Megamaser Disk Galaxies and Secular Black Hole Growth

这个项目将研究被动演化螺旋星系中黑洞吸积的机制和含义，使用一个独特的圆盘星系样本，在它们的核中含有水巨射器。黑洞的供给将通过测量微波激射器的运动学来评估，从几十秒差距到十分之一秒差距。格林博士将在20秒差距尺度上比较自适应光学和积分场光谱学的恒星和气体运动学，以及亚秒差距尺度上超大激光盘的方向，以了解气体是如何吸积到盘上的。她将确定长期（长期）演化是否会导致黑洞质量和星系特性之间的紧密关联，包括凸起运动学、星系质量和暗晕质量。这项工作的更广泛影响包括培训本科生和研究生，通过公开讲座进行宣传，并通过监狱教学倡议向囚犯教授数学。

This program will study the mechanics and implications of black hole accretion in passively evolving spiral galaxies using a unique sample of disk galaxies hosting water megamasers in their nuclei. Feeding of the black hole will be assessed by measuring the kinematics of the masers from scales of tens of parsecs down to tenths of parsecs. Dr. Greene will compare the stellar and gaseous kinematics on 20 parsec scales from adaptive-optics plus integral-field spectroscopy, to the orientation of the megamaser disk on sub-parsec scales, to learn how the gas accretes onto the disk. She will determine whether secular (long-term) evolution leads to tight correlations between black hole mass and galaxy properties, including bulge kinematics, galaxy mass, and dark halo mass.Broader impacts of the work include training of undergraduate and graduate students, outreach via public lectures, and teaching math to inmates through the Prison Teaching Initiative.