Black hole accretion and outflows: novel multi-wavelength perspectives
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Southampton
Department Name: Sch of Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
Black holes are unique natural laboratories. Recreating the high temperatures and stresses of infalling matter is impossible on Earth. This makes black holes ideal sites to study extreme cosmic environments. Yet astronomers have struggled to accurately measure even basic properties such as the sum total of energy output from black hole environments, or to understand the nature of powerful 'jets' of outflowing matter known to emerge from them.
This has not been for lack of trying. Massive black holes found in the nuclei of all large galaxies are often cocooned within obscuring layers of interstellar gas and dust which hide them from direct view. Additionally, bright young star clusters invariably clutter our view of black holes, making it impossible to isolate their emission.
Stellar-mass black holes pose separate challenges. These are the most compact astronomical objects known (with characteristic sizes of only ~30 km for a typical Galactic source). As matter accretes (infalls) on them, part of its energy emerges as strongly variable light and fast-outflowing matter, a manifestation of the chaotic environment from which it emerges. Analysis of the variability patterns can yield direct information on the physics of accretion and jets. But this requires the use of fast and sensitive cameras which have not been available until recently.
My work has opened up new avenues to explore these issues. By using the exquisite resolution provided by very large telescopes in Chile, I have shown that the infrared emission from dusty clouds in the immediate vicinities of massive black holes can be successfully isolated from surrounding stars. Furthermore, the infrared provides a perfect 'bolometric' (total) emission measure, giving us a new tool to probe these obscured black holes.
Secondly, in order to understand jet physics on short times, I have studied variable X-ray, infrared and visible light in Galactic black holes. Using a novel fast camera, I led a team to observe visible light fluctuations only a fraction (~1/20th) of a second long from stellar black holes. We were stunned to find remarkable patterns amidst the fluctuating noise in the form of optical flashes which are correlated with X-ray variations. The optical emission was widely thought to be a secondary response to primary X-ray outbursts, but the optical fluctuations that I discovered are much too speedy to fit this scenario. Instead, my findings point to fast and chaotic magnetic energy extraction in the outflowing jets of matter. Using NASA's latest infrared space telescope called WISE, I was next able to measure the magnetic field strength and physical dimensions of the inner jet, quantities which has long eluded direct measurement. Although radio telescopes have long studied emission from extended jets, using the optical and infrared instead allowed me to probe the physical conditions in the jet near its base. This is the first step for understanding the extreme physics of relativistic plasma acceleration in compact sources in detail.
So we now have two new direct handles to study accretion and outflows in black holes. But studies to date have only explored small and patchy collections of objects, so I am proposing to explore large and well-defined samples in the sky. I will carry out the first high resolution infrared survey of all X-ray bright massive black holes in the nearby Universe. And, I will systematically explore the jets in outbursting stellar-mass black holes in optical, infrared and X-rays.
Black holes span an incredible range of masses and sizes unlike any other cosmic source. The only way to gain full insight into their properties is to utilise all tools at hand. This is why I am proposing a multi-pronged and multi-wavelength approach. The advent of large infrared telescopes, as well as new cameras capable of fast imagery, makes this research very timely.
This has not been for lack of trying. Massive black holes found in the nuclei of all large galaxies are often cocooned within obscuring layers of interstellar gas and dust which hide them from direct view. Additionally, bright young star clusters invariably clutter our view of black holes, making it impossible to isolate their emission.
Stellar-mass black holes pose separate challenges. These are the most compact astronomical objects known (with characteristic sizes of only ~30 km for a typical Galactic source). As matter accretes (infalls) on them, part of its energy emerges as strongly variable light and fast-outflowing matter, a manifestation of the chaotic environment from which it emerges. Analysis of the variability patterns can yield direct information on the physics of accretion and jets. But this requires the use of fast and sensitive cameras which have not been available until recently.
My work has opened up new avenues to explore these issues. By using the exquisite resolution provided by very large telescopes in Chile, I have shown that the infrared emission from dusty clouds in the immediate vicinities of massive black holes can be successfully isolated from surrounding stars. Furthermore, the infrared provides a perfect 'bolometric' (total) emission measure, giving us a new tool to probe these obscured black holes.
