CAREER: Understanding the Formation of Galaxy Nuclei

这一职业奖将使PI，Anil Seth博士，通过对最近的一些星系核的详细研究，来研究大质量黑洞和核星团的形成。通过结合广泛的数据集，PI将确定附近星系中已分解的核星团样本的质量，估计一组核星团的质量达到10Mpc，并测量拥有潮汐破坏事件候选者的星系的性质。随后，这项工作将解决我们对星系核理解中的两个关键问题：(1)核星团是如何以及何时形成的？(2)低质量星系是否拥有超大质量黑洞？PI还将启动一项雄心勃勃的计划，扩大在布莱斯峡谷国家公园非常成功的夜间天文计划。特别是，PI将(1)创建一个关于附近星系及其核心的护林员讲座，供Bryce的工作人员使用；(2)为全国其他公园的护林员创建一个天文外展培训计划，以便他们能够复制Bryce的成功；以及(3)为本科天文学专业的学生开发一个暑期实习计划。这项工作将为我们理解超大质量黑洞的形成和演化以及位于星系中心的密度极高的星团提供关键贡献。它将利用来自众多联邦资助的天文设施的数据，并与宇宙演化的计算模拟相联系。此外，PI的外展计划将延伸到犹他州和布莱斯峡谷以外，以激励全国各地的国家公园游客了解夜空。

This CAREER award will enable the PI, Dr. Anil Seth, to study the formation of massive black holes and nuclear star clusters through detailed studies of some of the nearest galaxy nuclei. By combining a wide range of data sets, the PI will determine the masses of a sample of resolved nuclear star clusters in nearby galaxies, estimate the masses of a population of nuclear star clusters out to 10 Mpc, and measure the properties of galaxies that host tidal disruption event candidates. The work will subsequently address two key questions in our understanding of galaxy nuclei: (1) how and when do nuclear star clusters form?; and (2) do lower mass galaxies host supermassive black holes?The PI will also launch an ambitious program to expand the highly successful night-time astronomy program at Bryce Canyon National Park. In particular, the PI will (1) create a ranger talk on nearby galaxies and their nuclei to be used by staff at Bryce, (2) create an astronomy outreach training program for rangers at other parks nationwide so they can replicate Bryce's success, and (3) develop a summer internship program for undergraduate astronomy students. This work will provide critical contributions to our understanding of the formation and evolution of supermassive black holes, as well as the incredibly dense stellar clusters that lie at the centers of galaxies. It will leverage data from numerous federally funded astronomy facilities, and link with computational simulations of the evolution of the universe. Furthermore, the PI's outreach program will extend beyond Utah and Bryce Canyon to inspire national park visitors across the country to learn about the night sky.