Research in Theoretical Astrophysics: Accretion, Structure and Evolution in Gravitating Systems

Black holes tear apart and consume nearby matter, converting it into the most efficient energy source in the universe — and a new research programme will model how this process works across every scale, from a single star to entire colliding galaxies. This is fundamental theoretical astrophysics. The core problem is that gravity, which powers these luminous systems, also governs their long-term structure and evolution in ways that remain poorly understood. The researchers aim to build detailed models of accretion — the process by which a gravitating body pulls in mass, heating it and releasing energy — across systems ranging from compact binary star systems (smaller than the Sun) to merging galaxies containing billions of stars. The project is purely curiosity-driven. There is no immediate practical application. But fundamental science of this kind has historically produced unexpected breakthroughs: understanding accretion physics underpins everything from black hole imaging to gravitational wave astronomy. A deeper grasp of how gravity extracts energy from matter could, over decades, inform future technologies in energy extraction or space-based infrastructure. For now, the value lies in explaining why some of the brightest objects in the universe shine at all.