Discovering Tidal Disruption Events with Visible Light

Explore the fascinating world of tidal disruption events (TDEs) in this 55-minute conference talk by Decker French from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Delve into the methods of discovering TDEs using visible light observations as part of the "Supermassive Black Holes and their Destructive Tidal Forces" conference at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics. Learn about the process of stellar destruction by supermassive black holes' tidal forces, the formation of "spaghettified" debris streams, and the resulting flares of light. Gain insights into the extreme physics surrounding black holes and the latest observational and theoretical advances in TDE research. Understand how these events provide a unique window into the otherwise invisible environment near supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies, including our own Milky Way.