The Formation and Evolution of Supermassive Black Holes in the Early Universe Abstract: The formation of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in the first billion years after the Big Bang remains a fundamental question in astrophysics. I will review current theoretical models of SMBH seeding, including both light and heavy seed scenarios, and explore how the redshift evolution of AGN obscuration can inform our understanding of early black hole growth. I will discuss observational constraints from the AGN luminosity function and emphasize the potential of future X-ray missions—particularly the proposed AXIS probe—to resolve faint AGN populations and extend measurements to higher redshifts. I will also present recent results on the cross-power spectrum between the cosmic infrared background (CIB) and the cosmic X-ray background (CXB), based on data from Spitzer, JWST, and Chandra, which offer a direct evidence of early accreting black holes. Finally, I will consider the possibility that primordial black holes (PBHs) may play a role in seeding SMBHs, providing an alternative pathway for their rapid growth.
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Astrobicocca
Argomento