Matilde Signorini
Portrait of Matilde Signorini

Matilde Signorini

PhD, Research Fellow at the European Space Agency
ESA-ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands

I’m an observational astronomer studying active galactic nuclei (AGN). My work is centred on X-rays, and I also analyse UV and infrared data. I want to understand how AGN work: in particular, the interplay between the accretion disc and the X-ray emitting corona.

Looking for a thesis on AGN? I have several projects available, with the possibility of joining me as a visiting student at ESA-ESTEC. Get in touch and we can discuss the details.

Research interests

Publications

  1. 2026

    Supermassive black holes and nuclear star clusters in galaxies: Constraining formation and co-evolution with SHARP and MICADO

    Dalla Bontà, E.; Portaluri, E.; Arcidiacono, C.; … Signorini, M. (10 authors)

    New Astron. Other ADS DOI

  2. 2026

    Precision near-IR spectroscopy for understanding AGN physics and shed light on the H₀ tension

    Signorini, M.; Bennert, V. N.; Dalla Bontà, E. et al. (6 authors)

    New Astron. Cosmology with AGN Other ADS arXiv DOI

  3. 2026

    Fooled by mass? Recovering the Γ–λEdd relation of quasars from their X-ray variability

    Signorini, M.; Sacchi, A.; Trefoloni, B. et al. (10 authors)

    Submitted to A&A · arXiv:2609.37607 Disc–corona interaction ADS arXiv DOI

  4. 2026

    Radio selection of heavily obscured AGN in the J1030 field: Unraveling a missing Compton-thick population

    Mazzolari, G.; Gilli, R.; Mignoli, M.; … Signorini, M. et al. (24 authors)

    A&A Obscuration and outflows High-redshift AGN ADS arXiv DOI

  5. 2026

    Observation of a Solar-like Magnetic Reconnection Event in an AGN Corona with XRISM

    Vardi, G.; Behar, E.; Gu, L.; … Signorini, M. et al. (17 authors)

    ApJL Disc–corona interaction ADS arXiv DOI

  6. 2026

    No evolution in the number density of little red dots from cosmic dawn to cosmic noon

    Loiacono, F.; Gilli, R.; Mignoli, M.; … Signorini, M. et al. (27 authors)

    arXiv:2606.30253 High-redshift AGN ADS arXiv DOI

  7. 2026

    The X-ray-to-UV relation does not evolve in homogeneous quasar samples

    Risaliti, G.; Lusso, E.; Nardini, E.; … Signorini, M. et al. (9 authors)

    arXiv:2606.07730 Disc–corona interaction Cosmology with AGN ADS arXiv DOI

  8. 2026

    Delving into the depths of NGC 3783 with XRISM: V. Broad-band modelling of ionized outflows

    Zhao, K.; Kaastra, J. S.; Gu, L.; … Signorini, M. (10 authors)

    A&A Other Obscuration and outflows ADS arXiv DOI

  9. 2026

    Resolved UV–Optical HST Imaging and Spectral Energy Distribution Modeling of Nearby BAT Active Galactic Nuclei

    Auge, C.; Koss, M.; Gupta, K. K.; … Signorini, M. et al. (20 authors)

    ApJ BASS collaboration ADS arXiv DOI

  10. 2026

    BASS: LV. Connecting X-ray variability with physical properties of active galactic nuclei and a new path to cosmological distances

    Signorini, M.; Ricci, F.; Tortosa, A. et al. (21 authors)

    A&A BASS collaboration Cosmology with AGN Disc–corona interaction ADS arXiv DOI

  11. 2026

    BASS: LI. Cool gas supply of HI-massive local Seyfert galaxies

    Kim, J.; Chung, A.; Wong, O. I.; … Signorini, M. et al. (22 authors)

    A&A BASS collaboration ADS arXiv DOI

  12. 2026

    The X-ray properties of the most luminous quasars with strong emission-line outflows

    Shlentsova, A.; Trefoloni, B.; Signorini, M. et al. (10 authors)

    A&A Disc–corona interaction ADS arXiv DOI

  13. 2026

    The radio properties of the JWST-discovered AGN

    Mazzolari, G.; Gilli, R.; Maiolino, R.; … Signorini, M. et al. (26 authors)

