The Power of X-ray Winds Launched by Accreting Supermassive Black Holes
This event is in the past.
When:
March 6, 2025
3:45 p.m. to 5 p.m.
3:45 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Where:
Physics & Astronomy Department - Liberal Arts and Sciences
666 W. Hancock (Room #245)
Detroit, MI 48201
666 W. Hancock (Room #245)
Detroit, MI 48201
Event category:
Seminar
In-person
Speaker: Daniele Rogantini (University of Chicago)
Abstract:
Observations and simulations strongly suggest that supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies—known as active galactic nuclei (AGN)—play a crucial role in shaping their host galaxies. However, the exact mechanism by which AGN influence large-scale galactic evolution remains an open question. One promising avenue is through powerful X-ray winds, which may drive AGN feedback by heating the circumnuclear medium and quenching star formation.
For over two decades, X-ray telescopes like Chandra and XMM-Newton have revealed that AGN winds are complex, existing in multiple phases with different speeds and ionization states. However, measuring how much energy they carry—and whether they truly drive large-scale galactic evolution—has remained a challenge. To tackle this, we have developed a novel approach that leverages the time variability of AGN X-ray emission to track how these winds evolve and respond to changing conditions, providing new insights into their physical properties.
In this talk, I will present the first results from this method and highlight the exciting discoveries from the newly launched XRISM mission. With its unprecedented spectral resolution in the Fe K band—home to the iron Kα line and the absorption features of ultra-fast outflows—XRISM has just started to transform our understanding of AGN winds. These new observations bring us closer to answering a fundamental question: how do supermassive black holes shape their cosmic environments?