Areas of Research
Research at MPA is devoted to a broad range of topics in theoretical astrophysics. Major concentrations of interest lie in the areas of stellar evolution, stellar atmospheres, supernova physics, astrophysical fluid dynamics, high energy astrophysics, galaxy structure and evolution, the large-scale structure of the Universe, and cosmology. The MPA has traditionally been strong in studies of General Relativity, but in mid-1995 most of our relativity group moved to the newly founded MPI für Gravitationsphysik in Potsdam near Berlin. Their departure has allowed a consolidation of MPA activities in extragalactic astrophysics, as well as an expansion in a new area, high energy astrophysics.

While most MPA research addresses theoretical issues, the neighbouring institutes provide complementary expertise and there are many collaborative projects with them. Major research programmes at MPE are concerned with instrumental and observational aspects of infrared, X-ray and gamma-ray astronomy, together with supporting theoretical work, while ESO carries out a broad range of instrumental and observational projects in the optical and infrared.

At any given time the MPA has about 40 scientists working on long-term positions at postdoctoral level and above, up to 20 foreign visitors brought in for periods of varying length under a vigorous visitor programme, and about 35 graduate students. The students are almost all enrolled for degrees in one of the two large universities in Munich, the TUM and the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU). A number of the senior staff at MPA have teaching affiliations with one or other of these universities. Ties with the Institute of Astronomy and the Observatory of the LMU are particularly close.

Since 1996 the MPA has been part of EARA, a European Association for Research in Astronomy which links it to the Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, the Leiden Observatory and the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge, in a programme dedicated to fostering inter-European research collaborations. Interaction with local institutions is enhanced by a Special Research Area funded by the German Research Foundation in the field of astroparticle physics. Other participants in this programme include the physics departments of the two universities, the observatory of the LMU, and the MPI fÜr Physik.