Konferenzen, Arbeitstagungen etc.

Group picture of the conference
Diese eintägige Veranstaltung befasste sich mit einigen Themen der Radioastronomie, insbesondere mit den seit den 1990er Jahren durchgeführten Arbeiten zur Verbesserung der Interferometrie mit sehr langen Basislinien (VLBI) und der Millimeterwellenlängen-Astronomie.  Diese Forschungen haben neue Informationen über das Verhalten aktiver galaktischer Kerne (AGN), die detaillierte Struktur von AGN-Jets und die Umgebung von Schwarzen Löchern geliefert. Sie hat auch unser Verständnis von kompakten Radioquellen verbessert.  Das Symposium wurde von Thomas Krichbaums ehemaligen Studenten, Mitarbeitern und Kollegen besucht, um seine Karriere zu feiern. Die Veranstaltung war ein Nachmittag des Nachdenkens, an dem wissenschaftliche Präsentationen mit persönlichen Bemerkungen kombiniert wurden, die nicht nur seine beruflichen Errungenschaften, sondern auch seine inspirierende Mentorenschaft und sein freundliches Wesen hervorhoben. Die Veranstaltung würdigte sowohl die persönlichen als auch die wissenschaftlichen Qualitäten, die Thomas' Karriere ausmachen. mehr
Group picture of the GPCAL meeting

27-29 January 2025: M2FINDERS Workshop: a Generalised Polarisation CALibration pipeline (GPCAL)

Unser Institut veranstaltete einen Workshop zur VLBI-Polarisationskalibrierung, bei dem die Software GPCAL zum Einsatz kam. Die Veranstaltung wurde von Dr. Jongho Park von der Kyung Hee University, Südkorea, geleitet und umfasste eine Mischung aus Vorträgen und praktischen Übungen.
An drei Tagen erwarben die Teilnehmer eingehende Kenntnisse über VLBI-Polarisationskalibrierungstechniken mit GPCAL. Der Workshop umfasste:
Eine Einführung in GPCAL, einschließlich seiner Rolle bei der Polarisationskalibrierung.
Frequenz- und zeitabhängige Leckagekalibrierung mit GPCAL.
Ausführliche praktische Übungen zur Anwendung der Konzepte in der Praxis.
Der letzte Tag endete mit einer Präsentation der Ergebnisse, Diskussionen und Feedback. Diese Veranstaltung vermittelte den Teilnehmern wertvolle Fähigkeiten und Einblicke in fortgeschrittene Polarisationskalibrierungstechniken für VLBI.

Übersetzt mit DeepL.com (kostenlose Version)
Informal group picture, taken on September 3, 2024 (Aleksei Nikonov)

2-6 September 2024: 16th European VLBI Network Symposium and Users' Meeting

6. September 2024
The European VLBI Network Symposium is the main forum for discussion of the latest Very Long Baseline Interferometry scientific results and technical and technological developments within the EVN member countries. The 16th EVN Symposium and Users meeting, hosted by the Max-Planck-Institut für Radiostronomie, took place in Bonn in September 2-6, 2024.

The covered topics included:
  • Active galactic nuclei and relativistic outflows
  • Starburst galaxies, extragalactic masers, and supernovae
  • Stellar evolution and stellar masers
  • Transient sources and pulsars
  • Astrometric, geodetic & space applications of VLBI
  • VLBI technology developments
  • Users feedback
  • Current and future VLBI facilities and international cooperation

Invited speakers:
  • Markus Ackermann (DESY, Zeuthen, Germany)
  • Bia Boccardi (MPIfR, Bonn, Germany)
  • Roger Deane (University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa)
  • Simon Garrington (Jodrell Bank Observatory, Manchester, United Kingdom)
  • Giancarlo Ghirlanda (Osservatorio di Brera, Milano, Italy)
  • Preeti Kharb (Tata Institute for Fundamental Research, Pune, India)
  • Michela Mapelli (Universität Heidelberg, Germany)
  • Benito Marcote (Joint Institute for VLBI-ERIC, Dwingeloo, The Netherlands)
  • James Miller-Jones (Curtin University, Melbourne, Australia)
  • Suma Murthy (Joint Institute for VLBI-ERIC, Dwingeloo, The Netherlands)
  • Alexander Plavin (Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA, USA)
  • Eduardo Ros (MPIfR, Bonn, Germany)
  • Gabriele Surcis (Osservatorio di Cagliari, Italy)
  • Kiyoaki Wajima (KASI Daejeon, Korea & Shanghai Observatory, PR China)
  • Benjamin Winkel (MPIfR, Bonn, Germany)
  • Simona Vegetti (MPA, Garching, Germany)
  • Jun Yang (Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden)

