Probing the Limits of Black Hole Feedback in the Most Massive Galaxies

Event Date:
2024-09-23T16:00:00
2024-09-23T17:00:00
Event Location:
HENN 318
Speaker:
Michael A. McDonald, MIT
Related Upcoming Events:
Astronomy Colloquia
Intended Audience:
Undergraduate
Local Contact:

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

All are welcome to this event!

Event Information:

Abstract:

In the past several decades it has become clear that mechanical (radio-mode) feedback from supermassive blackholes is necessary to moderate the growth of the most massive galaxies in which they reside. In particular, in the cores of galaxy clusters, the evolution of giant elliptical galaxies appear to be primarily governed by black hole feedback. Despite its apparent importance, our understanding of how feedback works is woefully incomplete, particularly when it comes to mechanical or radio-mode feedback. In this talk I will discuss two directions that we are pursuing to understand the balance between cooling and feedback in galaxy cluster cores: (i) identifying systems for which feedback appears to not work, in an effort to understand the limitations and failure modes of the feedback/cooling cycle, and (ii) searching for evidence of AGN feedback in the cores of the most distant galaxy clusters. All of these efforts require the use of data from a variety of X-ray, optical, mm-wave, and radio telescopes, including Chandra, Hubble, James Webb, and the South Pole Telescope.

Bio:

Michael McDonald is an Associate Professor of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute for Technology's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research. He obtained his BScH and MSc degrees in Physics at Queen's University in Canada, and his PhD in Astronomy at the University of Maryland in College Park, MD. Michael spent three years as a Hubble Fellow at MIT, before being hired as an Assistant Professor in July 2015.

His research focuses on the co-evolution of massive galaxies and their super-massive black holes in the rich cluster environment. This research involves the discovery and study of the most distant assemblies of galaxies alongside detailed analyses of the complex interplay between gas, galaxies, and blackholes in the closest, most massive systems. He uses of a wide variety of ground- and space-based observatories, including (but not limited to) the Hubble and Chandra space telescopes, and the Magellan and ALMA telescopes located in Chile. 

 

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Add to Calendar 2024-09-23T16:00:00 2024-09-23T17:00:00 Probing the Limits of Black Hole Feedback in the Most Massive Galaxies Event Information: Abstract: In the past several decades it has become clear that mechanical (radio-mode) feedback from supermassive blackholes is necessary to moderate the growth of the most massive galaxies in which they reside. In particular, in the cores of galaxy clusters, the evolution of giant elliptical galaxies appear to be primarily governed by black hole feedback. Despite its apparent importance, our understanding of how feedback works is woefully incomplete, particularly when it comes to mechanical or radio-mode feedback. In this talk I will discuss two directions that we are pursuing to understand the balance between cooling and feedback in galaxy cluster cores: (i) identifying systems for which feedback appears to not work, in an effort to understand the limitations and failure modes of the feedback/cooling cycle, and (ii) searching for evidence of AGN feedback in the cores of the most distant galaxy clusters. All of these efforts require the use of data from a variety of X-ray, optical, mm-wave, and radio telescopes, including Chandra, Hubble, James Webb, and the South Pole Telescope. Bio: Michael McDonald is an Associate Professor of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute for Technology's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research. He obtained his BScH and MSc degrees in Physics at Queen's University in Canada, and his PhD in Astronomy at the University of Maryland in College Park, MD. Michael spent three years as a Hubble Fellow at MIT, before being hired as an Assistant Professor in July 2015. His research focuses on the co-evolution of massive galaxies and their super-massive black holes in the rich cluster environment. This research involves the discovery and study of the most distant assemblies of galaxies alongside detailed analyses of the complex interplay between gas, galaxies, and blackholes in the closest, most massive systems. He uses of a wide variety of ground- and space-based observatories, including (but not limited to) the Hubble and Chandra space telescopes, and the Magellan and ALMA telescopes located in Chile.    Learn More: View Michael's MIT faculty webpage here: Michael A. McDonald » MIT Physics and personal website here: Michael McDonald - Associate Professor - MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research  See Michael's Kavli Institute faculty page here: Michael McDonald - MIT Kavli Institute MIT News: Research pulled Michael McDonald in and it won’t let go | MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology What is a supermassive black hole? Supermassive black holes: Characteristics and formation | Space NASA animation on black holes: NASA Animation Sizes Up the Universe’s Biggest Black Holes - NASA Event Location: HENN 318