Secondly, in order to understand jet physics on short times, I have studied variable X-ray, infrared and visible light in Galactic black holes. Using a novel fast camera, I led a team to observe visible light fluctuations only a fraction (~1/20th) of a second long from stellar black holes. We were stunned to find remarkable patterns amidst the fluctuating noise in the form of optical flashes which are correlated with X-ray variations. The optical emission was widely thought to be a secondary response to primary X-ray outbursts, but the optical fluctuations that I discovered are much too speedy to fit this scenario. Instead, my findings point to fast and chaotic magnetic energy extraction in the outflowing jets of matter. Using NASA's latest infrared space telescope called WISE, I was next able to measure the magnetic field strength and physical dimensions of the inner jet, quantities which has long eluded direct measurement. Although radio telescopes have long studied emission from extended jets, using the optical and infrared instead allowed me to probe the physical conditions in the jet near its base. This is the first step for understanding the extreme physics of relativistic plasma acceleration in compact sources in detail.
So we now have two new direct handles to study accretion and outflows in black holes. But studies to date have only explored small and patchy collections of objects, so I am proposing to explore large and well-defined samples in the sky. I will carry out the first high resolution infrared survey of all X-ray bright massive black holes in the nearby Universe. And, I will systematically explore the jets in outbursting stellar-mass black holes in optical, infrared and X-rays.
Black holes span an incredible range of masses and sizes unlike any other cosmic source. The only way to gain full insight into their properties is to utilise all tools at hand. This is why I am proposing a multi-pronged and multi-wavelength approach. The advent of large infrared telescopes, as well as new cameras capable of fast imagery, makes this research very timely.
Organisations
- University of Southampton (Fellow, Lead Research Organisation)
- Max Planck Society (Collaboration)
- Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) (Collaboration)
- Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (Collaboration)
- California Institute of Technology (Collaboration)
- LSST Corporation (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
Poshak Gandhi (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Mandal A
(2018)
Determination of the size of the dust torus in H0507+164 through optical and infrared monitoring
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mandal A
(2018)
Determination of the size of the dust torus in H0507+164 through optical and infrared monitoring
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Marinucci A
(2015)
NuSTAR catches the unveiling nucleus of NGC 1068
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Marinucci A
(2015)
NuSTAR catches the unveiling nucleus of NGC 1068
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Masini A
(2017)
The Phoenix galaxy as seen by NuSTAR
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Masini A.
(2016)
NuSTAR observations of water megamaser AGN
in ArXiv e-prints
Masini A.
(2018)
VizieR Online Data Catalog: NuSTAR Extragalactic Surveys: UDS field (Masini+, 2018)
in VizieR Online Data Catalog
Matt G
(2015)
The hard X-ray spectrum of NGC 5506 as seen by NuSTAR
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
McHardy I.
(2015)
X-ray - UV/optical lag measurement in the very low mass AGN NGC4395 using the OM in sub-second readout mode: Implications for disc models
in The Extremes of Black Hole Accretion
McHardy Ian
(2016)
The Origin of UV-optical Variability in AGN and Test of Disc Models: XMM-Newton and ground based observations of NGC4395
in ArXiv e-prints
Middleton M
(2017)
Paving the way to simultaneous multi-wavelength astronomy
in New Astronomy Reviews
Morokuma T
(2017)
OISTER optical and near-infrared monitoring observations of peculiar radio-loud active galactic nucleus SDSS J110006.07+442144.3
in Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan
Mu Noz-Darias T
(2016)
Flares, wind and nebulae: the 2015 December mini-outburst of V404 Cygni
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Mu Noz-Darias T
(2016)
Flares, wind and nebulae: the 2015 December mini-outburst of V404 Cygni
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Mullaney J
(2015)
THE NuSTAR EXTRAGALACTIC SURVEYS: INITIAL RESULTS AND CATALOG FROM THE EXTENDED CHANDRA DEEP FIELD SOUTH
in The Astrophysical Journal
Muñoz-Darias T
(2017)
Flares, wind and nebulae: the 2015 December mini-outburst of V404 Cygni
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Oates S. R.
(2015)
Continued optical/UV observations of V404 Cyg with Swift/UVOT
in The Astronomer's Telegram
Oates S. R.
(2018)
Swift UVOT observations of the 2015 outburst of V404 Cygni
in arXiv e-prints
Pahari M
(2017)
Simultaneous optical/X-ray study of GS 1354-64 (=BW Cir) during hard outburst: evidence for optical cyclo-synchrotron emission from the hot accretion flow
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Pahari M
(2018)
AstroSat and Chandra View of the High Soft State of 4U 1630-47 (4U 1630-472): Evidence of the Disk Wind and a Rapidly Spinning Black Hole
in The Astrophysical Journal
Paice J. A.
