Oral Presentation

Origins of supermassive black holes in galactic centers

Author(s): Ken Chen

Presenter: Ke-Jung (Ken) Chen (ASIAA)

Direct imaging of black hole shadows has confirmed the presence of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in the Milky Way and M87, revealing the “monsters” that lie at galactic centers. Observations also show that billion-solar-mass SMBHs already existed within the first billion years after the Big Bang, yet their origins and early growth remain uncertain. In this talk, I will discuss the formation pathways of SMBH seeds, key challenges in modeling their early evolution, and potential observational signatures—many of which can be tested with current and future facilities such as JWST and the forthcoming LISA mission.