About the project
Supermassive black holes live in the centre of galaxies and grow by the accretion of gas from their surroundings. This process of black hole growth occurs throughout the evolution of the Universe and powers some of the most spectacular and energetic events we can observe: Active Galactic Nuclei.
In this project You will investigate the physics behind how the gas is transported to the black hole.
You will analyse observations of gas in different phases (atomic, ionised and molecular) and apply physical models to study:
- the mechanisms by which the gas is transported to the black hole
- how much gas is transported in total, which controls the rate of growth of the black hole.
The data will consist of observations from state-of-the-art telescopes, such as ALMA, and you will have the opportunity to propose and plan for further observations.
You'll be part of a local research group at Southampton working on the multiwavelength properties of black holes and galaxies.
You'll also be connected to a wider international research team, with opportunities for visits and training.
