Found 19 talks width keyword CanariCam

The fueling of black holes occurring in active galactic nuclei (AGN) is fundamental to the evolution of galaxies. AGN themselves are largely explained in the context of a unified theory, by which a geometrically and optically thick torus of gas and dust obscures the AGN central engine. The torus intercepts a substantial amount of flux from the central engine and and reradiates it in the infrared. In this talk I will present our CanariCam ESO/GTC large programme which is aimed at understanding the properties of the obscuring material around AGN, including the torus, and the role of nuclear (< 100 pc) starbursts in feeding and/or obscuring AGNs. The CanariCam nearly diffraction limited observations (median 0.3arcsecond), which were finished recently, include imaging and spectroscopy of 45 local AGN, and polarimetry for selected AGN. I will first present an overview of the spectroscopic properties of the sample. Then I will discuss results on the torus properties of different types of AGN from the modelling of the unresolved infrared emission with the CLUMPY torus models. Finally I will also show that we can use the 11.3micron PAH feature to trace star formation activity in the nuclear regions of AGN.

 CanariCam is a mid-IR imager and spectrograph with polarimetric and coronographic capabilities built by the University of Florida as a common-user instrument for the GTC. CanariCam observing capabilities are unique, offering the GTC community the opportunity to exploit the 8-25 microns observing windows at the diffraction limit of the GTC. Grantecan started CanariCam operations during the first semester of 2012. Currently, three observing modes are offered to the GTC community: Imaging, low resolution spectroscopy and imaging polarimetry. In this talk, some of the challenges of operating a mid-IR diffraction-limited instrument from the ground will be reviewed. Some CanariCam commissioning results for the currently offered modes will be presented. I will introduce some of the tools available for the community to prepare CanariCam observations and to reduce the data. Finally, I will explain what is the current status of the instrument and telescope for mid-IR observations.

CanariCam is the GTC multi-mode mid-IR camera developed by the University of Florida. CanariCam commissioning began in earnest in
 mid-2012, and is still in progress. However, during that time it was also possible to begin science observations. After commenting on
 the current status of CanariCam, I will present some highlights of these early science observations, with an emphasis on those of protoplanetary disks. These data are still being analyzed and interpreted, so my comments will be preliminary. However, they demonstrate that CanariCam is an outstanding instrument that can provide valuable insight into a variety of astrophysical processes. CanariCam's polarimetric mode is particularly unique, and I will show intriguing science results that may indicate the magnetic-field distribution
in a YSO outflow and in massive disks and their environments. I am presenting these results on behalf of the CanariCam Science Team, many of whom have contributed significantly to the early progress with CanariCam.