The origin and growth of the first black holes
Abstract
I will present recent results on the search for black hole growth at the highest redshifts in the deepest Chandra X-ray observations: a startling lack of faint AGN in z>5 galaxies is starting to place interesting constraints on formation and early growth scenarios. At the same time, circumstantial evidence from both observations and theory points to late formation of black hole seeds in moderate mass galaxies as a viable channel. Dense sub-galactic clumps and major mergers are plausible formation sites perhaps even to z~0. I will also present the outlook for future X-ray missions such as ATHENA in tracing black hole growth at unprecedented levels using X-ray variability.
- Publication:
-
IAU General Assembly
- Pub Date:
- August 2015
- Bibcode:
- 2015IAUGA..2257177S