Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Scientific Context: Black holes act as powerful cosmic engines, consuming large amounts of material and expelling matter in the form of jets. Recent groundbreaking discoveries of gravitational waves from binary black holes and the imaging of two supermassive black hole shadows, represent major steps forward in our understanding in this area of astrophysics. However, stellar-mass black holes existing in our own Galaxy provide much more ideal and accessible laboratories to understand the complex relationship between the mass plunging into a black hole and the material that is jettisoned away, as they provide a real-time view of black holes and their dynamic environments. My long term research program focuses on developing novel and creative ways to study the jets launched from these stellar-mass black holes, and in turn extract vital new information about black hole physics. Outcomes: Over the next 5 years, I aim to build a highly skilled research group that specializes in black hole astrophysics at the University of Lethbridge. My group will utilize three main areas of observational studies into black holes to answer key open questions: (1) time-domain observations; (2) imaging with next-generation arrays; and (3) astrochemical studies of black hole environments. This program will enhance the growth of the Canadian astronomy talent pool by training a postdoctoral fellow, four graduate students, and several undergraduates who will contribute to the proposed research. I will create a safe, inclusive environment, where everyone will have equal opportunity to develop their career. These individuals will build up a unique skill-set, learning data collection, computational proficiency, and the critical ability to draw connections between observations and real physics. As aspiring leaders in research or industry, they will also learn the art of effective science communication with peers and lay audiences. Novelty, Impact, and Benefits to Canada: My research program will have a wide reaching impact in Canada and internationally. My group will create advanced knowledge through the application of my newly pioneered observation methods to gain crucial insights into black hole physics. Our work presents incredible legacy value through the creation of a large database of multi-wavelength observations. Additionally, the observing techniques/tools we are building are widely applicable at next-generation facilities (including those for which Canada is involved). Each black hole observation represents an opportunity to create publicity for astrophysical science through nationwide efforts. This will result in increased public awareness and recruitment of trainees, particularily in historically underrepresented groups. Lastly, my research plan includes work with international collaborations, enabling me to directly contribute to the emerging Canadian involvement in these groups, bringing visibility to and strengthening Canadian astronomy on the world stage.