Speaker
Description
We present an overview of a proposal for the next generation Space VLBI mission Black Hole Explorer (BHEX). Its main scientific goal is to detect the photon ring and directly measure the mass and spin of supermassive black holes in centers of M87 and the Milky Way. Other science cases include demographics on a dozen of additional near-horizon sources as well as studying accretion, formation, and collimation of jets in active galaxies. In order to do it, a 3.5-m radio dish will be launched into space to an orbit longer than 3 Earth diameters and will observe together with the most sensitive ground millimeter telescopes. BHEX will be equipped with two cooled receivers covering a frequency range from 80-106 and 240-320 GHz, which can observe simultaneously. A laser-com link will deliver a real-time data stream of 100 Gbps to the ground. BHEX is planned to launch in 2031 and expects to actively observe together with the most sensitive ground telescopes, including ALMA, NOEMA, Effelsberg, IRAM 30-m, APEX.
| What is your career stage? | Non-tenured scientist (post PhD) |
|---|---|
| Which telescopes do you use / are you affiliated with? | VLA, VLBA, ALMA, BHEX |
