Interferometry near and far:
high angular resolution astronomy at very different scales

Gabányi Krisztina
FÖMI KGO, Penc


In my talk I will give two examples of using interferometric technique in astronomy, studying (i) quasars at radio wavelengths and (ii) young stellar objects (YSO) in the infrared regime. (i) In hierarchical structure formation models, interactions and mergers between galaxies play an important role in their evolution and consequently in the growth of their central supermassive black holes (SMBH). Thus, it is expected that a particular phase in the merging process, namely systems with dual SMBHs exist. Some studies show that the merging process may initiate activity, thus dual active galactic nuclei (AGNs) are expected to be observed. The high angular resolution provided by Very Long Baseline Interferometry is helpful to identify dual AGNs separated at kpc-scale, however there is currently no efficient method known to select such candidate sources. (ii) Currently only using interferometric technique can one investigate in detail (in AU-scale) the accretion disks around YSOs. Since these are the planet-forming regions, in order to better constraint planet formation models their study is essential. Mid-infrared radiation originates from the inner wall and the surface layer of these dust disks (and possibly a halo) which can be studied with mas-scale resolution using the mid-infrared instrument on the Very Large Telescope Interferometer, MIDI (and soon its successor, MATISSE).