How do AGN spectra vary with black hole feeding?

• Grant number: 21/06935-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2021
• Effective date (End): July 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Astronomy - Extragalactic Astrophysics
• Principal Investigator: Rodrigo Nemmen da Silva
• Grantee: Matheus Castello Branco Lima de Araujo
• Host Institution: Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/01461-2 - The extreme universe: black holes and the Fermi telescope, AP.JP

Abstract

An unresolved question in black hole astronomy is how active galactic nuclei (AGN) spectra respond to the changing SMBH accretion rate as galaxies evolve over cosmic time. A better understanding of this topic will shed light on the universality of BH accretion physics across the mass scale. The goal of this project is to study the dependence of observed, multiwavelength AGN spectral energy distributions (SED) on the mass accretion rate onto the black hole. How do the general measured features of SEDs change with accretion rate? What is the impact of the black hole mass? Are there similarities between the evolution of AGN SEDs and those of stellar mass black holes? This empirical project will address these questions and allow the student to learn valuable data analysis skills. (AU)