CAREER: Direct Tests of Black Hole Accretion Rate Prescriptions

黑洞是星系中心的巨大能量来源，它可以完全改变一个星系。计算机模拟帮助我们理解塑造星系的物理原理。然而，即使是当今最复杂的模拟，也需要猜测在非常小的范围内发生了什么。这个项目使用最新的最先进的观测手段来观察这些小尺度。这些观测将检验用来描述黑洞如何成长的方程式。理解黑洞的这一方面将展示它们如何改变其宿主星系。这位研究人员还将通过与现有的桥梁项目合作，领导招收少数族裔学生进入物理和天文学的努力。该计划还将通过辅导和一门新的基础物理、数学和逻辑技能课程来支持当前的学生。通过将近红外自适应光学辅助积分场光谱和长基线干涉测量相结合，使用NSF的ALMA望远镜获得高分辨率图像，该计划将测量大范围活动黑洞的低于10pc分辨率的关键性质。干涉观测将测量一氧化碳的分布，一氧化碳是追踪该地区冷气的物质。这些测量为与黑洞吸积率相关的标准亚格子处方提供了输入，允许预测对于给定的黑洞，如果该处方是主要的，吸积率将是多少。这些系统也有现有的硬X射线观测和建模，以提供实际的吸积率。将这两项放在一起，将确定哪些黑洞吸积率处方在哪些区域是合理的，并为星系演化模拟提供建议。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

A galaxy can be completely transformed by a black hole, the huge energy source at its center. Computer simulations help us understand the physics that shapes galaxies. However, even the most complex simulations today need to guess what is going on at very small scales. This project uses new state-of-the-art observations to look at those small scales. These observations will test the equations used to describe how black holes grow. Understanding this aspect of black holes will show how they change their host galaxies. The investigator will also lead efforts to recruit minority students into physics and astronomy by partnering with existing bridge programs. This program will also support current students through mentorship and a new course on basic physics, math, and logic skills.By combining near-infrared adaptive optics-assisted integral field spectroscopy and long-baseline interferometry, using NSF’s ALMA telescope, to obtain high resolution images, this program will measure key properties at sub-10pc resolution around a broad range of active black holes. The interferometric observations will measure the distribution of carbon monoxide, CO, which traces cold gas in this region. These measurements provide the inputs for standard sub-grid prescriptions relating to black hole accretion rates, allowing predictions of, for a given black hole, what the accretion rate would be if that prescription were the dominant one. These systems also have existing hard-X-ray observations and modeling to provide the actual accretion rate. Putting these two together will identify which black hole accretion rate prescriptions are reasonable in which regimes, and produce recommendations for galaxy evolution simulations.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.