XMM-Newton 2010 Science Workshop

Ultra-Luminous X-ray sources and Middle Weight Black Holes 24th - 26th May 2010 XMM-Newton Science Operations Centre European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) Villafranca del Castillo Madrid, Spain

(click to download full poster)

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Aims and Scope of the Workshop

The nature of ultra-luminous X-ray sources (ULXs), those objects more luminous than the Eddington ratio from the most massive black hole predicted from stellar evolution, has remained a mystery since their discovery over 25 years ago. These objects have unique X-ray spectral and temporal properties and several have associated luminous optical and radio nebulae, indicating that they may be a distinct class. However there are strong theoretical problems with how to form them and produce their luminosity if they are indeed middle weight black holes.
On the other hand it has become increasingly clear that there exist black holes in the centers of galaxies with masses less than 10⁶ M_sun whose properties seem rather different from those of classical AGN. The connection between these two classes of objects is not understood at present.

In this workshop we will explore the physical nature of ULXs: are they a special class of object, are they black holes of more than 30 solar masses, are they accreting in a special way and their possible connection to ‘low mass’ black holes in the centres of galaxies, models for formation of black hole seeds, accretion and early growth of low-mass black holes, mergers, and observational searches for intermediate mass black holes (IMBHs) in nearby galaxies and star clusters.

The goal of this workshop is to bring together theorists and observers from the cosmology, X-ray, stellar dynamics, and AGN communities to explore topics of common interest, review new and recent results, and discuss the impact of upcoming observatories and space missions for black hole research.

Confirmed Invited Speakers

T. Belloni	INAF, Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera, Italy
S. Farrell	University of Leicester, UK
M. Gilfanov	MPA, Garching, Germany
R. Mushotzky	University of Maryland, USA
M. Pakull	Observatoire de Strasbourg, France
S. Portegies Zwart	Leiden Observatory, The Netherlands
R. Soria	Mullard Space Science Laboratory, UK
M. Volonteri	University of Michigan, USA

Final list is under preparation. Please check regularly this page for updates.

Programme

I.	Observational characteristics
II.	Evidence for intermediate mass black holes
III.	Physics of accretion
IV.	Theoretical models for formation and evolution of BHs
V.	Hot topics

The programme is under preparation.

The final programme will be made public after the abstract deadline of the 18^th of March and before the 16^th of April.

Scientific Organising Committee

R. Mushotzky (Chair)	University of Maryland, USA
D. Barret	CESR, Toulouse, France
A. Barth	University of California at Irvine, USA
H. Baumgardt	University of Queensland, Australia
H. Falcke	Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands
L. C. Ho	Canergie Observatories, Pasadena, USA
E. Koerding	Université Paris Diderot/CEA Saclay, France
S. Komossa	MPE, Garching, Germany
M. Mendez	Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, Groningen, The Netherlands
C. Motch	Observatoire de Strasbourg, France
J. Poutanen	University of Oulu, Finland
T. Roberts	Durham University, UK
N. Schartel (Co-chair)	XMM-Newton SOC, Madrid, Spain
R. Soria	MSSL, Dorking, UK
L. Zampieri	INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Italy

Local Organising Committee

M. Díaz Trigo (Chair), M. Arpizou, M. Ehle, C. Hernández, N. Loiseau, J. Ness, R. Saxton, N. Schartel, M. Stuhlinger

Important Dates

Abstract submission deadline	18th March
Hotel booking deadline	15th or 23rd April (depending on hotel)
Programme available	15th April

Registration & Abstract Submission

No fee is required to attend the workshop.

To register please click here   

Deadline for abstract submission is 18^th March 2010.

To submit an abstract please click here   

Social Events

The workshop dinner will take place on the 25^th May 2010.
The tickets for the dinner will be sold on the registration desk upon arrival.

Proceedings

As in previous years, we intend to publish refereed proceedings for this workshop.
Details will be provided later.

Accommodation

There are a number of hotel rooms reserved for the meeting attendants in four hotels in Madrid.

Bus transport between the hotel in Madrid and ESAC will be provided free of charge. There will be two pick-up points: one at the Hotel Principe Pio and one near Apartamentos Muralto and Hotel Tirol (see map below).

• Hotel Principe Pio
  Single room incl. breakfast and VAT: 80 € / night / person
  
  Book in this hotel through their web page or call (+34) 91 547 0800. Please indicate in ‘Comments/requests’ the following: “Numero de referencia 58658” or “Congreso Agencia Espacial Europea” to get the reduced rate. The reduced rate will be given for bookings up to the 23^rd of April.


• Hotels Suites Viena, Tirol or Muralto
  Single room incl. breakfast and VAT: 91 € / night / person
  
  To book in either of these 3 hotels please send directly an e-mail to:
  
  reservas@suitesviena.es (Suites Viena)
  reservas@muralto.es (Apartamentos Muralto)
  reservas@t3tirol.com (Hotel Tirol)
  
  Don't forget to mention "Congreso Agencia Espacial Europea" to get the reduced rate. The reduced rate will be given for bookings up to the 15^th of April.

Please check the cancellation policies before booking your hotel!



View in a larger map

How to get to ESAC

Directions on how to get to ESAC using public or private transport can be found here.

As a help for drivers from the Barajas Airport, Terminal 4, you can use these instructions from Terminal 4 to ESAC.
If you start at Terminal 1, follow these instructions from Terminal 1 to ESAC.

Please be aware that we will offer a bus service between the hotels (see Accommodation) in Madrid and ESAC in the morning and back in the evening. Do not forget to include the information about your need for bus transport when you register.

Contact

   

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