Eva Jaku
Research Mentor(s): Kayhan Gultekin
Mentor Department: Astronomy
Authors: Kayhan Gultekin, C.J. Harris, Eva Jaku, Olivia Korensky, Maria Herrmann, August Moser
Session: Session 4 (1:00pm – 1:50pm)
Presentation Type: Poster 10
Abstract
We employ usage of an astronomical image processing software, XVista, to analyze the properties of large, mostly elliptical galaxies. This is done to collect evidence of the existence of binary supermassive black holes (SMBH’s). Models of various different galaxies are generated and fitted to an intensity plot as well as a residual histogram to further analyze the properties of galaxies. Brightness plots are able to explain the mass distribution or density of the galaxies, potentially leading to explanations that are more fitting of a power-law galaxy, for example. These brightness plots, along with abnormalities that may be present in the galaxies’ data, are able to lead us to discovering evidence of black holes and possibly developing a more effective strategy as to how to detect them.
