AGN obscuring tori supported by infrared radiation pressure

Explicit 2D axisymmetric solutions are found to the hydrostatic equilibrium, energy balance, and photon diffusion equations within obscuring tori around active galactic nuclei (AGNs). These solutions demonstrate that infrared radiation pressure can support geometrically thick structures in AGN environments subject to certain constraints: the bolometric luminosity must be roughly similar to 0.03-1 times the Eddington luminosity; and the Compton optical depth of matter in the equatorial plane should be similar to 1, with a tolerance of about an order of magnitude up or down. Both of these constraints are at least roughly consistent with observations. In addition, angular momentum must be redistributed so that the fractional rotational support against gravity rises from the inner edge of the torus to the outer in a manner specific to the detailed shape of the gravitational potential. This model also predicts that the column ensities observed in obscured AGNs should range from similar to 10(22) to similar to 10(24) cm(-2).