(2019)
Swift sees the outburst brightening of GX 339-4 in the hard state
in The Astronomer's Telegram
Paice J. A.
(2018)
Optical Timing of X-Ray Transient MAXI J1727-203 with ULTRACAM/NTT
in The Astronomer's Telegram
Paice J. A.
(2018)
Blue Oscillations and Rapid Red Flares in Swift J1858.6-0814 Observed with ULTRACAM/NTT
in The Astronomer's Telegram
Parker M
(2015)
NuSTAR AND SUZAKU OBSERVATIONS OF THE HARD STATE IN CYGNUS X-1: LOCATING THE INNER ACCRETION DISK
in The Astrophysical Journal
Pasham D
(2016)
FIRST SEARCH FOR AN X-RAY-OPTICAL REVERBERATION SIGNAL IN AN ULTRALUMINOUS X-RAY SOURCE
in The Astrophysical Journal
Pierre M.
(2015)
The XXL Survey: I. Scientific motivations - XMM-Newton observing plan - Follow-up observations and simulation programme
in ArXiv e-prints
Puccetti S
(2014)
THE VARIABLE HARD X-RAY EMISSION OF NGC 4945 AS OBSERVED BY NUSTAR
in The Astrophysical Journal
Puccetti S
(2016)
Hard X-ray emission of the luminous infrared galaxy NGC 6240 as observed by NuSTAR
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Rahoui F
(2017)
The nova-like nebular optical spectrum of V404 Cygni at the beginning of the 2015 outburst decay
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Rahoui F
(2017)
The nova-like nebular optical spectrum of V404 Cygni at the beginning of the 2015 outburst decay
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Raimundo S
(2017)
Tracing the origin of the AGN fuelling reservoir in MCG-6-30-15
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Raimundo S
(2017)
Tracing the origin of the AGN fuelling reservoir in MCG-6-30-15
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Rajwade K. M.
(2019)
ULTRASPEC observations of SWIFT J1858.6-0814
in The Astronomer's Telegram
Rakshit S
(2019)
WISE view of narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies: mid-infrared colour and variability
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Rana Vikram
(2015)
Characterizing X-ray and Radio emission in the Black Hole X-Ray Binary V404 Cygni during Quiescence
in ArXiv e-prints
Remillard R.
(2017)
NICER Observation of Fast X-ray Flares in GX 339-4
in The Astronomer's Telegram
Revalski M
(2018)
Quantifying Feedback from Narrow Line Region Outflows in Nearby Active Galaxies. II. Spatially Resolved Mass Outflow Rates for the QSO2 Markarian 34
in The Astrophysical Journal
Ricci C
(2017)
BAT AGN Spectroscopic Survey. V. X-Ray Properties of the Swift /BAT 70-month AGN Catalog
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Ricci C
(2017)
NuSTAR OBSERVATIONS OF WISE J1036+0449, A GALAXY AT z ~ 1 OBSCURED BY HOT DUST
in The Astrophysical Journal
Ricci C
(2014)
The narrow Fe K a line and the molecular torus in active galactic nuclei: an IR/X-ray view
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Ricci C
(2014)
Iron Ka emission in type-I and type-II active galactic nuclei
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Ricci C
(2017)
NuSTAR OBSERVATIONS OF WISE J1036+0449, A GALAXY AT z ~ 1 OBSCURED BY HOT DUST
in The Astrophysical Journal
Ricci C
(2015)
COMPTON-THICK ACCRETION IN THE LOCAL UNIVERSE
in The Astrophysical Journal
Ricci C.
