A new analysis of MIDI observations of the nucleus of NGC 1068

Abstract

We report the results of the new analysis made on MIDI data of the active galactic nucleus (AGN) of NGC 1068. The visibility measurements and the MIDI spectrum are well reproduced by a simple model of radiative transfer between two spherical components whose angular sizes are ∼ 35 and 83 mas, and temperatures are ∼ 366K and 226K respectively. This new approach allows to obtain the evolution of the optical depth of the extended component as a function of wavelength in the N-band, highlighting the probable presence of silicates in its composition. This confirms that MIDI has actually observed the distribution of dust around the core of the AGN. © 2007 Springer.