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Active galactic nucleus
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=== Accretion disc === {{Main|Accretion disc}} In the standard model of AGN, cold material close to a black hole forms an [[accretion disc]]. Dissipative processes in the accretion disc transport matter inwards and angular momentum outwards, while causing the accretion disc to heat up. The expected spectrum of an accretion disc peaks in the optical-ultraviolet waveband; in addition, a [[Stellar corona|corona]] of hot material forms above the accretion disc and can [[Compton scattering|inverse-Compton scatter]] [[photon]]s up to X-ray energies. The radiation from the accretion disc excites cold atomic material close to the black hole and this in turn radiates at particular [[emission line]]s. A large fraction of the AGN's radiation may be obscured by [[interstellar gas]] and [[interstellar dust|dust]] close to the accretion disc, but (in a steady-state situation) this will be re-radiated at some other waveband, most likely the infrared.
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