(2016)
IC 751: a new changing-look AGN discovered by NuSTAR
in ArXiv e-prints
Rivers E
(2015)
THE NuSTAR VIEW OF REFLECTION AND ABSORPTION IN NGC 7582
in The Astrophysical Journal
Rovilos E
(2014)
A wide search for obscured active galactic nuclei using XMM-Newton and WISE
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Rushton A
(2016)
Disk-Jet quenching of the Galactic Black Hole Swift J1753.5-0127
Rushton A
(2016)
Disc-jet quenching of the galactic black hole Swift J1753.5-0127
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Russell David
(2018)
Rapid mid-infrared variability in an X-ray binary
in 42nd COSPAR Scientific Assembly
Description | Significant new knowledge generated: 1) X-ray and infrared observations of black holes that I have led or participated in have revealed unexpected results on black holes. I list 3 examples below: i) the revision of the standard unification model of black holes: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1327/; ii) The discovery of clumpy structures around deeply hidden black holes: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4798; iii) The discovery of puzzling correlations in black hole power based upon exhaustive studies: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015MNRAS.454..766A iv) Discovery of red flashes from the base of a black hole jet, giving new insight into black hole energetics: http://www.southampton.ac.uk/news/2016/03/red-flares-black-hole.page Noteworthy invitations: My research resulted in me being invited by Nature magazine as an external expert to provide commentary on black hole variability research: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016Natur.529...28G Particularly significant workshops organised: 1) Large international workshop on AGN unification: http://torus2015.sungrazer.org 2) Workshop with high level worldwide observatory directors on the theme of multiwavelength simultaneous astronomy: https://lorentzcenter.nl/lc/web/2015/713/info.php3?wsid=713 Future pathways: 1) Science team member of the Hitomi mission, which is just beginning operations and will undoubtedly yield great science within the coming years: http://www.southampton.ac.uk/news/2016/02/poshak-gandhi-astroh-space-telescope.page 2) Affiliate PI in LSST:UK collaboration. 3) External collaborator status in eROSITA consortium. 4) IAA Grant (£31.5k) awarded to build new fast optical cameras to probe rapid black hole flaring. 5) Starting AstroSat collaboration with IUCAA, India. |
Exploitation Route | Black holes tell us about extreme physical conditions in the universe, which surely influences our culture and education on a range of levels. Fast frame rate digital detector technologies have been boosted as a result of my work on black hole variability. Finally, understanding how black holes can generate their huge energy reservoirs could potentially lead to breakthroughs in the energy sector. |
Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Energy |
URL | https://www.nature.com/natastron/volumes/1/issues/12 |
Description | The press releases that I have been involved with have an estimated audience reach of more than 100 million people. Artist illustrations showing simple research concepts that my research has created can be found all over the internet and so are influencing popular culture. My Nature articles have had a broad impact, leading to invitations to speak on the radio, and being quoted on news websites internationally. My group continues to grow with 3 students and at least one incoming postdoc. I have a permanent academic position in a reputable university. |
Sector | Education,Other |
Impact Types | Cultural,Societal |
Description | Strategising for the future of UK X-ray astronomy |
Geographic Reach | Europe |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
URL | https://sites.google.com/site/ukxrayastro/ |
Description | Workgroup on Simultaneous Multiwavelength Astronomy |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
URL | https://lorentzcenter.nl/lc/web/2015/713/info.php3?wsid=713 |
Description | GCRF |
Amount | £111,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2018 |
End | 04/2019 |
Description | Impact Acceleration Account |
Amount | £31,500 (GBP) |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2016 |
End | 12/2016 |
Description | UKIERI-UGC Thematic Partnership 2014-15 |
Amount | £32,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | UGC-2014/15/02 |
Organisation | British Council |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2015 |
End | 08/2016 |
Description | VC Studentship |
Amount | £20,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Southampton |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2017 |
End | 09/2018 |
Title | Mid-infrared Atlas |
Description | Largest atlas of high angular resolution observations of active galactic nuclei in the mid-infrared |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2014 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Many citations already within the first months of release. Expect a lot more over the coming years. |
URL | http://dc.zah.uni-heidelberg.de/sasmirala |
Description | AstroSat collaboration with IUCAA |
Organisation | Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) |
Country | India |
Sector | Learned Society |
PI Contribution | Joint PhD student training. |
Collaborator Contribution | We have signed an MoU and are sharing student training. |
Impact | UKIERI Thematic partnerships in 2014 were what led us to formalise our present agreement. More outcomes expected in 2017, with a new student expected to be recruited. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Hitomi science team membership |
Organisation | Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency |
Country | Japan |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Preparation for first observations by the Hitomi satellite |
Collaborator Contribution | They are the mission leads so control all aspects of the project. |
Impact | Hitomi Collaboration Nature paper and 3.5 keV dark matter line search ApJ paper published. Preparations for re-flight mission well under way. |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | LSST:UK membership |
Organisation | LSST Corporation |
Country | United States |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Gained Affiliate PI status in the LSST:UK consortium. I have a new student looking at LSST prospects for X-ray binaries. |
Collaborator Contribution | See above. |
Impact | Outcomes expected within the next two years, leading up to the survey. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | NuSTAR team membership |
