Strongly Magnetized Black Hole Accretion Flows: Jets, Spin Evolution, and New Observational Probes

Explore a 57-minute astrophysics seminar from the Institute for Advanced Study featuring Angelo Ricarte from the Center for Astrophysics at Harvard & Smithsonian discussing strongly magnetized black hole accretion flows. Learn how Event Horizon Telescope polarimetric images favor Magnetically Arrested Disk (MAD) models that can produce efficient jets through the Blandford-Znajek mechanism. Discover how general relativistic radiative magnetohydrodynamics simulations are used to develop new "sub-grid" formulae for jet feedback and spin evolution applicable to semi-analytic models and cosmological simulations. Follow the implementation of these formulae in the Serotina semi-analytic model to track supermassive black hole evolution from early cosmic times (z~20) to present day, revealing how spin-down effects in MAD universes moderate black hole spins across cosmic time. Gain insights into predictions for spin measurements using X-ray reflection spectroscopy, next-generation Event Horizon Telescope projects, the Black Hole Explorer, and the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna, along with future observational tests enabled by advanced imaging techniques.