PRR Project

Summary

Galaxies are the building blocks of the Universe. Understanding how galaxies form, shortly after the Big Bang, and evolve, is one of the most challenging and compelling open questions of modern Astrophysics, driving the development of new telescopes and instruments. Over the last decades, the violent infall of matter into a supermassive black hole at the centre of a galaxy – an Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) - has been recognised as fundamental to reveal the origin and growth of galaxies. While optical surveys have revealed the existence of powerful AGN well within the first Gyr of the Universe, and AGN and their host galaxies appear to grow in tandem, it is still unknown (a) how AGN have formed; (b) if AGN are the origin, or the consequence, of galaxy formation; (c) how AGN impact their galaxy and the intergalactic medium. This lack of knowledge on one of the key parameters of galaxy formation and evolution has led to the development of international facilities where the AGN activity and impact can be better studied, at both extremes of the electromagnetic spectrum: radio and X-rays. Contrary to the optical, these wavelengths are mostly insensitive to dust obscuration and will thus open new perspectives on black hole accretion physics and the resulting effect on galaxy formation and evolution. By also being excellent probes of the intergalactic medium, radio and X-ray observations are also fundamental to understand the broader impact of galaxy (and black hole) activity in the Large-Scale Structure of the Universe. Finally, they are also necessary to understand the impact of AGN activity in the Epoch of Reionisation of the Universe which ended a short 800 Myrs after the Big Bang.The researcher will be part of the extragalactic team at FCUL and IA, and will focus on the study of AGN and their key role in galaxy formation and evolution from the earliest phases of the Universe, well into the Epoch of Reionisation. The researcher will contribute to the success of IA-FCUL’s strategic plan, which includes the development and exploitation of state-of-the-art astronomical facilities, part of the national strategy for this area of research (including its participation in the international organisations ESA, ESO and SKAO). He/she will strengthen the Astrophysical research of the Physics Department of FCUL, and in particular its international-leading work in galaxy formation and evolution which includes a technological development component realised by the instrumentation team therein. He/she will also supervise students, engaging them in state-of-the-art research at MSc and PhD levels. The researcher will thus contribute to the leading role of FCUL in one of the areas with the highest international impact in Portugal (Space Sciences, according to the 2023 governmental DGEEC report).The researcher will have a PhD in Astronomy and Astrophysics and a research track record on the identification and characterization of Active Galactic Nuclei adequate to the position.He/she will leverage the national participation in the international Square Kilometre Array Observatory, of which Portugal is a founding member, including through the participation in surveys being performed by state-of-the-art SKA-precursors, and in particular strengthening the FCUL-IA leading participation in ASKAP.The researcher will also take a leading role in the development of the future European Space Agency’s Athena (Advanced Telescope for High ENergy Astrophysics) X-ray observatory, consolidating the national participation in the proposal and development of the Wide Field Imager instrument, supporting both the associated national scientific and technological development.As part of this position, the researcher will:-develop criteria to the selection of AGN in deep radio and X-ray surveys. These criteria should be based on exploring and improving the physics of accretion of matter into a supermassive black hole and its radiative output. Considering the growing availability of multiwavelength datasets over very wide sky regions, and supporting the strategy of FCUL, the development and application of Machine Learning algorithms is necessary and valued;-identify very high redshift AGN and study them using observations from astronomical facilities. Capability for processing and analysis of astronomical facilities at other wavelengths will be fundamental;-explore and capacitate current state-of-the-art radio surveys towards the detection of very high redshift AGN. Develop pilot projects that can pave the way for the national SKA exploitation.-contribute to the development of ESA’s Athena mission, optimising its capabilities to the detection and study of very high redshift AGN (for example, implementing the development of end-to-end simulations that can lead to an optimal planning for the imaging surveys).-seek the participation of Portuguese companies in technological or software development related to SKA or Athena.