Radio Spectroscopy of Active Galactic Nuclei

Abstract

Radio spectroscopy offers a number of tools for studying a large variety of astrophysical phenomena, ranging from stars and their environment to interstellar and intergalactic medium, active galactic nuclei (AGN) and distant quasars. Main targets of extragalactic radio spectroscopy are atomic and molecular material in galaxies, HII regions, and maser emission originating in the dense, circumnuclear regions. These studies cover all galactic types and span an impressive range of angular scales and distances. Molecular emission, hydrogen absorption and maser lines have become the tools of choice for making an assessment of physical conditions in the nuclear regions of galaxies. In this contribution, some of the recent advances in the aforementioned fields will be reviewed and discussed in connection with future radio astronomical facilities.