Date/Time
Date(s) - 05/03/2008
3:20 pm - 4:20 pm

Title: AGN Feedback in Clusters and Galaxies

Speaker: Dr. Brian McNamara

Institute: University of Waterloo

Location: ABB 102

Description:

The gaseous atmospheres of galaxies and clusters serve as repositories for the energy output from AGN over cosmic time. X-ray observations have shown that cooling of the dense, keV gas in the cores of galaxies and clusters is strongly suppressed, and feedback from supermassive black holes is a likely heating agent. The energy pouring out of the nuclei of central cluster galaxies often rivals that of quasars. Unlike quasars, their vast power output is channeled into mechanical energy rather than light.