Research Groups

Fast radio bursts, flashes of radio waves originating at cosmological distances, are a new class of astrophysical transient of still unknown origins. They are exciting new probes for measuring the physical properties of a wide range of ionized media. The goal of this research group is to investigate how to leverage fast radio bursts for studying the spatial structure of matter throughout the Universe. 

Even though electromagnetism is one of the four fundamental forces of nature, little is known about how large-scale magnetic fields are generated in galaxies. Sensitive broadband radio synchrotron polarization observations of emission from the galaxies themselves and Faraday Rotation Measure of background radio sources behind them provide us with the best chance to understand the processes that generate galactic-scale magnetic fields.

Stars mostly form as part of a whole cluster of stars. In this phase the young stars are surrounded by a gas/dust disc, which under favourable circumstanes provides the material for the formation of a planetary system. In these young clusters the stars are so densely packed that close fly-bys are a common event. The acting gravitational forces between the stars are so strong that they potentially disturb the discs and just form planetary systems. Computer programs are developed allowing to simulate this situation on high-performance computers. Thus it is possible to determine in how far the cluster environment influences star and planet formation.