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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.

Professor Andrew Bunker

Professor of Astrophysics

Research theme

  • Astronomy and astrophysics

Sub department

  • Astrophysics

Research groups

  • Galaxy formation and evolution
Andy.Bunker@physics.ox.ac.uk
Telephone: 01865 (2)83126
Denys Wilkinson Building, room 702
  • About
  • Publications

JADES Dark Horse: demonstrating high-multiplex observations with JWST /NIRSpec dense-shutter spectroscopy in the JADES Origins Field

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Oxford University Press 549:2 (2026) stag824

Authors:

Francesco D’Eugenio, Erica J Nelson, Daniel J Eisenstein, Roberto Maiolino, Stefano Carniani, Jan Scholtz, Mirko Curti, Christopher NA Willmer, Andrew J Bunker, Jakob M Helton, Ignas Juodžbalis, Fengwu Sun, Sandro Tacchella, Santiago Arribas, Alex J Cameron, Stéphane Charlot, Emma Curtis-Lake, Kevin Hainline, Benjamin D Johnson, Brant Robertson, Christina C Williams, Chris Willott, William M Baker, Jacopo Chevallard, A Lola Danhaive

Abstract:

We present James Web Space Telescope/NIRSpec dense-shutter spectroscopy (DSS). This novel observing strategy with the NIRSpec/multi-shutter assembly (MSA) deliberately permits a high number of controlled spectral overlaps to reach extreme multiplex while retaining the low background of slit spectroscopy. In a single configuration over the JADES Origins Field, we opened shutters on all faint ( mag) candidates, prioritizing emission-line science and rejecting only bright continuum sources. Using 33.6 and 35.8 ks on-source in G235M and G395M, we observed a single mask with 850 sources, obtaining spectroscopic redshifts for 540 galaxies over . The per-configuration target density in DSS mode is 4–5 higher than standard no- and low-overlap MSA strategies (<200 sources), with no loss in redshift precision or accuracy. Line-flux sensitivities are 30 per cent lower at fixed exposure time, matching the expected increase in background noise, but the gain in survey speed is 5 in our setup, more than justifying the penalty. The measured line sensitivity exceeds NIRCam slitless spectroscopy by at least ( in exposure time) at , demonstrating that DSS is a compelling method to gain deep, wide-band spectra for large samples. Crucially, NIRSpec/MSA could deliver even higher target allocation densities than those used here. We derive H α-based star-formation rates, gas-phase metallicities (including a large sample suitable for strong-line calibrations), and identify rare mini-quenched galaxies and broad-line AGN. DSS is immediately applicable wherever deep imaging enables robust pre-selection and astrometry, providing an efficient method to obtain large samples of faint emission-line galaxies, a compelling middle ground between the completeness of slitless surveys and the sensitivity and bandwidth of NIRSpec/MSA.

Discovery of a Likely Type II Supernova at z = 3.6 with JWST

The Astrophysical Journal American Astronomical Society 1002:1 (2026) 83

Authors:

DA Coulter, JDR Pierel, C DeCoursey, TJ Moriya, MR Siebert, BA Joshi, M Engesser, A Rest, E Egami, M Shahbandeh, W Chen, OD Fox, LG Strolger, Y Zenati, AJ Bunker, PA Cargile, M Curti, DJ Eisenstein, S Gezari, S Gomez, M Guolo, K Hainline, J Jencson, BD Johnson, M Karmen

Abstract:

Transient astronomy of the early, high-redshift (z > 3) Universe is an unexplored regime that offers the possibility of probing the first stars and the epoch of reionization. During Cycles 1 and 2 of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey program enabled one of the first searches for transients in deep images (∼30 AB mag) over a relatively wide area (25 arcmin2). One transient, AT 2023adsv, was discovered with an F200W magnitude of 28.04 AB mag, and subsequent JWST observations revealed that the transient is a likely supernova (SN) in a host with zspec = 3.613 ± 0.001 and an inferred metallicity at the position of the SN of Z* = 0.3 ± 0.1 Z⊙. At this redshift, the first detections in F115W and F150W show that AT 2023adsv had bright rest-frame UV flux at the time of discovery. The multiband light curve of AT 2023adsv is best matched by a template of a Type IIP SN (SN IIP) with a peak absolute magnitude of MB ≈ −18.3 AB mag. We find a good match to a 20 M⊙ red supergiant progenitor star with an explosion energy of 2 × 1051 erg, likely higher than normally observed in the local Universe, but consistent with SNe IIP drawn from local, lower-metallicity environments. AT 2023adsv is the most distant photometrically classified SN IIP yet discovered with a spectroscopic redshift measurement, and may represent a global shift in SN IIP properties as a function of redshift.

