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Content archived on 2024-06-18

Active Galactic Nuclei as probes of galaxy evolution

Objective

An important question facing modern astrophysics concerns the formation and evolution of galaxies. Supermassive black holes reside at the centers of galaxies and are intimately linked to how galaxies form and evolve. Massive galaxies form by merging of smaller gas-rich galaxies, and the central supermassive black hole grows by accretion of gas and dust, material that also feeds a nuclear starburst. With sufficient fuel the black hole grows rapidly until it reaches an accretion luminosity powerful enough to expel gas and dust from the nuclear regions. Both the black hole and the galaxy bulge end up being starved of building material by the very same feedback process. Thus black holes and bulges evolve to similar mass ratios. As end products of galaxy evolution local massive galaxies show exactly this behaviour, known as the M-sigma relation; The mass of the black hole correlates with the velocity dispersion of stars in the bulge (the bulge potential). The origin of the black hole-bulge connection is still largely unknown and the physical details of the black hole feedback process is not known at all, it is included in models merely as a separate recipe. Models are in dire need of observational input. If models are correct, we expect to see some galaxies, perhaps at larger look-back times, that do not have a black hole-bulge mass ratio corresponding to that of local galaxies. This proposal will use galaxies with actively accreting supermassive black holes (AGN) to address the need for observational data at larger look-back times. AGN are not only the best probes for investigating the black hole-bulge connection in the more distant Universe, but also the only ones, because it is via black hole activity in AGN that we can estimate black hole masses. Central to the project is the use of the new state-of-the-art X-shooter instrument on the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope, on which the NBI Dark Cosmology Group has guaranteed time in 2009.

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Topic(s)

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.

Call for proposal

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FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008
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Funding Scheme

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.

MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF)

Coordinator

KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET
EU contribution
€ 275 323,20
Address
NORREGADE 10
1165 KOBENHAVN
Denmark

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Region
Danmark Hovedstaden Byen København
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

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