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Free and open to the public but per our host’s policy, minors (under 18) are welcome to attend as long as they are accompanied by their parent or guardian at all times.

This meeting’s speaker will present inperson from the campus of the Chapman University.

The Milky Way’s Central Black Hole:

Lessons on accretion physics

Every large galaxy hosts a black hole at its center. These black holes’ feedback on their host galaxies shapes the evolution of galaxies and, ultimately, affects the Universe as a whole.  The Milky Way’s own supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*, is the closest such object and the only one that can be studied in unprecedented detail – down to individual orbiting stars, small infalling clouds, and even its event horizon. Yet, despite its proximity and decades of observations, its behavior remains among the most challenging to explain. This talk explores Sagittarius A*, its immediate surrounding, and the challenges of describing black hole accretion physics. Particular emphasis is placed on the recent discovery of a wind associated with Sagittarius A*. The talk will also address what our own black hole can teach us about supermassive black holes across the Universe.

Elena (Lena) Murchikova is an astrophysicist interested in black holes. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Northwestern University. Originally from Moscow, Lena holds two PhDs: one in astrophysics from Caltech and another in particle physics from Moscow State University. She completed her postdoctoral studies at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton and at Harvard University’s Black Hole Initiative. Outside of research, Lena enjoys mountaineering and (drone) photography.

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