SPACE AND COSMIC RAY PHYSICS SEMINAR

University of Maryland
Atlantic Building, Room 2400 4:30 PM Monday, November 12, 2018
Coffee, Tea & Snacks 4:15-4:30 PM

Hsiang-Yi Karen Yang
Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland

What is the physical origin of the Fermi bubbles?

The Fermi bubbles, two giant bubbles above and below the Galactic center (GC), are among the most fascinating phenomena revealed by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. The symmetry about the GC suggest that they likely originate from energetic events at the GC such as nuclear starburst or supermassive black hole activity. Because of its proximity, the spatially-resolved, multi-messenger observational data have provided important clues about the formation mechanisms of the bubbles. In this talk, I will give an overview on the current status of our understanding about the Fermi bubbles, both in terms of observations and theoretical investigations. I will identify the most promising models proposed to date and highlight future prospects in distinguishing the different scenarios of bubble formation.