Abstract : Supermassive black holes (SMBHs) are indispensable components of galaxy ecosystems. Their origin, growth and feedback to the host galaxies are among the most fundamental questions in galaxy formation. In this talk, I will introduce a theoretical framework that coherently describes the formation of SMBHs from their seeding epoch to the present day within the cosmological context. The framework connects the hierarchical structures in the Universe from >~ Mpc scale to sub-pc scale, and tracks the evolution of complex galaxy ecosystems from z ~ 40 to 0. The BH seeds, as remnants of the first-generation (Pop-III) stars, are found to actively form in pristine mini-halos at z ~ 5--40, modulated by their radiative and chemical environments. The early, multi-channel growth of these seeds boosts them to SMBHs, and gives rise to the diverse population of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) observed throughout the cosmic history. I will particularly focus on the mysterious population of objects -- the little red dots (LRDs), demonstrate their nature, reconstruct their origin and predict their fate.
Bio: Yangyao Chen (陈洋遥) received his PhD from Tsinghua University in 2022. He then joined University of Science and Technology of China as a postdoctoral fellow. His researches cover a wide range of astrophysical topics, from (SM)BHs, star clusters, galaxies, dark matter and its virialized halos, to large-scale structure, and a wide range of theoretical methods, from analytical, numerical to statistical.
More information can be found at https://www.chenyangyao.com/.