Exploring Galactic Nuclei with Tidal Disruption Events

Learn about the fascinating phenomenon of tidal disruption events (TDEs) in this 56-minute astronomy lecture that explores how these cosmic occurrences help study supermassive black holes in quiet galaxies. Discover how TDEs push the boundaries of black hole accretion by generating super-Eddington mass fallback rates, while providing valuable data about both disrupted stars and supermassive black holes. Examine the recent surge in TDE observations through modern transient surveys like ASASSN and ZTF, and understand how combining theoretical models with observational data enables investigation of the supermassive black hole mass function, detection of binary black holes, and analysis of stellar properties at unprecedented galactic scales.