Journal Article

Supermassive black holes and very high-energy neutrinos: the case of NGC 1068

Bellenghi, C, Niederhausen, H, Peretti, E, Ajello, M, Gabici, S, Rosas, V. Gámez, Shimizu, T, Eichmann, B, Resconi, E, Lamastra, A, Bianchi, S, Blasi, P, Padovani, P, Guetta, D, Huang, K.-Y

2024

Overview

We present a comprehensive multi-messenger study of NGC 1068, the prototype Seyfert II galaxy recently associated with high-energy IceCube neutrinos. Various aspects of the source, including its nuclear activity, jet, outflow, and starburst region, are analyzed in detail using a multi-wavelength approach and relevant luminosities are derived. We then explore its gamma-ray and neutrino emissions and investigate potential mechanisms underlying these phenomena and their relations with the different astrophysical components to try to understand which one is responsible for the IceCube neutrinos. By first using simple order-of-magnitude arguments and then applying specific theoretical models, we infer that only the region close to the accretion disc around the supermassive black hole has both the right density of X-ray photons needed to provide the targets for protons to sustain neutrino production and of optical/infrared photons required to absorb the associated but unobserved gamma rays. We conclude by highlighting ongoing efforts to constrain a possible broad connection between neutrinos and active galactic nuclei, as well as future synergies between astronomical and neutrino facilities.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Subject: Astrophysics / Physics