A Multi-Frequency Investigation of Compact Symmetric Objects

  • CART Astrophysics Seminar Series
  • Thesis and Dissertation Defenses

April 2, 2026 2:00 PM - April 2, 2026 3:00 PM
PAIS 3205

Host:
David Coria
Presenter:
Evan Sheldahl
Some of the brightest objects in the radio sky are jetted active galactic nuclei (AGN), supermassive black holes in the centers of galaxies that accelerate relativistic electrons into twin radio jets. Some of the biggest questions about jetted AGN surround how radio jets are born and how feedback from the jets affects the surrounding medium. We search for an answer to these questions by exploring a class of AGN that have uniquely well-constrained physical properties and are thought to be in an early stage of AGN development: compact symmetric objects (CSOs). Throughout our journey with these remarkable sources, we quantify their efficacy as radio interferometer calibrators, uncover over 60 new ones with all sorts of shapes and sizes, and even attempt to constrain the mechanisms by which they may emit gamma-rays.

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Physics and Astronomy Colloquium
May. 15, 3:30 PM - May. 15, 4:30 PM
PAIS 1100

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Kathrin Spendier, PhD
Special Talk
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