PROJECT TITLE: Radio Dichotomy in Active Galactic Nuclei and Black Hole X-ray Binaries — RDAGN

Coordinator: The Institute of Space Science

Partners: –

Period: 19 November 2012 – 30 September 2015

Project director: Ioana Dutan

Project team: 

• Dr. Ioana Dutan
• Dr. Valeriu Tudose
• Dr. Cristian Ionescu
• M.Sc. Laurentiu Caramete
• Dorin Rusu (undergraduate student)

Description: RDAGN is a research program consisting of data analysis and theoretical investigation of the radio dichotomy in active galactic nuclei (AGN) and black hole X-ray binaries (BHXRBs). 

Project objectives: 

• to provide a focus for the increased use of numerical simulations in enhancing space data   analysis for the XMM-Newton mission of ESA, but also for international missions such as  Chandra
• to take forward the state-of-the-art advanced research in AGN and BHXRBs, so that new models are developed and exploited allowing the synergies between data analysis and theoretical modeling to emerge
• to improve our knowledge and understanding of the fundamental processes taking place in AGN   and BHXRBs such as accretion flow and jet formation, which have relevance for other    astrophysical environments
• to disseminate research results in the form of presentations and publications for the    advancement of knowledge

Activities:

• WP1: Management
• WP2: Documentation
• WP3: Dissemination
• WP4: Updated Sikora sample 
• WP5: AGN selected X-ray sample 
• WP6: BHXRB selected X-ray sample 
• WP7: Investigation of dichotomy in AGN and BHXRBs using observational data
• WP8: Estimation of the black hole spin using a new method
• WP9: Analysis of the results
• WP10: Comparison between AGN and BHXRBs dichotomy 

Contributions to the STAR programme objectives:

• The project will contribute to the development of a new area of research in astrophysics and it will attract scientists from other national and international research communities, as well as students who want to pursue a scientific career in astrophysics. 
• The Institute of Space Science will increase its scientific visibility which in turn will increase the probability of acquiring research grants and participating in ESA programmes.
• The project will harness the recently acquired data of the ESA XMM-Newton  satellite and use the xspec software designed also for this data.  One of the purposes of the XMM-Newton space observatory is to probe the environment of supermassive black holes that lie at the heart of the AGNs which this project aims to investigate. 

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