Speaker: Dr. Alexander Tchekhovskoy (Princeton Center for Theoretical Science)

Time: 2:00PM, August 17

Location: 3rd floor, middle conference room

Title: Getting the Most out of a Black Hole

Abstract:

Recent advances in computer simulations of black hole accretion systems provide us with unprecedented insights into the physics of jet production in active galactic nuclei (AGN) and other black hole accretion systems.  For the first time, time-dependent 3D general relativistic numerical simulations allow us to determine the maximum efficiency with which radiatively inefficient accretion onto black holes can produce energy in the form of relativistic jets and winds.  I will present the dependence of this maximum efficiency on black hole spin and accretion disk thickness and discuss the implications for radio loud/quiet dichotomy of AGN and recent observations of high jet efficiency in a number of AGN.