Organisation | California Institute of Technology |
Department | Caltech Astronomy |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Science themes for investigation. |
Collaborator Contribution | Access to telescope observing time and technological expertise. |
Impact | A strong publication record. See publication list. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | eROSITA external collaborator |
Organisation | Max Planck Society |
Department | Max Planck Institute For Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Gained eROSITA external collaborator to study a large survey with the space mission. |
Collaborator Contribution | See above. |
Impact | Outcomes expected this year. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Commentary for public non-expert audience published in Nature. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Commentary provided as external expert, for a world-wide readership. Generated a lot of discussion, twitter retweets and email discussions etc. For example, here is a quote from Southampton's press officer: "Hi Poshak, Our media monitoring service picked up your comments to The Guardian regarding the visible black story - http://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/jan/06/visible-light-black-holes-detected-for-first-time-v404-cygni Regards, Glenn" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v529/n7584/full/529028a.html |
Description | Expert panel discussion for next Japanese X-ray space telescope |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Participants in your research and patient groups |
Results and Impact | Astro-H HXI/SGD Science Workshop, Hiroshima Japan, 2014 Feb 24-25 New collaborations. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://www-heaf.hepl.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/hxisgdws14/index.html |
Description | International Press Releases following high impact article |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Multiple international press releases following the Nature Astronomy article. There was wide coverage including Daily Mail, Independent, lots of online science portals. Southampton link below in below. In addition, see NASA: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/nustar-probes-black-hole-jet-mystery/ |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.southampton.ac.uk/news/2017/10/black-hole-jets.page |
Description | Press release |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | AAS Press Release |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://www.southampton.ac.uk/news/2017/01/southampton-researchers-view-black-holes.page |
Description | Press release |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Press release on new interesting result None that I am immediately aware of. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
URL | http://www.eso.org/public/unitedkingdom/news/eso1327/ |
Description | Press release on black hole research |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | International press release from NASA. This did particularly well in terms of international reach. Here is a quote from Southampton's media officer: "Hi Poshak, Our media monitoring service has picked up a good amount of global media coverage for the clumpy black hole study we press release, pleased see attached. The items had a potential audience of over 104 million views. As well as specialist space and science outlets, it was good to see the story appearing in mainstream news outlets such as the Daily Mail (over 60 million unique views to their website) and in today's Daily Express - http://www.express.co.uk/news/science/631371/REVEALED-Inside-heart-galaxy-guzzling-supermassive-black-hole-NASA-Hubble Times of India - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Dust-doughnut-around-massive-black-hole-is-clumpy-study-shows/articleshow/50231972.cms Astronomy magazine - http://www.astronomy.com/news/2015/12/nustar-finds-clumpy-doughnut-around-black-hole Regards, Glenn" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4798 |
Description | Press release related to launch of Hitomi |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Press release mentioning my involvement in the Hitomi mission, which was recently launched. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.southampton.ac.uk/news/2016/02/poshak-gandhi-astroh-space-telescope.page |
Description | Public talk at Pint of Science |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Pint of Science annual festival talk |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://pintofscience.co.uk/event/black-holes-and-revelations |
Description | Specialist workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | RAS specialist discussion meeting on X-ray astronomy strategies. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://sites.google.com/site/ukxrayastro/ |
Description | TORUS 2015 workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | We led the organisation of an international workshop celebrating 30 years of supermassive black hole unification research. We had 104 participants from all over the world. In addition, we engaged with about 60 members of the general public in an outreach event with a mobile planetarium and explaining black holes. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://torus2015.sungrazer.org/ |
Description | Workshop on Simultaneous Multiwavelength Astronomy |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I was one of the primary organisers of a workshop with high level directors and personnel of many observatories to tackle the difficult issue of closely coordinating observations worldwide. There was intense discussion on the best mode to achieve cooperation, and this is beginning to influence policy, with some observatories offering new modes of coordination. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | https://lorentzcenter.nl/lc/web/2015/713/info.php3?wsid=713 |
Description | Workshop organiser at EWASS2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Co-organiser of a workshop on mid-infrared studies of galaxies at the large European Week of Astronomy and Space Science (EWASS) 2015. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://eas.unige.ch/EWASS2015/session.jsp?id=Sp4 |
Description | York Festival of India talk on astronomy |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | 35 public audience of all age groups students expressed wish to become astronomers |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
URL | http://eventful.com/events/york-festival-india-dr-poshnak-gandhi-lecture-/E0-001-060005124-5 |