SEEDS · Black hole dynamics and the origin of supermassive black holes

Every massive galaxy in the Universe contains a supermassive black hole in the center, which has grown from a smaller black hole, a so called seed black hole. Galaxies must have acquired their seed black holes in the early Universe, to allow for the observed long coevolution between black holes and galaxies, but recent research has shown that the dynamics of seed black holes in early galaxies are complex, and that seed black holes struggle to find their way to the center of future host galaxies.For this project, I propose the first large-scale study of seed black hole dynamics in the early Universe. I will use my extensive expertise in numerical simulations to design a high-resolution simulation able to fully resolves seed black hole trajectories. From this simulation, I will create the first large-scale catalogue of high-redshift black hole seed dynamics for different black hole formation models. I will use this unique dataset to understand galaxy seeding, determine the relative importance of different seed formation mechanisms and make observational predictions for the James-Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). These upcoming major observational campaigns will soon provide an unprecedented wealth of observational data on black holes and their host galaxies in the early Universe, making the proposed project extremely timely. With this work, I will challenge the standard paradigm of rapid seed black hole delivery, and lead the way towards a paradigm shift in our understanding of the origin of supermassive black holes.