    A&A High-redshift AGN ADS arXiv DOI

  14. 2026

    Delving into the depths of NGC 3783 with XRISM: IV. Mapping of the accretion flow with Fe Kα emission lines

    Li, C.; Kaastra, J. S.; Gu, L.; … Signorini, M. et al. (21 authors)

    A&A Disc–corona interaction Obscuration and outflows ADS arXiv DOI

  15. 2025

    The accretion of quasars at the epoch of reionisation: JWST catches the primeval monsters slowly feasting

    Trefoloni, B.; Nardini, E.; Carniani, S.; … Signorini, M. et al. (11 authors)

    arXiv:2512.16981 High-redshift AGN ADS arXiv DOI

  16. 2025

    BASS. LIV. Physical Properties of AGN-hosting Galaxy Mergers from Multiwavelength SED Fitting

    Troncoso, M.; Treister, E.; Rojas, A.; … Signorini, M. et al. (20 authors)

    ApJ BASS collaboration ADS arXiv DOI

  17. 2025

    Delving into the depths of NGC 3783 with XRISM: III. Birth of an ultrafast outflow during a soft flare

    Gu, L.; Fukumura, K.; Kaastra, J.; … Signorini, M. et al. (21 authors)

    A&A Other Obscuration and outflows ADS arXiv DOI

  18. 2025

    The X-ray–UV luminosity relation of eROSITA quasars

    Sacchi, A.; Risaliti, G.; Signorini, M. et al. (6 authors)

    A&A Disc–corona interaction Cosmology with AGN ADS arXiv DOI

  19. 2025

    The Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite (AXIS) Community Science Book

    Koss, M.; Aftab, N.; Allen, S. W.; … Signorini, M. et al. (200+ authors)

    arXiv:2511.00253 Other ADS arXiv DOI

  20. 2025

    A big red dot at cosmic noon

    Loiacono, F.; Gilli, R.; Mignoli, M.; … Signorini, M. et al. (25 authors)

    A&A High-redshift AGN ADS arXiv DOI

  21. 2025
  22. 2025

    Quasar cosmology II: Joint analyses with cosmic microwave background

    Benetti, M.; Bargiacchi, G.; Risaliti, G.; … Signorini, M. (6 authors)

    Phys. Dark Univ. Cosmology with AGN ADS arXiv DOI

  23. 2025

    BASS. XLIX. Characterization of Highly Luminous and Obscured AGNs: Local X-Ray and [Ne V]λ3426 Emission in Comparison with the High-redshift Universe

    Peca, A.; Koss, M. J.; Oh, K.; … Signorini, M. et al. (24 authors)

    ApJ BASS collaboration Obscuration and outflows ADS arXiv DOI

  24. 2025
  25. 2025

    The near-infrared spectral energy distribution of blue quasars: Determining what drives the evolution of the dusty torus

    Trefoloni, B.; Gilli, R.; Lusso, E.; … Signorini, M. (8 authors)

    A&A Other Obscuration and outflows ADS arXiv DOI

  26. 2025

    JWST meets Chandra: a large population of Compton thick, feedback-free, and intrinsically X-ray weak AGN, with a sprinkle of SNe

    Maiolino, R.; Risaliti, G.; Signorini, M. et al. (25 authors)

    MNRAS Obscuration and outflows High-redshift AGN ADS arXiv DOI

  27. 2024

    AGN STORM 2. IX. Studying the Dynamics of the Ionized Obscurer in Mrk 817 with High-resolution X-Ray Spectroscopy

    Zaidouni, F.; Kara, E.; Kosec, P.; … Signorini, M. et al. (48 authors)

    ApJ STORM2 collaboration Obscuration and outflows ADS arXiv DOI

  28. 2024

    Quasars as standard candles: VI. Spectroscopic validation of the cosmological sample

    Trefoloni, B.; Lusso, E.; Nardini, E.; … Signorini, M. (9 authors)

    A&A Cosmology with AGN Disc–corona interaction ADS arXiv DOI

  29. 2024

    Quasars as standard candles. V. Accounting for the dispersion in the LX–LUV relation down to ≤ 0.06 dex

    Signorini, M.; Risaliti, G.; Lusso, E. et al. (7 authors)

    A&A Cosmology with AGN Disc–corona interaction ADS arXiv DOI

  30. 2024

    AGN STORM 2. VI. Mapping Temperature Fluctuations in the Accretion Disk of Mrk 817

    Neustadt, J. M. M.; Kochanek, C. S.; Montano, J.; … Signorini, M. et al. (52 authors)

    ApJ STORM2 collaboration ADS arXiv DOI

  31. 2023

    Nonparametric analysis of the Hubble diagram with neural networks

    Giambagli, L.; Fanelli, D.; Risaliti, G.; Signorini, M.

