Research
Direct radio image of the supermassive black hole Sgr A*. Image credit: Event Horizon Telescope.
Supermassive Black Hole Accretion
Sgr A* is the electromagnetic source associated with accretion of hot plasma onto the Milky Way’s supermassive black hole. Located in our own Galactic Center, we can use images of Sgr A* and its resolved environment to study supermassive black hole accretion in greater detail than is possible in other galaxies. By characterizing the variable infrared emission from Sgr A* using Keck and Hubble (and combining our data with radio and X-ray observations), my research seeks to uncover how matter flows onto black holes and what physical processes near the event horizon convert that matter into light. A new opportunity presented itself in 2019 when significant flaring activity was observed across multiple wavelengths, including the brightest ever flares in the infrared. I am investigating the origin of this unprecedented flaring activity to determine if there was a rain of material from a nearby object (such as the star S0-2 or a dusty G-object), if Sgr A* underwent a long-term change of state, if new statistical models are needed to describe Sgr A*, or if new physics within the accretion disk is necessary to explain the brightest flares. Stay tuned!
Artist impression of a spinning neutron star generating continuous gravitational waves. Image credit: Mark Myers / OzGrav / Swinburne.
Continuous Gravitational Waves
I previously worked on various aspects of gravitational-wave astronomy, including LIGO data analysis, Virgo instrumentation, and preparations for the space-based LISA observatory. The majority of my work centered on searches for continuous gravitational waves in LIGO data. These yet-undetected waves are predicted to radiate from spinning neutron stars. I developed data analysis infrastructure to evaluate candidate signals in three types of searches: all-sky searches for unknown neutron stars, directed searches for neutron stars in promising sky locations (e.g. supernova remnants, the Galactic Center), and targeted searches for known pulsars. If detected, continuous waves will illuminate populations of neutron stars, constrain the neutron star equation of state, and test for gravitational wave polarizations beyond general relativity.