EPSAM

Super-massive Black Holes/Gamma Ray Bursts

Lead supervisor:  Dr James Reeves

The PhD project focuses on observations of Active Galactic Nuclei, focusing primarily on broad-band X-ray spectroscopy with the Suzaku X-ray astronomy satellite. The project plan involves a systematic survey of a sample of type I Active Galaxies observed with Suzaku. The first objective will be to undertake a comprehensive study of the iron K-shell emission from AGN, to determine the origin of this component, e.g. from the accretion disk or as part of the emission from more distant, parsec scale gas. The iron K line profiles for the sample will be modelled in order to understand the geometry of the accretion disk emission from the Suzaku AGN sample, including utilising new data from the hard X-ray detector on-board Suzaku in order to study the Compton reflection component. A second objective will be determine the properties of winds from AGN, ascertain whether these originate from the accretion disk and whether there is evidence for high velocity outflows in the sample, which will yield new insights into outflow energetics and cosmic feedback in galaxies.