Title: Challenging the standard accretion disk paradigm with warps, strong magnetic fields and super-Eddington accretion in quasar disks Abstract: "Classical" accretion disks are geometrically thin, radiatively efficient and mechanized by turbulent viscosity. Yet, many observational and theoretical issues challenge this paradigm, especially in quasars. This is perhaps unsurprising, as classical disks do not take into … Continue reading "CRA Seminar: Nick Kaaz – Northwestern UN"

Title: Gravitational Wave and Electromagnetic Signals Associated With the Tidal Disruption of White Dwarfs Abstract: I will discuss the gravitational-wave and electromagnetic signals expected to accompany the tidal disruption of a white dwarf by a massive (i.e., “intermediate mass” black hole). Since white dwarfs are very compact, they can only be disrupted outside of the … Continue reading "Special CRA Seminar Michael Eracleous – Penn State 11am-12 noon"

Title: Planets are not Points: Structure Evolution and Dynamical Evolution are Intertwined Abstract: The two subfields of planetary structure evolution and planetary dynamics are two rich and complex fields that have advanced in lockstep, but independently of one another. I will discuss how accounting for minor interior structure evolution of a planet can have a … Continue reading "CRA Seminar: Tiger Lu – Yale UN"

Title: JWST's Little Red Dots: Masters of Disguise in the High-Redshift Universe  This talk will explore the exciting journey to probe several populations of black holes, spanning from the distant to the local Universe. I will focus primarily on the "little red dots" (LRDs), a newly discovered and puzzling population of compact red sources at … Continue reading "CRA Seminar: Fabio Pacucci – Harvard cfa"