Active Galactic Nuclei

Active galaxies are among the most exciting and challenging phenomena in modern astronomical research, encompassing a wide range of extreme physical conditions. Understanding the energy source and physical processes within active galaxies are the most challenging areas of current research. This text describes the crucial links between observation and theory, and shows how different classes of active galaxies fit into the modern view of the subject. Some mathematics is used, but readers are aided by summary sections which explain the physical concepts behind the mathematics.