The Supermassive Black Hole at the Center of Our Galaxy

银河系中心正在以前所未有的清晰度和光谱分辨率积极探索无线电、亚毫米、红外、x射线和伽马射线波长。这项研究将详细研究与中心黑洞相关的强场效应，期望它们能产生可观测的特征。不同的证据线，如波长1.3毫米的80分钟周期，红外发射的17分钟调制，以及x射线耀斑期间的10分钟变化，都主张对黑洞附近的时空结构进行新的激烈的理论研究。利用半解析分析、数值方法和光线追踪计算，该项目将考虑这些变化，以及在厘米波长下106天的暂定周期，并为使用毫米和亚毫米全球基线干涉测量技术对黑洞吸积系统阴影的最终成像建立一个理论框架。这位研究员有多年培训年轻科学家的经验，其中许多人已经凭借自己的能力成为了科学领袖。他还非常有效地通过书籍、旅游和许多公开演讲，将科学带给更广泛的受众。

AST-0402502MeliaThe Galactic Center is being actively explored at radio, sub-millimeter, infrared, X-ray and gamma-ray wavelengths, with unprecedented clarity and spectral resolution. This research will study in detail the strong field effects associated with the central black hole, with the expectation that they will produce observationally testable signatures. Diverse lines of evidence, such as the 80 minute period at wavelength 1.3 millimeters, the 17 minute modulation of infrared emission, and the 10 minute variability during X-ray flares, argue for a new intense theoretical investigation into the structure of spacetime close to the black hole. Using semi-analytical analysis, numerical methods, and ray-tracing calculations, this project will consider these variabilities, as well as the tentative 106 day periodicity at centimeter wavelengths, and develop a theoretical framework for the eventual imaging of the black hole accretion system's shadow using millimeter and sub-millimeter global-baseline interferometry. This investigator has many years of experience training young scientists, many of whom have gone on to become scientific leaders in their own right. He is also very effective at bringing science to a wider audience, via books, tours, and many public presentations.