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Every galaxy seems to have a supermassive black hole in its center. A black hole is defined as such because nothing can escape from a certain point inside, not even light. There is, however, a last stable orbit which is called the event horizon outside of which gas can still radiate away. This event horizon might be the key to understanding black holes and, therefore, observers are interested in resolving the event horizon to see what happens at it. As ANDREAS BURKERT explains in this video, his theoretical research group develops computational models based on the system of meteorologists to predict how a gas cloud would behave at the event horizon and in what time frame. They then check back with the observers and correct the models accordingly. These computational models thus assist the observers in understanding the events they see. This contributes to a better knowledge of black holes and, eventually, an increased understanding of the universe.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21036/LTPUB10432

Researcher

Andreas Burkert is Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics and Full Professor and Chair of Computational Astrophysics at the University of Munich. Other current positions include that of Higgs Fellow and Vice-Coordinator of the Cluster of Excellence ‘Origin and Structure of the Universe’. From 2012 to 2014, he chaired the German Astrophysics Board of Directors. In 2006, he became a member of the European Academy of Art and Sciences. Burkert’s research focuses on dynamical processes in the universe, including the structure and formation of dark matter halos and the formation and evolution of galaxies. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) named a minor planet after him in 2011.

Institution

Original publication

The Post-pericenter Evolution of the Galactic Center Source G2

Gillessen S., Burkert A., Eisenhauer F., Pfuhl O., Ott T., Genzel R., Plewa P. M., Dexter J., Habibi M., George E, Waisberg I. and von Fellenberg S.
The Astrophysical Journal
Published in 2017

3D AMR Hydrosimulations of a Compact Source Scenario for the Galactic Centre Cloud G2

Gillessen S., Burkert A., Eisenhauer F., Pfuhl O., Ott T., Schartmann M., Genzel R., Plewa P. M., Habibi M., Ballone A. and George E.
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Published in 2018

A Gas Cloud on its Way Towards the Super-massive Black Hole in the Galactic Centre

Gillessen S., Genzel L., Fritz T. K., Quataert E., Alig C., Burkert A., Cuadra J., Eisenhauer F., Pfuhl O., Dodds-Eden K., Gammie C. F. and Ott T.
Nature
Published in 2012

Physics of the Galactic Center Cloud G2, on Its Way Toward the Supermassive Black Hole

Gillessen S., Alig C., Burkert A., Eisenhauer F., Schartmann M., Genzel R. and Fritz T.K.
The Astrophysical Journal
Published in 2012

Beyond