Supermassive Black Holes and Galaxy Evolution

现在公认所有大质量星系都有一个超大质量黑洞，但在任何给定的时间，它们中的大多数都是相对休眠的。只有少数星系包含发光的活动星系核(AGN)，目前还不清楚这种活动是随机的还是由宿主演化中的特定事件触发的。此外，活动星系核本身是否像许多星系形成模型预测的那样，在调节恒星形成方面发挥作用？在这个项目中，我们将采用一种新的方法来理解宇宙中活动星系核的活动。利用深度多波长观测的最新数据，我们将通过识别光谱能量分布具有特征特征的星系(例如强X射线发射或主机尘埃的存在)来搜索活动星系核，同时使用星系的HST图像将中央核与更广泛的主机分开。尤其是低亮度的活动星系核，人们对其知之甚少，这种方法将使我们能够从恒星形成和中央吸积黑洞中分离出光。总的目标是开发新的技术，在深部调查数据中识别活动星系核，并了解活动星系核活动与更广泛的星系形成过程之间的联系。

It is now well established that all massive galaxies host a supermassive black hole, but at any given time most of them are relatively dormant. Only a few percent of galaxies contain luminous Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), and it is unclear if this activity is stochastic or triggered by particular events in the evolution of the host. Furthermore, does the AGN itself play a role in regulating star formation, as many galaxy formation models predict? In this project we will adopt a novel approach to understanding AGN activity in the Universe. Using the latest data from deep multi-wavelength surveys we will search for AGN by identifying galaxies with characteristic features in their spectral energy distributions (e.g. strong x-ray emission or the presence of host dust), while simultaneously using HST images of the galaxies to separate the central nuclei from their more extended hosts. For low-luminosity AGN in particular, which are poorly understood, this approach will allow us to disentangle the light from star formation and the central accreting black holes. The overall goals are to develop new techniques for identifying AGN in deep survey data, and to understand the links between AGN activity and the wider process of galaxy formation.