Series: Astronomy Colloquium
Date: Wednesday 09-Sep-2020
Time: 15:00-14:00 (3:00-4:00 pm) ***NOTE SPECIAL TIME 3PM EDT***
Location: Online Zoom Only: Contact Andy Harris for URL
Speaker: Dr. Reinhard Genzel (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics)
Title: "Testing the Massive Black Hole Paradigm and GR with Infrared Interferometry"
The GRAVITY near-IR beam combiner allows very sensitive (K~19), phase-referenced milliarcsec K-band imaging and polarimetry, 20-100 micro-arcsecond broad-band astrometry, and micro-arcsecond differential spectro-astrometry with the combined 4 UT telescopes of the Very Large Telescope of the European Southern Observatory. GRAVITY is a game changer in studying the massive black hole in the Galactic Center, and in active galactic nuclei. I will summarize the highlights of the last two years and report new results in using GRAVITY for tests of General Relativity near a massive black hole.
Colloquia for the Fall 2020 semester will be held on zoom. Contact Prof. Alberto Bolatto for details.
Colloquium Organizer:
Prof. Alberto Bolatto
Special accommodations for individuals with disabilities can be made by calling (301) 405-3001. It would be appreciated if we are notified at least one week in advance.
