Events at Physics |
Events on Thursday, February 26th, 2026
- Astronomy Colloquium
- Uncovering the Nature of Active Galactic Nuclei Accretion Disks with Radiation Magnetohydrodynamic Simulations, Machine Learning, and Laboratory Experiments
- Time: 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
- Place: 4421 Sterling Hall
- Speaker: Dr. Amy Secunda, Flatiron Institute/CCA
- Abstract: Active galactic nuclei (AGN) accretion disks fuel powerful AGN feedback and are important laboratories for studying accretion physics. Because AGN are generally too distant to resolve spatially, most of what we can learn about their accretion disks comes from studying the variability in AGN light curves. However, many mysteries remain about the source of variability in AGN light curves and what this variability can reveal about the structure, internal physics, and accretion rates of AGN disks. I will show how I use radiation magnetohydrodynamic simulations, long baseline AGN light curves, and machine learning tools to improve our understanding of AGN variability and model the structure of AGN disks. I will also briefly discuss my work using laboratory experiments to understand accretion more broadly.
- Host: Nicholas Stone