We are pleased to announce the workshop “Black Holes by the Black Sea,” which will take plance on June 25–29, 2012 at Koç University in Istanbul, Turkey.
Workshop Rationale
This workshop will focus on the astrophysics of black holes at the extremes of the supermassive black hole mass function with the aim of illuminating similarities and differences between stellar-mass black holes and supermassive black holes. The main topics to be addressed are (1) the connection between X-ray binaries and AGNs. Are there fundamental, universal modes of accretion and jet/outflow production that operate on both small and large scales? What do the differences in SEDs and spectral properties indicate about the different physics at work? (2) Connecting the dots between the largest stellar-mass black holes and the smallest supermassive black holes. How large can “ordinary” stellar-mass black holes be at formation and how large can they become? How small are the smallest supermassive black holes? Where did they come from, and do they play by the same rules as other supermassive black holes? (3) The largest supermassive black holes. What do the largest supermassive black holes tell us about the extremes and limits of nature? Do we have an observational hold on the largest black holes?
Scientific Organizing Committee
- Kayhan Gultekin, chair
- Ali Alpar
- Aaron Barth
- Mitch Begelman
- Roger Blandford
- Elena Gallo
- Karl Gebhardt
- Emrah Kalemci
- Sera Markoff
- Cole Miller
- Marta Volonteri
Practical Workshop Information
Due to the format of the workshop, attendance is limited and preference will be given to the first participants that register. There will be a registration fee of $300.
Visa Information
Official visa information web page. For most nationalities that require a visa, these can be bought at the border with cash.
Important Workshop Deadlines
The abstract deadline is March 2, and the registration deadline is May 25th. We are able to help defray costs by providing lodging at Koç University for those with limited financial support, with preference given to junior researchers. Please email the organizers no later than February 15th if you are unable to participate without some financial assistance.
Registration by web or by email: bhxbs-registration@umich.edu.
Lodging
Hotel blocks are being arranged at the University hotel at a greatly reduced rate. University housing is being made available for scientists with limited financial funding.