CAREER: Probing the Demographics of Supermassive Black Holes with Time-Domain Observations of Tidal Disruption Events

超大质量黑洞（SMBHs）不仅罕见和奇异；最近对附近星系的观测表明，SMBHs几乎是所有星系的中心组成部分。基于这些观察，最有力的证据表明，SMBHs和星系的质量都随着时间的推移而增长。这是怎么发生的？研究人员有一个观测计划，将显示这些中心巨兽（SMBHs）和它们的宿主星系之间的联系。然而，观察是困难的。宇宙中的大多数SMBH都隐藏在视线之外：距离太远，无法测量SMBH对恒星的引力，或者由于缺乏落入SMBH的气体而太暗。研究人员计划使用光学望远镜，这种望远镜每天晚上都会自动重复地观察天空，以发现罕见的瞬变事件：当恒星太靠近SMBHs时。当一颗不幸的恒星经过SMBH附近时，一个“饥饿”（休眠）的黑洞就会暴露出来。根据耀斑的亮度，当潮汐破坏事件（TDE）发生时，他们将能够对中心的SMBH进行称重，估计黑洞的旋转，以及约束被破坏恒星的质量、半径和内部结构。该项目有几个主要的智力优势：1)研究人员清楚地列出了测量潮汐破坏事件的中等质量和超大质量黑洞特性的现状，并令人信服地详细说明了如何找到数千个TDE候选者。3)他们计划通过叠加分析来提高Pan-STARRS 1 (PS1) Medium Deep Survey的灵敏度，并使用数据集对所有口味的瞬态进行分类，这是使用新的大型综合巡天望远镜有效过滤观测结果的一步。该研究人员将加强马里兰GRAD-MAP计划，该计划鼓励女性和STEM领域中代表性不足的群体。她将利用GRAD-MAP已取得的成功，提高本地少数民族院校物理专业学生的保留率。她之前在GRAD-MAP的经验很重要。PS1数据库为冬季讲习班的短期研究项目提供了有用的数据来源。他们在PS1方面的经验将确保最大限度地利用这个数据库。GRAD-MAP项目有成功的证据，七名参与者中有五名在夏季完成了研究项目。有可能把5个成功的故事变成更多新的成功故事。

Supermassive black holes (SMBHs) are not just rare and exotic; recent observations of nearby galaxies have demonstrated that SMBHs are a central component of almost all galaxies. Based on these observations, the best evidence suggests that both the SMBHs and the galaxy grow in mass over time. How does this happen? The researcher has a plan of observations that will show the connection between these central beasts (SMBHs) and their host galaxies. However the observations are difficult. Most SMBHs in the Universe are hidden from view: too distant to measure the gravitational pull on the stars by the SMBH, or too dim from the lack of gas falling onto the SMBH. The researcher plans to use optical telescopes, which look at the sky automatically and repeatedly every night, to find rare transient events: when stars pass too close to SMBHs. A 'starved' (dormant) black hole will reveal itself when an unlucky star passes close enough to be torn apart by tremendous tides expected near the SMBH. Based on the brightness of the flare, when the Tidal Disruption Event (TDE) happens, they will be able to weigh the central SMBH, estimate the black hole spin, as well as constrain the mass, radius, and internal structure of the disrupted star.The project has several major intellectual merits: 1) The researcher clearly lays out the status of measuring intermediate-mass and supermassive black hole properties with tidal disruption events and convincingly details how to find thousands of TDE candidates. 3) They plan to increase the sensitivity of Pan-STARRS 1 (PS1) Medium Deep Survey with stacking analysis and using the dataset to classify transients of all flavors is the step towards efficiently filtering observations with the new Large Synoptic Survey Telescope. 3) The researcher will help other scientists' research by sharing their machine-learning algorithms.The researcher will enhance the Maryland GRAD-MAP program, which encourages women and under-represented groups in STEM fields. She will leverage established success of GRAD-MAP in improving retention rate among physics majors at local minority serving institutions. Her previous experience in GRAD-MAP is significant. PS1 database offers a useful source of data for short research projects as part of the winter workshop. Their experience with PS1 will ensure that the use of this database is maximized. The GRAD-MAP program has evidence of success with five of seven participants following through with research programs during the summer. There is the potential to take 5 success stories and turn them into many more new success stories.