The Ins and Outs of Black Hole Accretion

黑洞吸积的来龙去脉

• 批准号: RGPIN-2020-05974
• 负责人: Gallo, Luigi
• 金额: $ 2.99万
• 依托单位: Saint Mary's University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=740950
• 关键词: Ins; Outs; Black; Hole; Accretion

A supermassive black hole that is millions or even billions of times more massive than the Sun resides at the centres of most galaxies. Some of these monsters are so active that they can make the surrounding material shine brighter than all the stars in its host galaxy. The material closest to the black hole, just as it is about to plunge beyond the event horizon, is so hot it radiates X-rays and it is subjected to the most violent conditions in the Universe. The extreme gravity of the black hole can tear stars apart and fling matter around at velocities close to the speed of light before it is finally ingested. Sometimes this material can be thrown out so violently that it is completely ejected from the black hole region and hurled back into the galactic neighbourhood where it may have a resounding effect on the conditions in the host galaxy. Observing these active galaxies with space-based X-ray observatories may be the only way to study the exotic physics at work in the black hole environment. What does the environment look like? How is material falling into the black hole and what is it made of? How does material near a black hole get ejected from the system? How does this ejecta influence the host galaxy that the black hole resides in? These are only a few questions that my team will be tackling over the course of this work to try understanding how black holes grow and galaxies evolve. In 2021, the XRISM X-ray observatory will be launched and it will have the highest energy resolution instruments every available in X-ray astronomy. This means we can accurately determine the composition and temperature of the material around black holes, and the direction and speed at which it is moving. We will be able to accurately distinguish material that is falling into or escaping from the black hole. We will be able to determine the geometry and kinematics of the material around black holes. Our Canadian students will be the ones answering the fundamental questions posed by this research program. By confronting Nature's most exotic creatures, we are building capacity and knowledge in space-based research in Canada.

一个超级质量的黑洞，比太阳居住在大多数星系中心的数百万甚至数十亿倍。这些怪物中的一些是如此活跃，以至于它们可以使周围的材料比主机银河系中的所有星星更亮。最接近黑洞的材料，就像它要超越事件范围一样热，以至于辐射X射线，并且受到宇宙中最暴力的条件。黑洞的极端重力会撕裂星星，并以接近光速的速度到处乱跑。有时，这种材料可以被猛烈地扔掉，以至于它完全从黑洞区域弹出，然后返回银河邻里，在那里它可能会对宿主银河系中的条件产生巨大的影响。 观察这些具有空间X射线观测器的活动星系可能是研究黑洞环境中工作中的外来物理学的唯一方法。环境是什么样的？材料如何掉入黑洞，是由什么组成的？黑洞附近的材料如何从系统中弹出？这种喷射如何影响黑洞所在的宿主星系？这些只是我的团队在这项工作过程中要解决的几个问题，即尝试了解黑洞的成长方式和星系的发展。在2021年，Xrism X射线天文台将启动，它将拥有X射线天文学中每种可用的能源分辨率仪器。这意味着我们可以准确地确定黑洞周围材料的组成和温度，以及它移动的方向和速度。我们将能够准确区分即将掉入黑洞中或逃脱的材料。我们将能够确定黑洞周围材料的几何形状和运动学。我们的加拿大学生将是回答该研究计划提出的基本问题的人。通过面对大自然最奇特的生物，我们正在加拿大建立基于太空研究的能力和知识。