X-Ray Spectral Probes of Outflows in Black Holes and Dust

Julia Lee (Harvard ) - WED 17 Aug at 12:00 noon

High resolution X-ray spectroscopy provides a powerful new tool for probing the physics of energetic black hole environments. Through plasma diagnostics, X-ray spectra of these systems allow us to probe the ionized winds, GR effects from close to the black hole, and nature of the intervening material, in the ISM and/or the hotter baryonic component of the IGM. I will discuss highlights from Chandra observations of several well known stellar and supermassive black hole systems: the microquasar GRS 1915+105, the Seyfert 1 galaxy MCG-6-30-15 and the Seyfert 2 galaxy IRAS 18325-5926 to illustrate their many similarities, despite the phenomelogical differences. Specifically, I will discuss the X-ray outflows which are now seen in these systems, and how some of these spectra might allow us to do detailed chemical composition studies of dust in different astrophysical environments.

The seminar will be held in 501 Campbell Hall.


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