Speaker: Sjoert van Velzen (Leiden Observ., New York U., CCPP, Maryland U.)
Title: Stellar tidal disruption events: a new probe for black hole astrophysics
Abstract:
The tidal disruption of a star by a massive black hole is a rare event that results in a spectacular flare of electromagnetic radiation. Visible from radio to X-ray wavelengths, tidal disruption flares are a unique probe to study massive black holes and the nucleus of their host galaxies. The advent of optical transient surveys has accelerated this field, resulting in a large number of (often unexpected) discoveries. I will review this recent progress, demonstrating the application of tidal disruption events as tools to measure black hole spin and the launch mechanism of relativistic jets.
Room: ZOOM videoconference (contact justin.feng@tecnico.ulisboa.pt for URL)