Project description
The inward transport of matter in the Galactic Centre
Gas accreting onto central supermassive black holes powers active galactic nuclei, influencing the evolution of galaxies. However, we have a poor understanding of how the gas is transported from galactic scales down to the sphere of influence of the black holes. The centre of the Milky Way offers a unique template to study this process. The ERC-funded GalFlow project will use new data sets and simulations to investigate the least understood part of the transport process, namely how gas travels from the central molecular zone (CMZ) to the central black hole SgrA*. Project work will enhance our understanding of the structure and dynamics of the Galactic Centre and of the universal transport mechanisms that operate in all galaxies.
Objective
Gas accreting onto supermassive black holes that sit at the centres of galaxies fuels the most powerful engines in the universe, Active Galactic Nuclei, shaping the formation and evolution of their host galaxies. Yet, we have a poor understanding of how the gas is transported from typical galactic radii, R=several kpc, down to the area of influence of the black holes, less than a few pc. The centre of the Milky Way can be studied in much greater detail than any other galactic nucleus and is a Rosetta Stone to understand the physical processes that occur in all galaxies. Interstellar gas is transported from the Galactic Disc down to the central black hole SgrA* through a sequence of steps. The Galactic Bar performs the first step by efficiently transporting gas from the Disc (R=3kpc) down to the ring-like accumulation of gas known as the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) at R=120pc. In the last few years I have led major theoretical efforts to understand and quantify this first step. However, these efforts have also demonstrated that the bar is ineffective in driving the gas further inwards. A long-standing question is how the gas continues from the CMZ to SgrA*. For the first time we have the possibility to answer this question thanks to new datasets and advances in numerical simulations. I propose here an unprecedented effort to solve this important problem through a unified analysis of all the relevant physical processes based on novel data and methodologies. I will combine recent and upcoming high-resolution astrometric and spectroscopic data with advanced stellar dynamical models to constrain the gravitational potential in the Galactic centre (GC). I will then use this potential to run cutting-edge numerical simulations to systematically quantify the contribution of all the mechanisms that can drive inward mass transport. This will solve the problem of the inward mass transport in the GC and will give us fundamental insights that can be applied to all galaxies.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Programme(s)
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) ERC-2023-STG
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21100 Varese
Italy
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