Simulations of Cosmic Explosions

After reviewing the basics of black hole accretion and ejection, I will discuss how black holes explode their surroundings in a wide range of astrophysical contexts. I will continue by discussing the challenges of modeling these systems from first principles. I will then explain how a combination of advanced numerical methods and acceleration by graphical processing units (GPUs) have enabled us to carry out the highest resolution simulations of accretion onto spinning black holes in the most difficult regimes, on some of the largest supercomputers in the world. I will finish by sharing some of the simulation results.

Sponsored by the McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences.