Title: Thermonuclear X-ray Bursts in the NICER Era Abstract: Thermonuclear X-ray bursts are sudden flashes observed from some low-mass X-ray binaries. Time-resolved spectral analysis and long-term observations have revealed that they … Continue reading "CRA Seminar – Tolga Guver [Host Matthew Liska]"

Title: The Growth and Evolution of SMBHs via Galaxy Mergers Abstract: After decades of SMBH observations, the connection between AGN triggering and galaxy mergers remains incomplete, although AGN are likely … Continue reading "CRA Seminar – Adi Foord, U. of Maryland Baltimore County [Host Tamara Bogdanovic]"

Title: Probing the inner geometry of AGN accretion flows and searching for SMBHB candidates in large optical sky surveys Abstract: Observations of the AGN Fairall 9 with NICER and Swift revealed a strong relationship between the flux of the UV continuum and the X-ray soft excess, indicating the presence of a “warm” Comptonized region which … Continue reading "CRA Seminar: Ethan Partington, IA-FORTH (Host Laura Cadonati)"

Title: The Origin of Supermassive Black Holes from Pop III.1 Seeds Abstract: The origin of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) is a key open question for contemporary astrophysics and cosmology. Here we discuss the predictions of a model of SMBH formation from Pop III.1 protostars, i.e., metal-free stars forming in locally isolated dark matter minihalos, where dark … Continue reading "Special CRA Seminar – Jonathan C. Tan [Host John Wise]"