Research interests: computational astrophysics, galaxy formation, astrophysical black holes

I am currently a Junior Research Fellow at St Catharine's College, University of Cambridge. My research aims to unravel the physical processes governing galaxy formation, especially the interface between galaxies and their supermassive black holes. Prior to this, I held a Flatiron Research Fellowship in the Center for Computational Astrophysics at the Flatiron Institute in New York City. I received my PhD in Astronomy from the University of Cambridge, where I pioneered the theoretical modelling of black hole feedback from active galactic nuclei (AGN) in dwarf galaxies, advised by professors Debora Sijacki and Martin Haehnelt. My current research focuses on developing novel models of black hole evolution (including black hole formation, growth, and feedback) for galaxy formation simulations, which take advantage of the superior resolution and allow for detailed multimessenger predictions in preparation for the next-generation electromagnetic and gravitational-wave observatories. I am also actively involved in the LISA Consortium and co-lead the Black Hole Working Group of the Simons Collaboration on Learning the Universe.

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Research

Unified Accretion Disc Model

I developed a novel unified accretion disc model for supermassive black holes in galaxy formation simulations, incorporating results from state-of-the-art general-relativistic (radiation-)magnetohydrodynamics simulations. With this innovative approach, we track the black hole mass and spin evolution (including Lense-Thirring precession) across a range of radiative states using the super-Lagrangian refinement technique to accurately measure the fluxes onto the subgrid disc.

Supermassive Black Hole Binaries

Using my unified accretion disc model, I carried out an extensive suite of supermassive black hole binary simulations, with a special focus on multi-messenger predictions. Notably, we find that the assumed accretion disc model significantly affects observable luminosities, and we predict markedly different electromagnetic counterparts in SMBH binaries. Crucially, the assumed disc model shapes SMBH spin magnitudes and orientations, parameters that gravitational wave observatories like LISA and IPTA are poised to constrain.

Cosmological Zoom-In Simulations

I performed an extensive suite of cosmological zoom-in simulations of individual dwarf galaxies, varying the black hole formation masses and times as well as the black hole accretion model. We find that the accretion models commonly employed in cosmological simulations (in particular the fiducial Bondi model) fail to achieve efficient black hole feedback in dwarfs, however, alternative accretion models may lead to dramatic impacts, especially for overmassive black holes at high redshifts.

A Little FABLE: Dwarfs in Cosmological Volumes

As part of the FABLE Collaboration, I systematically investigated the impact of active black holes in the dwarf galaxy regime within a cosmological context. We find that efficient black hole growth leads to star formation suppression in dwarfs, however, fiducial galaxy formation models, such as the FABLE simulations, cannot reproduce the black hole activity levels in dwarfs uncovered by X-ray surveys. Overmassive black holes drive powerful outflows in FABLE’s dwarfs and leave kinematic signatures detectable by MaNGA.

Bipolar AGN-Driven Outflows

I implemented a model for bipolar AGN-driven outflows and coupled this to the multi-phase ISM model from Smith et al., 2018. I used the super-Lagrangian refinement technique and carried out rigorous resolution tests to identify the minimum requirements for optimally resolving the AGN energy injection.

Idealised Dwarf Galaxy Simulations

This project pioneered the modelling of AGN feedback in dwarf galaxies, using idealised simulations. We find that active black holes in dwarfs significantly boost the galactic outflows, in agreement with MaNGA observations, and hypothesise that this could contribute to the regulation of star formation by preventing gas inflows from the cosmological environment.

Selected Papers

Selected Talks

Over the years, I have given various talks as part of conferences and seminar series. Below I provide a list of selected recorded talks:

For a general introduction to supermassive black holes, supernova explosions and their role in shaping galaxy formation, check out my public talk on Supermassive Black Holes or Supernovae: Who Calls the Shots? at the (virtual) Cambridge Astronomy Open Evening.

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