in the fine structure.

The variability is at least 2 orders of magnitude more rapid than any observed for broad Balmer line profiles in AGNs that we are aware of in the literature.

Discovered extremely rapid line-profile variability may be associated with reverberation effects. Two-sided profile changes may indicate the response of circularly rotating hydrogen clouds in the BLR to a light pulse from a central source. One-sided profile variations may be attributed to a response of a non-disk component: the subarcsec scale region of the jet.

We present an update of the monitoring campaign we have undertaken to probe the most massive black holes in powerful quasars at high redshift through the reverberation mapping technique. Once this campaign has finished, we will be able to directly measure broad line region (BLR) sizes of quasars at z ~ 2−3, improving dramatically the BLR size-luminosity relation, and therefore, black hole mass estimates based on this relationship. So far, we have identified a dozen highly variable sources suitable for future cross-correlation analysis and reverberation measurements.

Observations of Mrk 171, aimed at conduction of panoramic spectroscopy, were undertaken with the Byurakan 2.6-m telescope using spectrograph “VAGR”. Within the two components of the galaxy, Mrk171W and Mrk171E, there were differentiated eight condensations of starforming activiity, i.e. HII-regions, and no sign of AGN activity was revealed inspite of existing suggestions.

We evaluate the synchrotron spectrum of Mrk 501 based on our filamentary jet model. Integrating the contribution from the magnetic fields induced by numerous current filaments with various transverse sizes, we reproduce the observed hardening of the spectrum around X-rays. It is found that the spectral change during 1997-1998 can be explained by the evolution of turbulence. We also propose that the observed dip around 80 keV is attributed to bound-free absorption by Fe atoms, which implies the abundance of heavy nuclei at the tip of the jet.

The Micro-arcsecond Scintillation-Induced Variability (MASIV) Survey and its follow-up observations have provided large datasets of AGN intra-day variability (IDV) at radio wavelengths. These data have shown that IDV arises mainly from scintillation caused by scattering in the ionized interstellar medium (ISM) of our Galaxy, based on correlation with Galactic latitudes and line-of-sight Galactic electron column densities. The sensitivity of interstellar scintillation (ISS) towards source angular sizes has provided a new tool for studying the most compact components of radio-loud AGNs at microarcsecond (μas) scale resolution - much higher than any ground-based radio interferometer. We present here key results from the MASIV Survey and its follow-up observations, and point to relevant papers where these results have been published.

The physical properties and dynamical behavior of Broad Absorption Line (BAL) outflows are crucial themes in understanding the connections between galactic centers and their hosts. FeLoBALs (identified with the presence of low-ionization Fe II BALs) are a peculiar class of quasar outflows that constitute ~ 1% of the BAL population. With their large column densities and apparent outflow kinetic luminosities, FeLoBALs appear to be exceptionally powerful and are strong candidates for feedback in galaxy evolution. We conducted variability studies of 12 FeLoBAL quasars with emission redshifts 0.69 ≤ z ≤ 1.93, spanning both weekly and multi-year timescales in the quasar's rest frame. We detected absorption-line variability from low-ionization species (Fe II, Mg II) in four of our objects, with which we established a representative upper limit for the distance of the absorber from the supermassive black hole (SMBH) to be ~20 parsecs. Our goals are to understand the mechanisms producing the variability (e.g. ionization changes or gas traversing our line of sight) and place new constraints on the locations, structure, and kinetic energies of the outflows.

Key questions, which arise when one tries to clear up a problem of formation and evolution of galaxies, is the question of energy: what is the energetic budget of AGN owing to form galaxies and provide its subsequent development? Hence, for understanding the formation and evolution of galaxies, it is important to estimate the energetic budget of AGN which we try to do involving radio loud phase of nuclear activity.

eROSITA (extended Röntgen Survey with an Imaging Telescope Array) is the core instrument on the Russian Spektrum-Röntgen-Gamma (SRG) mission which is current scheduled for launch in Q4 2014. eROSITA will perform a deep survey of the entire X-ray sky. In the soft band (0.5–2 keV), it will be about 30 times more sensitive than ROSAT, while in the hard band (2–8 keV) it will provide the first ever true imaging survey of the sky. The design driving science is the detection of large samples of galaxy clusters up to redshifts z ~ 1, in order to study the large scale structure in the Universe and test cosmological models including Dark Energy. In addition, eROSITA is expected to yield a sample of about 3 million active galactic nuclei, which is bound to revolutionize our view of the evolution of supermassive black holes and their impact on the process of structure formation in the Universe. The survey will also provide new insights into a wide range of astrophysical phenomena, including isolated Neutron Stars and Black Holes, X-ray binaries, active stars and diffuse emission within the Galaxy, as well as more exotic ones such as gamma-ray bursts, tidal disruption of stars in galactic nuclei and binary black holes. In this talk I presented the main characteristics of the mission and focus on the scientific drivers for extragalactic all-sky surveys of AGN. All what was presented at the Symposium (plots, simulations, expected numbers of various kind of sources –QSO, obscured and CT AGN– their properties and evolution with redshift) can be found in the official eROSITA Science Book (Merloni et al., 2012).

The four-year X-ray all-sky survey (eRASS) of the eROSITA telescope aboard the Spektrum-Roentgen-Gamma satellite will detect ~ 3 million active galactic nuclei (AGN) with a median redshift of z≈1. We show that this unprecedented AGN sample, complemented with redshift information, will supply us with outstanding opportunities for large-scale structure research. For the first time with a sample of X-ray selected AGN, it will become possible to perform detailed redshift- and luminosity-resolved studies of the linear bias factor, and to convincingly detected baryonic acoustic oscillations (BAOs). To exploit the full potential of the eRASS AGN sample, photometric and spectroscopic surveys of large areas and a sufficient depth will be needed.

This conference on “Multi-wavelength AGN Surveys and Studies” has provided a detailed look at the explosive growth over the past decade, of available astronomical data from a growing list of large scale sky surveys, from radio-to-gamma rays. We are entering an era were multi-epoch (months to weeks) surveys of the entire sky, and near-instantaneous follow-up observations of variable sources, are elevating time-domain astronomy to where it is becoming a major contributor to our understanding of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). While we can marvel at the range of extragalactic phenomena dispayed by sources discovered in the original “Markarian Survey” – the first large-scale objective prism survey of the Northern Sky carried out at the Byurakan Astronomical Observtory almost a half-century ago – it is clear from the talks and posters presented at this meeting that the data to be be obtained over the next decade will be needed if we are to finally understand which phase of galaxy evolution each Markarian Galaxy represents.

The history of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) meetings goes back to 1922 when the IAU I General Assembly (GA) was held in Rome, Italy, following the IAU creation in 1919. However, until 1953, no individual symposia were organized and GA was the only official gathering for astronomers. Altogether, 8 IAU GA were held during 1922–1952.