Spectroscopic Signatures of sub-pc Massive Black Hole Binaries |
| TYPE | Astrophysics Seminar |
| Speaker: | Carmen Montuori |
| Affiliation: | Technion |
| Organizer: | Hagai Perets |
| Date: | 13.03.2013 |
| Time: | 14:30 - 15:30 |
| Location: | Lidow 620 |
| Abstract: | In the hierarchical cosmological paradigm, massive black hole binary systems (MBHB) are formed during mergers between (pre-)galactic objects. Mergers are able to convey large amount of matter into the central regions of the interacting systems that can prompt accretion processes onto the MBHs. Nevertheless observational evidences of close binary systems are still elusive with one binary candidate resolved to date in the nucleus of the radio galaxy 0402+379. I will present the results obtained so far by our group in the search for close MBHBs focusing on their spectroscopic signatures. In particular, I will describe our investigation of new observational features associated with MBHBs at different evolutionary stages in the aftermath of a gas-rich merger, and the search for new secure candidates at different redshifts, ruling out other possible interpretations of their physical nature. |