Contact

Dr. Hannelore Hämmerle
Press Officer
Phone:+49 89 30000-3980
Email:pr@...

http://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

Seminars

All events

Current research at MPA

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.
Supermassive black holes (SMBH) are hiding in the centers of giant elliptical galaxies; at the same time, these galaxies have ‘missing’ nuclear light. A team of researchers at the University of Helsinki and the astronomical Max Planck Institutes in Garching have used a newly developed simulation technique to investigate the origin of this ‘missing’ light with realistic galaxy models. When two massive elliptical galaxies merge, many central stars are expelled during the final coalescence of the stellar nuclei and their SMBHs.

The formation of the most diffuse giant galaxy cores in the Universe

Supermassive black holes (SMBH) are hiding in the centers of giant elliptical galaxies; at the same time, these galaxies have ‘missing’ nuclear light. A team of researchers at the University of Helsinki and the astronomical Max Planck Institutes in Garching have used a newly developed simulation technique to investigate the origin of this ‘missing’ light with realistic galaxy models. When two massive elliptical galaxies merge, many central stars are expelled during the final coalescence of the stellar nuclei and their SMBHs.
Gravitational lensing offers the possibility to study faint, far-away galaxies. MPA researchers have now developed the first three dimensional lens modelling method, which allows not only the reconstruction of the mass distribution of the foreground galaxy but also the kinematics of the background galaxy. Consequently, the matter content can now be studied also in young galaxies.

A novel 3D technique to study the kinematics of lensed galaxies

Gravitational lensing offers the possibility to study faint, far-away galaxies. MPA researchers have now developed the first three dimensional lens modelling method, which allows not only the reconstruction of the mass distribution of the foreground galaxy but also the kinematics of the background galaxy. Consequently, the matter content can now be studied also in young galaxies.
Oxygen, after hydrogen and helium, is the most abundant element in the universe. Understanding the origin of highly excited states of oxygen in the circumgalactic medium (CGM) around galaxies has proven difficult, and past theoretical models have had difficulty matching observational constraints. Using cosmological simulations from the IllustrisTNG suite, researchers at MPA have demonstrated how the feedback from supernovae and supermassive black holes can shape the heavy element content of the CGM, bringing it into agreement with data from the local universe.

Highly ionized oxygen: signatures of galactic feedback

Oxygen, after hydrogen and helium, is the most abundant element in the universe. Understanding the origin of highly excited states of oxygen in the circumgalactic medium (CGM) around galaxies has proven difficult, and past theoretical models have had difficulty matching observational constraints. Using cosmological simulations from the IllustrisTNG suite, researchers at MPA have demonstrated how the feedback from supernovae and supermassive black holes can shape the heavy element content of the CGM, bringing it into agreement with data from the local universe.
Quantum fluctuations in the very early Universe give rise to anisotropies in the cosmic microwave background, and seed present-day cosmic structures. In addition, these fluctuations generate primordial gravitational waves, which are weakly non-Gaussian. However, primordial gravitational waves can also be generated by other sources. Scientists at MPA recently showed that the level of non-Gaussianity, the skewness, can be used as an important test of the origin of primordial gravitational waves.

Gravitational Wave Messengers from the very early universe

Quantum fluctuations in the very early Universe give rise to anisotropies in the cosmic microwave background, and seed present-day cosmic structures. In addition, these fluctuations generate primordial gravitational waves, which are weakly non-Gaussian. However, primordial gravitational waves can also be generated by other sources. Scientists at MPA recently showed that the level of non-Gaussianity, the skewness, can be used as an important test of the origin of primordial gravitational waves.
Previous studies of large AGN samples both a low and at high redshifts seemed to rule out galaxy mergers as the drivers for black hole growth. A new technique developed at MPA for selecting a rare type of active galactic nuclei now show that it is possible to identify a new class of AGN in which more than  80% of the galaxies turn out to be merging or interacting systems, with clear indications of an accreting black hole. A detailed statistical analysis then reveals that mergers drive  black hole formation in the most massive galaxies in the local Universe.

Finding needles in a haystack

Previous studies of large AGN samples both a low and at high redshifts seemed to rule out galaxy mergers as the drivers for black hole growth. A new technique developed at MPA for selecting a rare type of active galactic nuclei now show that it is possible to identify a new class of AGN in which more than  80% of the galaxies turn out to be merging or interacting systems, with clear indications of an accreting black hole. A detailed statistical analysis then reveals that mergers drive  black hole formation in the most massive galaxies in the local Universe.

At the very beginning of the Universe, not only elementary particles and radiation were generated but also magnetic fields. A team of researchers led by the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics now calculated what these magnetic fields should look like today in the local universe – in great detail and in 3D. Thus, the researchers were able to predict the structure and morphology of the primordial magnetic field in our cosmic neighbourhood for the first time. This field is incredibly weak; nevertheless, the prediction could help to address the challenge of measuring it.

The primordial magnetic field in our cosmic backyard

At the very beginning of the Universe, not only elementary particles and radiation were generated but also magnetic fields. A team of researchers led by the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics now calculated what these magnetic fields should look like today in the local universe – in great detail and in 3D. Thus, the researchers were able to predict the structure and morphology of the primordial magnetic field in our cosmic neighbourhood for the first time. This field is incredibly weak; nevertheless, the prediction could help to address the challenge of measuring it.

NEWS at MPA

Inspired by a lecture on information field theory, two former MPA PhD students founded the successful start-up IPT. Honouring this kind of knowledge transfer, both, the company founders and their former supervisor now received the Hochsprung Award presented by the Entrepreneurship Network of Bavarian Universities on October 17.

Hochsprung Award honours company founded on the basis of information field theory

October 17, 2018

Inspired by a lecture on information field theory, two former MPA PhD students founded the successful start-up IPT. Honouring this kind of knowledge transfer, both, the company founders and their former supervisor now received the Hochsprung Award presented by the Entrepreneurship Network of Bavarian Universities on October 17.

[more]
The Excellence Cluster "From the Origin of the Universe to the First Building Blocks of Life", ORIGINS Cluster for short, will be launched on 1 January 2019. This was decided on 27.09. by the Excellence Commission headed by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The interdisciplinary research network deals with the structure and development of the universe from the Big Bang to the emergence of life.

DFG announces funding for Excellence Cluster ORIGINS

The Excellence Cluster "From the Origin of the Universe to the First Building Blocks of Life", ORIGINS Cluster for short, will be launched on 1 January 2019. This was decided on 27.09. by the Excellence Commission headed by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The interdisciplinary research network deals with the structure and development of the universe from the Big Bang to the emergence of life. [more]
Prof. Dr. Volker Springel receives the prize for astrophysical software awarded by the Astronomische Gesellschaft (AG) for the first time this year. With this award, the AG would like to honour outstanding achievements in the development and use of astrophysical computer programs.

Software Development Award 2018 for Volker Springel

Prof. Dr. Volker Springel receives the prize for astrophysical software awarded by the Astronomische Gesellschaft (AG) for the first time this year. With this award, the AG would like to honour outstanding achievements in the development and use of astrophysical computer programs.

 
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