Contact

Dr. Hannelore Hämmerle
Press Officer
Phone:+49 89 30000-3980
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MPI for Astrophysics

https://www.mpa-garching.mpg.de/

Structure

Managing Director
Prof. Dr. Simon D.M. White

Scientific Members, Kollegium, Directors
Prof. Dr. Guinevere Kauffmann
Prof. Dr. Eiichiro Komatsu
Prof. Dr. Volker Springel
Prof. Dr. Simon D.M. White

External Scientific Members
Prof. Dr. Martin Asplund
Prof. Dr. Riccardo Giacconi †
Prof. Dr. Rolf-Peter Kudritzki
Prof. Dr. Werner Tscharnuter

Head of the administration
Hendrik Wanger

Press and Public Relations
Dr. Hannelore Haemmerle
Phone: 089 30000-3980
Cornelia Rickl
Phone: 089 30000-2201
Dr. Hans-Thomas Janka
Phone: 089 30000-2228

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Current research at MPA

Recent high-resolution microwave and X-ray observations of the galaxy cluster RX J1347-1145 offer a new diagnosis tool of gas motion. Probing different parameters of the hot gas in galaxy clusters, these observations allow the MPA scientists to distinguish between gentle and violent motion of gas stirred by encounters with smaller sub-clusters.

Sloshed and shocked: diagnosing gas motion in galaxy clusters

Recent high-resolution microwave and X-ray observations of the galaxy cluster RX J1347-1145 offer a new diagnosis tool of gas motion. Probing different parameters of the hot gas in galaxy clusters, these observations allow the MPA scientists to distinguish between gentle and violent motion of gas stirred by encounters with smaller sub-clusters.
Models of the large-scale structure of galaxies in the Universe suffer from serious limitations, when artificial boundaries are imposed at the virial radius of the dark matter halo. As MPA scientists demonstrate, environmental effects vary smoothly across the traditionally adopted halo boundary and need to be taken into account even in low-density environments.

Galaxy physics beyond the halo boundary

Models of the large-scale structure of galaxies in the Universe suffer from serious limitations, when artificial boundaries are imposed at the virial radius of the dark matter halo. As MPA scientists demonstrate, environmental effects vary smoothly across the traditionally adopted halo boundary and need to be taken into account even in low-density environments.
An international team of more than 200 astronomers from 18 countries has published the first phase of a major new sky survey at unprecedented sensitivity using the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) telescope. The survey reveals hundreds of thousands of previously undetected galaxies, shedding new light on many research areas including the physics of black holes and how clusters of galaxies evolve.

Astronomers publish new sky map detecting hundreds of thousands of previously unknown galaxies

An international team of more than 200 astronomers from 18 countries has published the first phase of a major new sky survey at unprecedented sensitivity using the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) telescope. The survey reveals hundreds of thousands of previously undetected galaxies, shedding new light on many research areas including the physics of black holes and how clusters of galaxies evolve.
The Information Field Theory Group at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics has released a new version of the NIFTy software for scientific imaging. NIFTy5 generates an optimal imaging algorithm from the complex probability model of a measured signal. Such algorithms have already proven themselves in a number of astronomical applications and can now be used in other areas as well.

Next generation imaging

The Information Field Theory Group at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics has released a new version of the NIFTy software for scientific imaging. NIFTy5 generates an optimal imaging algorithm from the complex probability model of a measured signal. Such algorithms have already proven themselves in a number of astronomical applications and can now be used in other areas as well.

Lately, the impact of magnetic fields in simulations of galaxy formation and evolution is being widely studied. A team of researchers from the astronomical Max Planck Institutes in Garching, the University Observatory in Munich, and the University of Konstanz have introduced a new galactic model with an explicitly modelled circum galactic medium (CGM) to investigate the impact of magnetic fields in an isolated simulation of a Milky Way-like galaxy with the focus on the dynamo amplification of the magnetic field.

