The spectral energy distribution of the low-luminosity AGN NGC 3115

Abstract

NGC 3115 is the nearest elliptical galaxy hosting a >1E9 solar masses black hole and is also a low-luminosity active galactic nucleus (LLAGN). X-ray observations of this LLAGN provide us with spatially resolved spectral information on the hot gas within the sphere of gravitational influence of the supermassive black hole (SMBH). These observations make NGC 3115 one of the best testbeds for the theory of hot accretion flows in galactic nuclei. The goal of this IC project is to compile and model the multiwavelength, spectral energy distribution (SED) of the accreting SMBH in the nucleus of NGC 3115. Our specific goals are (I) obtain the radio to X-rays nuclear SED of NGC 3115 from existing observations in the literature and (II) model the observed SED with radiative models of hot accretion flows -- as appropriate for LLAGNs -- assessing whether theory reproduces observations.