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Black Hole

Lensing of space time around a black hole. At Oxford we study black holes observationally and theoretically on all size and time scales - it is some of our core work.

Credit: ALAIN RIAZUELO, IAP/UPMC/CNRS. CLICK HERE TO VIEW MORE IMAGES.

Coral Pillay

Graduate Students

Research theme

  • Astronomy and astrophysics

Sub department

  • Astrophysics

Research groups

  • Pulsars, transients and relativistic astrophysics
coral.pillay@physics.ox.ac.uk
Denys Wilkinson Building
  • About
  • Publications

Dual AGN and Multiple SMBH Systems in the Era of SKAO

arXiv preprint arXiv:2606.28512 (2026)

Authors:

Q. D'Amato and L. Cui and R. Deane and S. Komossa and C. Pillay and A. Tripathi and P. Kharb and H. Guo and S. Nandi and K. Rubinur and S. Anton and T. An and S. Bonoli and N. Chang and R. Dave and A. De Rosa and M. Habouzit and F. Mannucci and I. Prandoni and P. Severgnini and M. Scialpi and C. Spingola and C. Vignali and W. Xu and X. Yan and Y. Zhang

Abstract:

We present a radio-oriented review of current strategies for the detection and characterization of dual active galactic nuclei (DAGN) and supermassive black hole binaries (SMBHBs), emphasizing the crucial role of radio interferometry in advancing this field. We discuss how high-resolution radio imaging - particularly through very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) - provides a unique, dust-unbiased tool to identify multiple accreting SMBHs, disentangle AGN-related emission from star formation, and trace components from tens of kpc to sub-parsec scales. We summarize current observational limitations, such as insufficient sensitivity-resolution combination and area coverage. We then outline how the SKAO will overcome these constraints through its unprecedented combination of sensitivity, survey speed, imaging fidelity and angular resolution, enabling the discovery and characterization of dual and binary SMBHs from the nearby Universe to the epoch of reionization. Several science cases are presented, including radio follow-ups of optical/infrared-selected DAGN, direct blind radio selection of DAGN, studies of compact bound SMBHBs, and the link between SMBHB orbital evolution and low-frequency gravitational wave emission. We further emphasize the synergy between SKAO observations and modern and upcoming facilities such as the James Webb and Euclid space telescopes, Rubin Observatory, and gravitational wave detectors including the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna and pulsar timing arrays. These combined capabilities will allow SKAO to enable the first comprehensive radio census of dual and binary SMBH systems, bridge the gap between electromagnetic and gravitational wave observations, and provide a statistically significant view of SMBH pairing, accretion, and merger-driven feedback throughout cosmic history.
More details from the publisher

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