    A&A Cosmology with AGN ADS arXiv DOI

  32. 2023

    Building the high-redshift Hubble Diagram with quasars

    Signorini, M.; Risaliti, G.; Sacchi, A.; Lusso, E.; Nardini, E.

    Mem. SAIt Cosmology with AGN ADS arXiv DOI

  33. 2023

    The most luminous blue quasars at 3.0 < z < 3.3. III. LBT spectra and accretion parameters

    Trefoloni, B.; Lusso, E.; Nardini, E.; … Signorini, M. et al. (16 authors)

    A&A High-redshift AGN Disc–corona interaction ADS arXiv DOI

  34. 2023

    Quasars as standard candles. IV. Analysis of the X-ray and UV indicators of the disc-corona relation

    Signorini, M.; Risaliti, G.; Lusso, E. et al. (7 authors)

    A&A Disc–corona interaction Cosmology with AGN ADS arXiv DOI

  35. 2023

    X-ray properties and obscured fraction of AGN in the J1030 Chandra field

    Signorini, M.; Marchesi, S.; Gilli, R. et al. (16 authors)

    A&A Obscuration and outflows ADS arXiv DOI

  36. 2023

    Quasars as high-redshift standard candles

    Risaliti, G.; Lusso, E.; Nardini, E.; … Signorini, M. et al. (8 authors)

    Astron. Nachr. Cosmology with AGN ADS arXiv DOI

  37. 2023
  38. 2022

    Quasars at High-Redshift: Physics and Cosmology

    RisalitI, G.; Caccianiga, A.; Gilli, R.; … Signorini, M. et al. (25 authors)

    Mem. SAIt Cosmology with AGN ADS DOI

  39. 2022

    Quasar cosmology: dark energy evolution and spatial curvature

    Bargiacchi, G.; Benetti, M.; Capozziello, S.; … Signorini, M. (6 authors)

    MNRAS Cosmology with AGN ADS arXiv DOI

  40. 2022

    Quasars as high-redshift standard candles

    Sacchi, A.; Risaliti, G.; Signorini, M. et al. (13 authors)

    A&A Cosmology with AGN Disc–corona interaction ADS arXiv DOI

  41. 2021

    The most luminous blue quasars at 3.0 < z < 3.3. II. C IV/X-ray emission and accretion disc physics

    Lusso, E.; Nardini, E.; Bisogni, S.; … Signorini, M. (15 authors)

    A&A Disc–corona interaction ADS arXiv DOI

  42. 2021

    Cosmography by orthogonalized logarithmic polynomials

    Bargiacchi, G.; Risaliti, G.; Benetti, M.; … Signorini, M. (7 authors)

    A&A Cosmology with AGN ADS arXiv DOI

Curriculum vitae

Invited talks

  • The LX–LUV relation in quasars: a new sample

    Slides

  • Connecting X-ray variability with AGN physical properties and a new path to cosmological distances

    Slides

  • Quasars as standard(izable) candles

    Slides

  • X-ray variability in low-redshift AGN

    Slides

  • STORM2: variability in the multi-year monitoring of Mrk 817

    Slides

  • Study of possible systematics in the use of quasars as standard candles

    Slides

  • AGN as cosmological probes

    Slides

  • Distance measurements with Active Galactic Nuclei

  • Reverberation mapping: high-z SMBH masses, BLR physics and H₀

  • The Mass of a Supermassive Black Hole More Than 10 Billion Light-years Away

  • Quasars as cosmological tools

  • Non-parametric analysis of the Hubble Diagram with Neural Networks

Outreach

Contact

Office Ag203
ESA-ESTEC
Keplerlaan 1
2201 AZ Noordwijk
The Netherlands