Skip to main content
Home
Department Of Physics text logo
  • Research
    • Our research
    • Our research groups
    • Our research in action
    • Research funding support
    • Summer internships for undergraduates
  • Study
    • Undergraduates
    • Postgraduates
  • Engage
    • For alumni
    • For business
    • For schools
    • For the public
Menu
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.

Dr James Matthews

Royal Society University Research Fellow

Research theme

  • Astronomy and astrophysics
  • Particle astrophysics & cosmology

Sub department

  • Astrophysics

Research groups

  • Galaxy formation and evolution
  • MeerKAT
  • Pulsars, transients and relativistic astrophysics
  • Gamma-ray astronomy
james.matthews@physics.ox.ac.uk
Telephone: 01865(2)73299
Denys Wilkinson Building, room Undercroft
Website
  • About
  • Into the Cosmos
  • Publications

Stratified disc wind models for the AGN broad-line region: ultraviolet, optical, and X-ray properties

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Oxford University Press (OUP) 492:4 (2020) 5540-5560

Authors:

James H Matthews, Christian Knigge, Nick Higginbottom, Knox S Long, Stuart A Sim, Samuel W Mangham, Edward J Parkinson, Henrietta A Hewitt
More details from the publisher

Thermal and radiation driving can produce observable disc winds in hard-state X-ray binaries

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Oxford University Press (OUP) 492:4 (2020) 5271-5279

Authors:

Nick Higginbottom, Christian Knigge, Stuart A Sim, Knox S Long, James H Matthews, Henrietta A Hewitt, Edward J Parkinson, Sam W Mangham
More details from the publisher

Stratified disc wind models for the AGN broad-line region: ultraviolet, optical and X-ray properties

ArXiv 2001.03625 (2020)

Authors:

James H Matthews, Christian Knigge, Nick Higginbottom, Knox S Long, Stuart A Sim, Samuel W Mangham, Edward J Parkinson, Henrietta A Hewitt
Details from ArXiV

Hot, dense He II outflows during the 2017 outburst of the X-ray transient Swift J1357.2−0933

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters Oxford University Press 489:1 (2019) L47-L52

Authors:

P Charles, James Matthews, D Buckley, P Gandhi, E Kotze, J Paice

Abstract:

Time-resolved SALT spectra of the short-period, dipping X-ray transient, Swift J1357.2−0933, during its 2017 outburst has revealed broad Balmer and He II λ4686 absorption features, blueshifted by ∼600 km s−1. Remarkably these features are also variable on the ∼500 s dipping period, indicating their likely association with structure in the inner accretion disc. We interpret this as arising in a dense, hot (≳30 000 K) outflowing wind seen at very high inclination, and draw comparisons with other accretion disc corona sources. We argue against previous distance estimates of 1.5 kpc and favour a value ≳6 kpc, implying an X-ray luminosity LX ≳ 4 × 1036 erg s−1. Hence it is not a very faint X-ray transient. Our preliminary 1D Monte Carlo radiative transfer and photoionization calculations support this interpretation, as they imply a high intrinsic LX, a column density NH ≳ 1024 cm−2, and a low covering factor for the wind. Our study shows that Swift J1357.2−0933 is truly remarkable amongst the cohort of luminous, Galactic X-ray binaries, showing the first example of He  II λ4686 absorption, the first (and only) variable dip period and is possibly the first black hole ‘accretion disc corona’ candidate.
More details from the publisher
Details from ORA
More details

Cosmic ray acceleration by shocks: spectral steepening due to turbulent magnetic field amplification

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Oxford University Press 488*:2 (2019) 2466-2472

Authors:

A Bell, James Matthews, K Blundell

Abstract:

We show that the energy required to turbulently amplify magnetic field during cosmic ray (CR) acceleration by shocks extracts energy from the CR and steepens the CR energy spectrum.
More details from the publisher
Details from ORA
More details
Details from ArXiV

Pagination

  • First page First
  • Previous page Prev
  • …
  • Page 10
  • Page 11
  • Page 12
  • Page 13
  • Current page 14
  • Page 15
  • Page 16
  • Page 17
  • Page 18
  • …
  • Next page Next
  • Last page Last

Footer Menu

  • Contact us
  • Giving to the Dept of Physics
  • Work with us
  • Media

User account menu

  • Log in

Follow us

FIND US

Clarendon Laboratory,

Parks Road,

Oxford,

OX1 3PU

CONTACT US

Tel: +44(0)1865272200

University of Oxfrod logo Department Of Physics text logo
IOP Juno Champion logo Athena Swan Silver Award logo

© University of Oxford - Department of Physics

Cookies | Privacy policy | Accessibility statement

Built by: Versantus

  • Home
  • Research
  • Study
  • Engage
  • Our people
  • News & Comment
  • Events
  • Our facilities & services
  • About us
  • Current students
  • Staff intranet