Abstract

Contributed Talk - Splinter AGN

Friday, 11 September 2026, 17:30   (MW-1250)

Final Discussion: Future Prospects for AGN Time-Domain Studies

Francisco Pozo Nunez, Jochen Heidt
Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS), Landessternwarte, Zentrum für Astronomie der Universität Heidelberg

This concluding session will synthesize the main scientific themes emerging from the splinter and provide space for an open discussion of future priorities in AGN variability research. Particular attention will be given to the remaining observational and methodological challenges, including systematic uncertainties, the interpretation of multi-wavelength variability, and the connection between variability-based measurements and the physical structure of the accretion disk, broad-line region, and dusty environment. The discussion will also consider future opportunities enabled by LSST and complementary high-resolution observations with facilities such as JWST, MICADO on the ELT, and GRAVITY+. The goal is to identify promising synergies between time-domain surveys, targeted monitoring campaigns, spectroscopy, and interferometry, and to explore how coordinated efforts across the community can advance our understanding of AGN central engines across luminosity, redshift, and cosmic time.