Add to Calendar 2025-11-24T16:00:00 2025-11-24T17:00:00 Crazy jet experiments: probing accretion and ejection physics with flashes, bursts, and eruptions Event Information: Abstract: The most powerful cosmic engines in our universe are fueled by compact objects such as black holes and neutron stars. These cosmic engines consume large amounts of material and expel matter in the form of jets travelling at near the speed of light. Recent groundbreaking discoveries of gravitational waves from systems harbouring compact objects and the direct imaging of the black hole shadows with the Event Horizon Telescope, represent major steps forward in our understanding of such systems. However, there exists a huge population of compact objects in our own Galaxy, which provides much more ideal laboratories, offering a real-time view of the behaviour of these objects and their dynamic environments.  In this talk, I will discuss new experiments leveraging the capabilities of today's state-of-the-art telescopes to observe repetitive, (somewhat) predictable, energetic surges of radiation that allow us to track the path of material from inflow to outflow in these Galactic systems.  Bio:  I am an assistant professor in the Physics and Astronomy Department at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada 🇨🇦, and I currently hold a Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Black Hole Astrophysics. Previously, I have held a NASA Einstein Fellowship at Texas Tech University, and worked in the Maunakea Observatories in Hawaii at the East Asian Observatory's James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (EAO/JCMT). I was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I received my BSc (Honours) in Astrophysics at the University of Calgary, and I completed my MSc/PhD at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. My work involves studying relativistic jets launched by stellar-mass black hole systems in our Galaxy, with a particular focus on observing these jets at long radio and (sub)-mm wavelengths.   Learn More:  About Alexandra's Canada Research Chair for Black Hole astrophysics: https://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/chairholders-titulaires/profile-eng.aspx?profileId=6122 About the Event Horizon telescope: https://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/chairholders-titulaires/profile-eng.aspx?profileId=6122 About Astrophysical jets: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrophysical_jet About some jet experiments: CERN: https://www.space.com/astronomy/scientists-recreate-cosmic-fireballs-in-cern-particle-accelerator-to-hunt-for-missing-gamma-rays Eureka: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1039291 Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO): https://phys.org/news/2025-11-cosmic-ray-puzzle-scientists-link.html Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf: https://www.hzdr.de/db/Cms?pOid=42939&pNid=99&pLang=en  Event Location: HENN 318

Add to Calendar 2025-12-01T16:00:00 2025-12-01T17:00:00 The nature of small planets orbiting M dwarfs Event Information: Abstract: M dwarfs are the most common type of star in the galaxy, and they abound with small planets on close-in orbits that can be studied with the transit and radial velocity techniques. I will present the results of overlapping projects that examine the frequencies, bulk compositions, and atmospheres of these compelling planets. The first project is a volume-limited survey of transiting planets discovered by TESS. By modeling the completeness of TESS, we have placed new constraints on the frequencies of planets orbiting the latest M dwarfs. Additionally, using my group's new MAROON-X spectrograph, we have measured precise masses of the TESS volume-limited sample, revealing the demographics of their bulk compositions. Finally, we are searching for atmospheres on M dwarf terrestrial planets using JWST thermal emission measurements. So far, we have placed tight limits on the presence of secondary atmospheres for a number of planets. These results have ramifications for hypotheses about atmospheric retention in the face of loss processes (i.e., the "Cosmic Shoreline") and the formation of silicate vapor atmospheres from the evaporation of solid surfaces.  Bio: Jacob Bean's current research focuses on the study of extrasolar planetary systems. He uses a variety of ground- and space-based facilities to detect and characterize planets around nearby stars. His particular interests are in studying planets around low-mass stars and in probing the atmospheres of the smallest known exoplanets. Learn More: About Jacob from his faculty page: https://astrophysics.uchicago.edu/people/profile/jacob-bean/ About the Bean Exoplanet Group: https://astro.uchicago.edu/~jbean/index.html About the Maroon-S instrument: https://www.gemini.edu/instrumentation/maroon-x    Event Location: HENN 318