Turner, Tracey JaneSharma, Neetika2019-10-112019-10-112016-01-0111473http://hdl.handle.net/11603/15741Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) reside in the centers of many (10%) galaxies. The nuclear spectra exhibit a broad (from radio to gamma-rays) non-stellar continuum which exceeds the luminosity of the host. AGN are thought to be powered by accretion of matter onto a supermassive black hole (BH~10^6-10^9 times the mass of the Sun). Since this activity takes place in a relatively small region (<< 3 light years), the central engine of even the closest AGN cannot be imaged directly with current technology. Nevertheless, spectroscopic observations can help us constrain the conditions of the gas very close to the BH. The scientific goal of my thesis is to examine the physical conditions in the circumnuclear regions of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068. The soft X-ray spectrum comprises a multitude of emission lines including those of C, N, O, Ne, Mg, that arise in gas that is spatially extended over ~1000 light years. Radiative recombination continuum widths indicate the gas is photoionized and I model it finding a two-zone solution with unusual abundances attributed to the star formation history of the galaxy. Also of interest are the Fe K complex of emThis item may be protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. It is made available by UMBC for non-commercial research and education. For permission to publish or reproduce, please see http://aok.lib.umbc.edu/specoll/repro.php or contact Special Collections at speccoll(at)umbc.edublack holegalaxiesSeyfertX-raysText