PECASE: Theory of Black Hole Accretion Flows

Gammie博士将开展一个理论和计算天体物理学的研究项目，重点是建立黑洞周围等离子体流动的数值模型。黑洞吸积流中释放的引力结合能被认为是类星体和活动星系核的动力，在我们自己的星系中，黑洞x射线双星。Gammie博士将与一名博士后研究员和学生一起领导开发广义相对论磁流体动力学的新代码。该代码将能够解决该领域的一些基本未解决的问题，涉及喷气机如何发射以及在什么情况下可以从旋转黑洞中提取能量。在教学方面，Gammie博士将开发一个“数字演示室”，以辅助天文学和物理教学。这个演示室内的数值模型将集中在恒星演化、超新星、恒星形成和星系结构等主题上。演示室将以网络界面为基础，它将被调整以使学生在入门，中级或高级水平上访问。演示室将由天文学、计算机科学、教育学、平面设计和物理学专业的本科生参与开发。

Dr. Gammie will carry out a research program in theoretical and computational astrophysics that focuses on building numerical models of plasmas flows around black holes. The release of gravitational binding energy in black hole accretion flows is thought to power quasars and active galactic nuclei, and, in our own galaxy, the black hole X-ray binaries. Dr. Gammie will lead an effort to develop a new code for general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics, together with a postdoctoral researcher and students. This code will be able to address some of the fundamental unsolved problems in the field, related to how jets are launched and under what circumstances energy may be extracted from a rotating black hole. In teaching, Dr. Gammie will develop a 'digital demo room' to aid in astronomy and physics instruction. The numerical models available in this demo room will focus on topics in stellar evolution, supernovae, star formation and galactic structure. The demo room will be based around a web interface, which will be tuned to give students access at introductory, intermediate, or advanced levels. The demo room will be developed with the participation of undergraduate students in astronomy, computer science, education, graphic design and physics.