Dynamo-amplification and magnetic driven outflows in Milky Way-like galaxies

Lately, the impact of magnetic fields in simulations of galaxy formation and evolution is being widely studied. A team of researchers from the astronomical Max Planck Institutes in Garching, the University Observatory in Munich, and the University of Konstanz have introduced a new galactic model with an explicitly modelled circum galactic medium (CGM) to investigate the impact of magnetic fields in an isolated simulation of a Milky Way-like galaxy with the focus on the dynamo amplification of the magnetic field.
Astrophysicists at MPA along with an international team of scientists have made a measurement of all the light in the universe, the so-called Extragalactic Background Light (EBL). The EBL is a sea of photons (particles of light) that have been gradually accumulating since the first stars started shining, shortly after the Big Bang. The results are published in Science on November 30th.

Gamma-rays Reveal the History of Star Formation in the Universe

Astrophysicists at MPA along with an international team of scientists have made a measurement of all the light in the universe, the so-called Extragalactic Background Light (EBL). The EBL is a sea of photons (particles of light) that have been gradually accumulating since the first stars started shining, shortly after the Big Bang. The results are published in Science on November 30th.
Strong gravitational lensing is an extremely powerful tool to go beyond the current limits in angular resolution and to investigate the high-redshift, i.e. distant Universe. Scientists at MPA take advantage of this phenomenon to perform a detailed study of 17 Lyman-α-galaxies and present an analysis of the sizes and star formation rates of their reconstructed ultra-violet (UV) continuum emission.

Studying Lyman-α-galaxies with strong gravitational lensing

Strong gravitational lensing is an extremely powerful tool to go beyond the current limits in angular resolution and to investigate the high-redshift, i.e. distant Universe. Scientists at MPA take advantage of this phenomenon to perform a detailed study of 17 Lyman-α-galaxies and present an analysis of the sizes and star formation rates of their reconstructed ultra-violet (UV) continuum emission.

Some stars are observed to rotate with extremely long periods, the ‘slow rotation problem’. A theory developed at MPA now shows how the magnetic field of a star’s ‘birth cloud’ can cause some stars to accumulate mass without acquiring significant rotation.

The formation of (very) slowly rotating stars

Some stars are observed to rotate with extremely long periods, the ‘slow rotation problem’. A theory developed at MPA now shows how the magnetic field of a star’s ‘birth cloud’ can cause some stars to accumulate mass without acquiring significant rotation.

NEWS at MPA

In contrast to popular belief, lightning often does strike twice, but the reason why a lightning channel is ‘reused’ has remained a mystery. Now, an international research team led by the University of Groningen and including scientists from Germany has used the LOFAR radio telescope, which also includes a station operated by the MPA, to study the development of lightning flashes in unprecedented detail.

Why lightning often strikes twice

In contrast to popular belief, lightning often does strike twice, but the reason why a lightning channel is ‘reused’ has remained a mystery. Now, an international research team led by the University of Groningen and including scientists from Germany has used the LOFAR radio telescope, which also includes a station operated by the MPA, to study the development of lightning flashes in unprecedented detail. [more]
For her science outreach project "Columba-Hypatia: Astronomy for Peace" in Cyprus, MPA researcher Francesca Fragkoudi won the “Falling Walls Science Engagement of the Year” in 2018 together with Shane McCracken “I am scientist, get me out of here“.  The prize was presented at the Falling Walls Conference in November 2018 in Berlin.

Francesca Fragkoudi wins Falling Walls Science Engagement Prize of the Year 2018

February 01, 2019

For her science outreach project "Columba-Hypatia: Astronomy for Peace" in Cyprus, MPA researcher Francesca Fragkoudi won the “Falling Walls Science Engagement of the Year” in 2018 together with Shane McCracken “I am scientist, get me out of here“.  The prize was presented at the Falling Walls Conference in November 2018 in Berlin. [more]
 
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