The Large-Scale Structure view on the Galaxy-Quasar-AGN connection

Abstract

Combined investigations of the clustering properties of galaxies of different spectral type and high-redshift quasars strongly suggest local ellipticals to be the parent population of optically bright Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). However, the picture gets more blurred when one extends the analysis to that class of AGNs which show enhanced radio emission. Objects belonging to this class in fact are found to be associated with structures which are about an order of magnitude more massive than those that host radio-quiet AGNs. Also, masses for the black holes engines of radio-enhanced AGN emission turn out to be systematically higher than those which fuel 'normal' quasars. On the other hand, the level of radio-activity in radio-luminous objects does not seem to be connected with black hole/host galaxy mass, at variance with what found in the optical case. These results, together with evidences for different cosmological evolutions of different types of AGNs pose a serious challenge to all those models aiming at providing a unified picture for black hole-powered sources.