Quasars in a Neutral Universe: Chronicling the History of Reionization, Enrichment, and Black Hole Growth

Informazioni relative al progetto

QuasarChronicles

ID dell’accordo di sovvenzione: 885301

DOI

10.3030/885301

Data della firma CE 8 Luglio 2020

Data di avvio 1 Giugno 2021

Data di completamento 31 Luglio 2027

Finanziato da

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)

Costo totale

€ 2 496 073,75

Contributo UE

€ 2 496 073,75

Coordinato da

UNIVERSITEIT LEIDEN
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 3 - QuasarChronicles (Quasars in a Neutral Universe: Chronicling the History of Reionization, Enrichment, and Black Hole Growth)

Periodo di rendicontazione: 2024-06-01 al 2025-11-30

Sintesi del contesto e degli obiettivi generali del progetto

The first sources of light formed several hundred million years after the Big Bang, ending what astronomers refer to as the cosmic dark ages. The earliest supermassive black holes play a key role in deciphering this poorly understood epoch of our Universe's history. First, they are bright beacons in the young Universe that are easily observed at cosmological distances with existing telescopes. Second, studying the first generation of supermassive black holes could provide a Rosetta stone for understanding how black holes form and grow. The study of this poorly understood period of our Universe's history and the formation of supermassive black holes are key science questions that are especially ripe for investigation. This is because emerging capabilities and techniques offer great promise for major advances. This project will obtain new constraints on the first sources of light and the earliest supermassive black holes by applying novel statistical methods to astronomical data collected with the world's largest telescopes. These data will be compared to state-of-the-art supercomputer calculations to yield new insights into cosmic history. This project will support the research of PhD students, postdocs, and master and undergraduate students in cutting edge astronomical research.

Lavoro eseguito dall’inizio del progetto fino alla fine del periodo coperto dalla relazione e principali risultati finora ottenuti

Thus far this project has resulted in the development of new methods that address the fundamental questions touched upon above. Namely, new methods for constraining the reionization epoch have been developed. Studies have been published that aim to place the growth of supermassive black holes in a cosmological context, and new methodology for measuring the buildup of heavy elements in the vast expanse of intergalactic space have been developed.

Progressi oltre lo stato dell’arte e potenziale impatto previsto (incluso l’impatto socioeconomico e le implicazioni sociali più ampie del progetto fino ad ora)

Multiple scientific deliverables that represent progress beyond the state-of-the-art have been published in high impact peer reviewed journals and presented at international conferences.

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