FUSE and the Astrophysics of AGN and QSOs

The high spectral resolution and sensitivity of FUSE have enabled far-ultraviolet studies of AGN and QSOs that are a natural complement to observations using HST, Chandra, and XMM-Newton. Through synergistic use of the large sample of nearby AGN that serve as background probes of gas in the Galactic halo and the ISM, the FUSE PI team has observed a large number (approaching 100) of the nearest and brightest AGN. In addition to emission from O VI, we identify emission lines due to C III, N III, S IV, and He II in many of the Type-1 AGN. More than half of the Type 1 objects also show intrinsic absorption by the O VI doublet as well as C IV absorption and evidence of a soft X-ray warm absorber. Guest investigators have successfully coordinated FUSE observations of bright AGN with simultaneous HST and X-ray observations. These have contributed greatly to our understanding of the UV and X-ray absoring gas in AGN as either a wind from the accretion disk, or a thermally driven wind from the obscuring torus.