An astronomer from the University of Nottingham has been awarded a Leverhulme Award for her research into supermassive black holes.
Dr Helen Russell, from the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Nottingham has been awarded almost £1 million by the Leverhulme Trust for her research project – 'the physics underpinning feedback from supermassive black holes.'
Dr Russell will use a new space-based observatory developed by NASA and the Japanese Space Agency to carry out her research. The newly launched XRISM satellite carries the most advanced X-ray spectrometer ever flown and Dr Russell is the only UK-based astronomer awarded observing time in the first call for science programs.
The observations will reveal how supermassive black holes shape the galaxies in the Universe around us. With this new support from the Leverhulme Trust, Dr Russell will recruit a team to analyse the observations as the new data arrives and build on this incredible opportunity with a wide-reaching program to understand black hole feedback.
Over the last 30 years, 'feedback' has been the single most important discovery in our understanding of the origin of structure in the Universe. Gravity pulls mass together to form stars and galaxies, like our own Milky Way. But, if our models only include gravity, galaxies grow far too big and form far too many young stars. Energetic outbursts from supermassive black holes, known as black hole feedback, are thought to be the missing link in our understanding. XRISM is now poised to reveal how these outbursts can efficiently heat and drive gas out of galaxies, thereby putting the brakes on their growth over cosmic time.
Dr Russell has extensive experience working with NASA and is also part of a team conducting development research into the proposed next generation X-ray satellite AXIS - Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite. Launching in the early 2030s, AXIS would reveal the origin of supermassive black holes, the rise of feedback across the galaxy population and the explosive ends of stars. Dr Russell leads the Galaxies science working group, which has been developing AXIS's science and observing program for stellar and black hole feedback in nearby galaxies, and metal-enrichment in the hot, diffuse Universe.
Leverhulme Awards are for researchers at an early stage of their careers whose work has had international impact and whose future research career is exceptionally promising.
Dr Russell joins a growing list of female scientists working in the fields of Physics, Astronomy and Maths from the University of Nottingham to receive this award, who are all researching different aspects of the universe and its origins.
Dr Russell commented: "I'm delighted to be receiving this award which will allow me to expand my research team and pursue new discoveries. It is a huge privilege to be one of only a handful of European astronomers awarded new XRISM observations and I'm very excited to see what new insights are revealed about black holes and their role in the Universe."
Professor Mark Fromhold, Head of the School of Physics and Astronomy said: "We're very proud of our excellent track record in securing Leverhulme funding. Our female researchers are demonstrating their world-class capabilities and, just as importantly, providing role models for young people looking towards physics and astronomy as a subject to study or potential career."
