Research

Tracing AGN outflows from the nucleus into host galaxies

I use spatially resolved X-ray, optical, infrared, millimeter, and radio observations to connect accretion onto supermassive black holes with multiphase gas in active galaxies.

Research program

Connecting accretion, outflows, and host-galaxy gas

Together, these studies follow the path from compact accretion through multiphase outflows to their possible effects on host-galaxy gas.

Multiwavelength view of the active galaxy NGC 1068, combining Chandra X-ray, Hubble optical, and VLA radio observations. — NGC 1068 · X-ray: NASA/CXC/MIT/C. Canizares, D. Evans et al.; optical: NASA/STScI; radio: NSF/NRAO/VLA

Area 01 · Outflows

AGN outflows and host-galaxy interaction

How do accreting supermassive black holes launch multiphase outflows, and where do those outflows begin to affect the surrounding galaxy?

Scientific illustration of an obscured active galactic nucleus. — Artist's concept · NASA/SOFIA/Lynette Cook

Area 02 · Accretion

Obscured and compact active nuclei

How can spatially resolved observations distinguish heavily obscured accretion, circumnuclear reprocessing, and multiple compact active nuclei?

XRISM Resolve X-ray spectrum of the active galaxy NGC 4151. — NGC 4151 · Spectrum: JAXA/NASA/XRISM Resolve; background: NASA/CXC, ING/JKT, NSF/NRAO/VLA

Area 03 · Analysis

Imaging, spectroscopy, and physical modeling

I use spatially resolved imaging and spectroscopy to separate faint extended emission from the unresolved nucleus and constrain the gas ionization, energetics, and spatial distribution.

Observational approach

Resolving active galaxies across wavelengths

Imaging High-resolution observations map the nucleus and surrounding gas from X-rays through radio wavelengths.

Spectroscopy Spatially resolved spectra constrain ionization, kinematics, column density, and energetics in each gas phase.