Black Holes and Active Galactic Nuclei - From Formation to Feeding Mechanisms

Learn about super-massive black holes as central engines of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) and quasars in this comprehensive lecture by Professor Françoise Combes from the Observatoire de Paris and Collège de France. Explore the evolution of our understanding of these most energetic and compact objects in the Universe since their 1960s identification through multi-wavelength and multi-messenger observations. Discover recent high-resolution findings revealing black hole shadows, accretion disks, and relativistic jet formation mechanisms. Understand the feeding processes of black holes and how their excessive consumption can lead to gas ejection from galaxies, ultimately affecting star formation. Gain insights into observations across the electromagnetic spectrum from radio to gamma-rays, as well as through neutrinos, cosmic rays, and gravitational waves.