Andy Young
Astrophysics Group, University of Bristol
& Gemini South Visiting Astronomer
 

"X-raying Black Hole Accretion Flows"
 

X-ray spectroscopy provides a unique probe of the environment around accreting black holes, revealing the properties of the accretion flow, ionized outflows, and the black hole itself. I will review how these spectroscopic studies are performed, and discuss recent studies that attempt to determine the geometry of the inner accretion flow, and measure the relative importance of inflows vs. outflows. Finally, I will discuss future prospects with the next generation of X-ray observatories.