{"id":145834,"date":"2026-06-10T11:48:06","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T03:48:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/?post_type=hdr-r-projects&p=145834"},"modified":"2026-06-10T11:56:04","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T03:56:04","slug":"the-sharpest-view-of-time-variable-radio-jets-from-feeding-black-holes","status":"publish","type":"hdr-r-projects","link":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/hdr-r-projects\/the-sharpest-view-of-time-variable-radio-jets-from-feeding-black-holes\/","title":{"rendered":"The sharpest view of time-variable radio jets from feeding black holes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The highest-resolution astronomical images are produced by combining the signals produced by radio telescopes separated by thousands of kilometres. Such telescope arrays were recently used by the Event Horizon Telescope consortium to produce the first direct images of black holes. To image the dynamic, rapidly-changing environments of these black holes, researchers had to develop new techniques to compensate for the variations in the radio signals over the course of the observation period, effectively removing the blurring effect caused by source motion or brightness changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such high-resolution data can also provide critical information on other extreme and energetic time-variable phenomena known as transients. When stellar-mass black holes or neutron stars are in a close binary system with a less-evolved companion star, these ultra-dense objects can accrete material from their companion. The rapid release of energy from the infalling gas leads to highly-luminous outbursts, and can power energetic jets that move away at close to the speed of light, recycling energy and matter from the smallest scales around the central object into the surrounding interstellar medium. To ascertain their intrinsic physical properties, we need to study the jets as close as possible to their launching point, which requires ultra-high resolution imaging. But previous efforts have been hindered by the intrinsic rapid variability of the jets, in both brightness and morphology. Recently-developed imaging techniques allow us to overcome some of these challenges, providing higher-fidelity reconstructions of the evolving jets from stellar-mass compact objects, yielding new insights into their properties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aim  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This project aims to apply the cutting-edge algorithms recently developed for high-resolution radio imaging of time-variable phenomena to newly-detected energetic transients, such as stellar-mass black holes. The resolution of these observations would be sufficient to image a person standing on the Moon. This allows us to accurately track the changing properties of black hole jets and cosmic explosions within a single few-hour observation, ascertaining their speeds, expansion rates, brightness variations, and launch dates, enabling us to probe when and how they were launched from close to the black hole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The successful applicant will evaluate the performance of different algorithms in imaging different physical scenarios (e.g. different levels of amplitude or structural variability, different brightness levels, different amounts of available information), to determine the optimum approaches for imaging different classes of transient and different radio telescope arrays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Objectives <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The primary scientific objective of this project, which is funded by a Discovery grant from the Australian Research Council, is to investigate how and why jets are launched from accreting black holes and other energetic astrophysical transients. Using cutting-edge analytical techniques, the student will derive valuable information from existing and newly-observed high-resolution radio data, providing new insights into the structure, variability, and propagation of energetic jets. Imaging these systems will provide a novel and unique view of how stellar-mass black holes and neutron stars release and recycle energy via relativistic jets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Significance <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Powerful jets are seen across the visible Universe, from stellar-mass objects in our own Milky Way to supermassive black holes at the centres of external galaxies. They play a crucial role in providing feedback of matter and energy to their surroundings, which in the case of supermassive black holes can affect an entire galaxy cluster. However, it is only in smaller, stellar-mass black holes that we can observe these jets evolve in real time, providing a unique window into their properties. These systems make up an important class of transient events, which over the coming decades will be studied by world-class astronomical facilities such as the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO). This project will provide an important link between the jet-launching region on the smallest scales, and the larger-scale jets that will be prime targets for the SKAO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ideal Candidate <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This opportunity is open to students with any science-oriented undergraduate background. Students with a background in physics\/astronomy, mathematics\/statistics, computer science, or data science are particularly encouraged to apply. Strong coding skills would be an advantage. Additionally, the applicant should meet the eligibility criteria for entry into a PhD program at Curtin University.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This project is open to Domestic applicants only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scholarship  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This scholarship is funded by an ARC Discovery Project and includes a living stipend of $38440 p.a. pro rata indexed, based on full-time studies, for up to a maximum of 3.5 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enquires and How to Apply <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For enquires about this opportunity contact Professor James Miller-Jones\u00a0at James.Miller-Jones@curtin.edu.au<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To formally apply submit an Expression of Interest<\/a> to Professor James Miller-Jones before the application closing date 31st July 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":99,"featured_media":0,"template":"","faculties":[51],"research_areas":[5471,35],"class_list":["post-145834","hdr-r-projects","type-hdr-r-projects","status-publish","hentry","faculties-science-and-engineering","research_areas-scholarship","research_areas-space"],"acf":false,"featured_image":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hdr-r-projects\/145834","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hdr-r-projects"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/hdr-r-projects"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/99"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hdr-r-projects\/145834\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=145834"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"faculties","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/faculties?post=145834"},{"taxonomy":"research_areas","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/research_areas?post=145834"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}