Higher Degree by Research Application Portal
| Title | Cosmic powerhouses: The birth, death, and legacy of black hole jets |
|---|---|
| Supervisor | Dr Tessa Vernstrom |
| Prof Chris Power | |
| Course | Doctor of Philosophy |
| Keywords | astronomy |
| Research area | Physical Sciences |
| Project description | This project targets relativistic jets powered by supermassive black holes - the most powerful systems in the Universe. Theoretically, the enormous energies released have a profound influence on how galaxies evolve; empirically, observations reveal signatures of their impact across cosmic time. However, fundamental questions remain about how these jets are triggered and what impact they have on galaxies. The project will address these questions using novel supercomputer models of black hole jets in realistic cosmological environments, then confront these predictions with new data from Square Kilometre Array (SKA) pathfinding radio telescopes. This will substantially enhance Australia’s leadership capacity in a strategically important area. This position is to explore Active Galactic Nuclei from the EMU and POSSUM ASKAP surveys. The project will use the newest radio astronomy survey data to focus on the determination of AGN trigging mechanisms and the impact of AGN on their host galaxies, as well as the role of environment in AGN evolution. This will combine multi-wavelength analysis of AGN, AGN classification as well as environment classifications and studying the spectral and magnetic field properties of the AGN jets and surrounding medium. This is part of an ARC Discovery Project and will be combining the observational results with those from state of the art jet and cosmological summations. |
| Opportunity status | Open |
| Open date | 01 Feb 2024 |
| Close date | 31 Dec 2024 |
| Funding source | Co-funding with UWA and DP240102970 |
| Additional documents |  Screenshot 2024-07-23 at 10.21.01 AM.png |
| School | Graduate Research School |
| Contact | Dr. Tessa Vernstrom: tessa.vernstrom@uwa.edu.au |
| Specific project requirement | Eligible applicants must meet the University's admission requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy |
| Course type | Doctorates |
| Description | The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is a program of independent, supervised research that is assessed solely on the basis of a thesis, sometimes including a creative work component, that is examined externally. The work presented for a PhD must be a substantial and original contribution to scholarship, demonstrating mastery of the subject of interest as well as an advance in that field of knowledge. Visit the course webpage for full details of this course including admission requirements, course rules and the relevant CRICOS code/s. |
| Duration | 4 years |