Nebular emission from AGN in the ultraviolet/optical: diagnostics of the ionizing source and gas properties

Spectroscopic studies of active galactic nuclei (AGN) are powerful means of probing the physical properties of the ionized gas within them. In particular, forthcoming facilities such as JWST and the E-ELT, will provide rest-frame ultraviolet and optical spectra of the very distant AGN. To lay the groundwork for the interpretation of these revolutionary datasets, we have recently computed new photoionization models of the narrow-line emitting regions (NLR) of AGN and combined them with similar models of the nebular emission from star-forming galaxies. In this talk, I will first describe how new ultraviolet and standard optical spectral diagnostics allow one to distinguish between nuclear activity and star formation. I will then explain how predictions of AGN nebular emission can be best used to understand the physical properties of the AGN NLR gas. In particular, I will present recent results from a study on one of the most comprehensive set of optical spectra (from VIMOS/VLT) sampling the rest-frame ultraviolet range of ~90 type 2 AGN (1.5 < z < 3), drawn from the z-COSMOS deep survey. To conclude, I will show how the implementation of AGN photoionization calculations in an innovative Bayesian fitting code can help us best interpret current, and future, spectro-photometric data on active galaxies