New Frontiers of Black Hole Feedback in Galaxy Clusters

Event Date:
2026-02-02T16:00:00
2026-02-02T17:00:00
Event Location:
HENN 318
Speaker:
Julie Hlavacek-Larrondo
Related Upcoming Events:
Astronomy Colloquia
Intended Audience:
Everyone
Local Contact:

Allison Man (aman@phas.ubc.ca) and Brett Gladman (gladman@astro.ubc.ca)

All are welcome to this event!

Event Information:

Abstract:

Galaxy clusters are fantastic laboratories for understanding black hole feedback processes. These massive cosmic structures provide a unique environment to study how AGN-driven jets transfer energy to the surrounding medium, generating shock fronts, sound waves, and turbulence. This feedback not only regulates cluster cores but also drives molecular outflows and redistributes metals within and beyond galaxies, illustrating how black holes act as the beating heart of galaxies and shape the cosmos over time. In this talk, I will review the current state of the field, focusing on how these powerful AGN-driven jets influence the properties of galaxy clusters across cosmic time. I will also present the first observations of the Perseus cluster made with the XRISM X-ray space telescope, highlighting XRISM's unprecedented capabilities in probing cluster dynamics. Lastly, I will share results from the new TNG-Cluster suite of Illustris cosmological simulations, providing new insights into the mechanisms of AGN feedback in these environments.
 

Bio:

Dr. Julie Hlavacek-Larrondo is a leading astrophysicist at the Université de Montréal, where she heads the High-Energy and Extragalactic Astrophysics Group. She holds a prestigious Canada Research Chair in Observational Astrophysics of Black Holes, awarded to emerging world-class researchers recognized for their exceptional creativity and contributions to their fields.

An expert on supermassive black holes—the titans residing at the centers of massive galaxies—Dr. Hlavacek-Larrondo combines cutting-edge machine learning techniques with observations from the world's most advanced telescopes across multiple wavelengths. Her work spans X-ray observatories like Chandra, XMM-Newton, and eROSITA; radio arrays including JVLA, GMRT, ATCA, and the upcoming SKA; and optical instruments such as Hubble Space Telescope (HST), VLT, and NASA's flagship JWST.

Her research aims to unravel the complex role of black hole feedback in shaping galaxies—from regulating star formation and heating intergalactic gas to driving metal entrainment and influencing black hole growth itself. In addition, she explores a wide range of topics, including the observational signatures of radio halos in galaxy cluster mergers, the nature of hyper-luminous infrared galaxies, numerical simulations of relativistic jets, and the properties of compact objects.

Before joining the Université de Montréal as a faculty member, Dr. Julie Hlavacek-Larrondo was an Einstein Fellow at Stanford University. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge.

Raised in Montreal, Julie is of Chilean and Czech heritage. Her academic journey began in 2007 with a Bachelor's degree in physics from the Université de Montréal, followed by a Master's degree in astrophysics, where she focused on the kinematical analysis of Sculptor Group galaxies.

A passionate advocate for diversity in science, she recently co-founded Parité sciences, a game-changing initiative that aims to reach gender parity in sciences. 

 

Learn More:

 

Add to Calendar 2026-02-02T16:00:00 2026-02-02T17:00:00 New Frontiers of Black Hole Feedback in Galaxy Clusters Event Information: Abstract: Galaxy clusters are fantastic laboratories for understanding black hole feedback processes. These massive cosmic structures provide a unique environment to study how AGN-driven jets transfer energy to the surrounding medium, generating shock fronts, sound waves, and turbulence. This feedback not only regulates cluster cores but also drives molecular outflows and redistributes metals within and beyond galaxies, illustrating how black holes act as the beating heart of galaxies and shape the cosmos over time. In this talk, I will review the current state of the field, focusing on how these powerful AGN-driven jets influence the properties of galaxy clusters across cosmic time. I will also present the first observations of the Perseus cluster made with the XRISM X-ray space telescope, highlighting XRISM's unprecedented capabilities in probing cluster dynamics. Lastly, I will share results from the new TNG-Cluster suite of Illustris cosmological simulations, providing new insights into the mechanisms of AGN feedback in these environments.  Bio: Dr. Julie Hlavacek-Larrondo is a leading astrophysicist at the Université de Montréal, where she heads the High-Energy and Extragalactic Astrophysics Group. She holds a prestigious Canada Research Chair in Observational Astrophysics of Black Holes, awarded to emerging world-class researchers recognized for their exceptional creativity and contributions to their fields. An expert on supermassive black holes—the titans residing at the centers of massive galaxies—Dr. Hlavacek-Larrondo combines cutting-edge machine learning techniques with observations from the world's most advanced telescopes across multiple wavelengths. Her work spans X-ray observatories like Chandra, XMM-Newton, and eROSITA; radio arrays including JVLA, GMRT, ATCA, and the upcoming SKA; and optical instruments such as Hubble Space Telescope (HST), VLT, and NASA's flagship JWST. Her research aims to unravel the complex role of black hole feedback in shaping galaxies—from regulating star formation and heating intergalactic gas to driving metal entrainment and influencing black hole growth itself. In addition, she explores a wide range of topics, including the observational signatures of radio halos in galaxy cluster mergers, the nature of hyper-luminous infrared galaxies, numerical simulations of relativistic jets, and the properties of compact objects. Before joining the Université de Montréal as a faculty member, Dr. Julie Hlavacek-Larrondo was an Einstein Fellow at Stanford University. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge. Raised in Montreal, Julie is of Chilean and Czech heritage. Her academic journey began in 2007 with a Bachelor's degree in physics from the Université de Montréal, followed by a Master's degree in astrophysics, where she focused on the kinematical analysis of Sculptor Group galaxies. A passionate advocate for diversity in science, she recently co-founded Parité sciences, a game-changing initiative that aims to reach gender parity in sciences.    Learn More: About Julie: https://www.astro.umontreal.ca/x-tra/?team=julie-hlavacek-larrondo https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Prizes-Prix/McDonald-McDonald/Profiles-Profils/Larrondo-Larrondo_eng.asp https://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/chairholders-titulaires/profile-eng.aspx?profileId=3266 About Galaxy clusters: https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/research/topic/galaxy-clusters    Event Location: HENN 318