KAVLI PRIZE IN ASTROPHYSICS 2020 The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters has decided to award the Kavli Prize in Astrophysics for 2020 to

ANDREW FABIAN University of Cambridge, UK

“for his groundbreaking research in the field of observational X-ray astronomy, covering a wide range of topics from gas flows in clusters of galaxies to supermassive black holes at the heart of galaxies”

The 2020 Kavli Prize in Astrophysics is Andrew Fabian, one of the most prolific awarded to Andrew Fabian for his and influential astronomers of our time, groundbreaking research in the field of has been a leading figure in several major observational X-ray astronomy, covering research areas in X-ray astronomy. On a wide range of topics from gas flows in large scales, he played a vital role in clusters of galaxies to supermassive black revealing the mystery of and solution to holes at the heart of galaxies. the prodigious heating and cooling mech- anisms operating on inter-galactic gas in X-ray astronomy has opened up access clusters of galaxies. On small scales, he to the extremely hot and energetic com- predicted and co-discovered high velocity ponents of the Universe. In the current X-ray spectral emission from around cosmological paradigm, the universe is a black holes, which allowed Fabian and his living ecosystem, in which flows of gas collaborators to develop a powerful into galaxies and black holes at their cen- method for measuring black-hole spins. ters, and the subsequent release of These very spinning black holes may pro- energy back into the galaxies and their vide the energy to heat the inter-galactic surroundings all play vital roles. X-ray gas and affect the evolution of the con- observations have provided stunning evi- stituent galaxies. Fabian’s breadth of dence for these processes at work, knowledge and insights on vastly differ- unveiling how the major constituents of ent scales have provided key physical such an ecosystem can profoundly influ- understanding of how those disparate ence their overall evolution. phenomena are interconnected. The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters Drammensveien 78, 0271 Oslo, Norway Phone +47 22 84 15 00 www.dnva.no

See also:

The Kavli Prize www.kavliprize.org

The Kavli Foundation www.kavlifoundation.org

Andrew Fabian University of Cambridge, UK. Photo: © Sam Fabian