Possible photometric signatures of nebular-dominated emission in 1.5 < z < 8.5 JADES galaxies

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Oxford University Press 549:1 (2026) stag788

Authors:

James AA Trussler, Alex J Cameron, Daniel J Eisenstein, Harley Katz, Nathan J Adams, Duncan Austin, Andrew J Bunker, Stefano Carniani, Christopher J Conselice, Mirko Curti, Emma Curtis-Lake, Kevin Hainline, Thomas Harvey, Benjamin D Johnson, Qiong Li, Tobias J Looser, Pierluigi Rinaldi, Brant Robertson, Fengwu Sun, Sandro Tacchella, Christina C Williams, Christopher NA Willmer, Chris Willott, Zihao Wu

Abstract:

The discovery of high-redshift galaxies exhibiting a steep spectral ultraviolet (UV) downturn potentially indicative of two-photon continuum emission marks a turning point in our search for signatures of star formation following a top-heavy initial mass function in the early Universe. We develop a photometric search method for identifying further nebular-dominated galaxy candidates, whose nebular continuum dominates over the starlight, due to the high ionizing photon production efficiencies associated with massive star formation. We utilize the extensive medium-band imaging from the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES), which enables the identification of Balmer jumps across a wide range of redshifts (), through the deficit in rest-frame optical continuum level. As Balmer jumps are a general recombination feature of young starbursts ( Myr), we further demand a high observed to power the strong nebular continuum, together with a relatively non-blue UV slope ( at ) indicating a lack of stellar continuum emission. Our nebular-dominated candidates, constituting per cent of galaxies at (decreasing to per cent at , not completeness-corrected) are faint in the rest-frame optical (median ) with extreme line emission (median Ã…, Ã…). However, hot H ii region temperatures, collisionally enhanced two-photon continuum emission, and strong UV lines are expected to accompany top-heavy star formation. Thus nebular-dominated galaxies do not necessarily exhibit the biggest Balmer jumps, nor the largest or reddest UV slopes. Hence continuum spectroscopy is ultimately required to establish the presence of a two-photon downturn in our candidates, thus advancing our understanding of primordial star formation and active galactic nucleus.

Decoupling the AGN outflow and star-forming disk kinematics in the nuclear region of NGC 7582 with JWST NIRSpec and MIRI/MRS

(2026)

Authors:

Oscar Veenema, Niranjan Thatte, Dimitra Rigopoulou, Ismael García-Bernete, Almudena Alonso-Herrero, Miguel Pereira-Santaella, Anelise Audibert, Enrica Bellocchi, Andrew J Bunker, Steph Campbell, Francoise Combes, Ric I Davies, Fergus R Donnan, Santiago García-Burillo, Omaira Gonzalez Martin, Laura Hermosa Muñoz, Erin KS Hicks, Sebastian F Hoenig, Alvaro Labiano, Nancy A Levenson, Chris Packham, Cristina Ramos Almeida, Claudio Ricci, Rogemar A Riffel, David Rosario, Taro Shimizu, Lulu Zhang

Decoupling the AGN outflow and star-forming disc kinematics in the nuclear region of NGC 7582 with JWST NIRSpec and MIRI/MRS

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Oxford University Press 548:4 (2026) stag785

Authors:

Oscar Veenema, Niranjan Thatte, Dimitra Rigopoulou, Ismael García-Bernete, Almudena Alonso-Herrero, Miguel Pereira-Santaella, Anelise Audibert, Enrica Bellocchi, Andrew J Bunker, Steph Campbell, Francoise Combes, Richard I Davies, Fergus R Donnan, Santiago García-Burillo, Omaira Gonzalez Martin, Laura Hermosa Muñoz, Erin KS Hicks, Sebastian F Hoenig, Alvaro Labiano, Nancy A Levenson, Chris Packham, Cristina Ramos Almeida, Claudio Ricci, Rogemar A Riffel, David Rosario

Abstract:

We present a detailed study of the inner regions of NGC 7582, a nearby Seyfert 2 galaxy, from the Galaxy Activity, Torus, and Outflow Survey (GATOS). The galaxy hosts a circumnuclear star-forming disc and an active galactic nucleus (AGN)-driven biconical ionized outflow. Using James Webb Space Telescope Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) and Mid-Infrared Instrument/Medium-Resolution Spectrometer (MIRI/MRS) integral-field spectroscopy, we analyse ionic emission lines spanning a wide range of ionization potentials (IPs, –126 eV). Gaussian line-profile fitting reveals kinematic stratification: low-IP species ( eV; e.g. [Fe ii], [Ar ii], and [Ne ii]) trace ordered disc rotation with PA , while high-IP species ( eV; e.g. [O iv], [Mg iv], and [Ne v]) follow the outflow with PA . Outflowing gas exhibits systematically higher velocity dispersions ( km s−1) than the disc ( km s−1), consistent with turbulent or bulk motions. Intermediate-IP lines, [S iii], [Ar iii], and [Ne iii], show contributions from both components, with the outflow characterized by higher dispersion, lower amplitude, and higher velocities in double-Gaussian fits. For these lines, a thin inclined disc plus 1D outflow model enables robust separation and quantification of the disc and outflow velocity fields. The outflow is consistent with a hollow bicone capable of accelerating gas beyond the local escape velocity, implying most material is unlikely to be re-accreted. The ionization cone opening angle shows no dependence on IP, indicating the AGN torus polar regions are largely unobscured. Our study provides new insights into AGN-driven outflows and circumnuclear disc dynamics, offering a framework to disentangle overlapping interstellar medium kinematics in nearby active galaxies.

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