SPACE AND COSMIC RAY PHYSICS SEMINAR

University of Maryland
Computer & Space Science Building, Room 2400
4:30 PM Monday, 26 November
Coffee, Tea & Cookies 4:15-4:30 PM

Jack Tueller
GSFC

Hard X-ray Surveys: A census of Black Holes

New instruments capable of sensitive surveys at the energies >20 keV are making a complete census of active supermassive black holes. Only in the hard X-ray band can the effects of obscuration by the the accreting material in the host galaxy be ignored. Surveys in all other wavebands are distorted by missed AGN or confusion with other sources of activity (starburst galaxies). The wide field instruments on Swift/BAT and INTEGRAL are currently mapping all the active galactic nuclei in the local universe. Results from these surveys have already changed our understanding of AGN populations significantly and continuing improvements will define the current state and late evolution of AGN. Selected hard X-ray focusing optics missions (NuSTAR, NEXT, and Simbol-X) will soon extend this understanding to the peak of AGN activity. Combined with Chandra deep field observations of the early universe, a complete understanding of the growth and develop black holes is within our


Sponsored by: Department of Physics and the Institute for Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland. For information call John Paquette at (301) 405-6237 or go to the UMD Space Physics group seminar web site.

For free parking please park in lot DD or anywhere on levels 1-2 in lot B (the big parking garage) after 4:00 pm. Make sure that you park in a spot WITHOUT a parking meter. More parking information is at the seminar website.