Scientific Organising Committee:
  • Tao An (Shanghai Observatory, China)
  • Pikky Atri (ASTRON, Dwingeloo, Netherlands)
  • Paola Castangia (INAF Cagliari, Italy)
  • Talvikki Hovatta (Aalto University, Espoo, Finland)
  • Marcin Gawroński (University of Torun, Poland)
  • Michael Lindqvist (Onsala Space Observatory, Sweden)
  • Andrei Lobanov (MPIfR, Bonn, Germany; chair)
  • Sara Motta (INAF Milano, Italy)
  • Tom Muxlow (University of Manchester, UK)
  • Zsolt Paragi (JIV-ERIC, Dwingeloo, Netherlands)
  • Kazi Rygl (INAF Bologna, Italy)

Local Organising Committee:
  • Siân Adey
  • Vieri Bartolini
  • Petra Benke
  • Lena Debbrecht
  • Sergio Dzib-Quijano
  • JongSeo Kim
  • Galina Lipunova
  • Andrei P. Lobanov
  • Jan Röder
  • Eduardo Ros (chair)
  • Saurabh
Group picture of attendants to meeting: Alexei Nikonov, Cecilia Degli Agosti, Petra Benke, Kim Jongseo, Joana Höllmer, Luca Ricci, Arman Tursunov, Lena Debbrecht, Raoul Kinadeter (top), Jan Röder, Héctor Olivares, Ziri Younsi, and Saurabh

20-23 February 2024: M2FINDERS Magneto-Hydrodynamics Simulation Workshop

The M2FINDERS MHD Simulation Workshop was a comprehensive event designed to provide a good insight into the world of astrophysical fluid simulations. This workshop was part of the M2FINDERS activities (more specifically, the Theory and Interpretation of the Observing Programme work package) and aimed to introduce participants to the fundamental concepts and methodologies involved in numerical simulations of astrophysical fluids. The workshop was structured to maximise learning and hands-on experience. The mornings were devoted to informative lectures providing a theoretical foundation and overview of the subject matter. These lectures covered a wide range of topics, from the basic principles of astrophysical fluid dynamics to the latest developments in the field. In the afternoons, participants had the opportunity to apply what they had learned in practical sessions. These sessions involved working with state-of-the-art numerical codes, allowing participants to gain first-hand experience in running their own simulations. This hands-on approach not only reinforced the theoretical knowledge gained in the morning lectures, but also provided valuable skills that could be applied in future research.

We enjoyed the presence of the experts Héctor Olivares (Aveiro U. Portugal) and Ziri Younsi (U. College London) as guest speakers for the workshop.
Group picture of the M2FINDERS seminar

24-27 October 2023: M2FINDERS Workshop: Bayesian Imaging Algorithm resolve Workshop II

The M2FINDERS Bayesian Imaging Algorithm Workshop brought together experts and participants for an in-depth exploration of Bayesian imaging techniques in radio interferometry. Held from October 24-27, 2023, this event combined theoretical lectures and hands-on tutorials using the cutting-edge Bayesian imaging library, resolve.

Key topics included an introduction to Bayesian statistics, information field theory, and advanced imaging techniques for interferometric data using the resolve algorithm. The workshop featured insightful lectures from leading astrophysicists, including Torsten Ensslin, Philipp Frank, Jakob Roth, and Vishal Johnson (MPI for Astrophysics), alongside contributed talks on cutting-edge research.

Highlights:
Bayesian Imaging & Calibration: Learnings on applying Bayesian methods to interferometric data for precise imaging.
Contributed Talks:
  • Multi-Objective Optimization for Polarimetric Dynamic Reconstructions* (Alejandro Mus)
  • Radiative Processes in Black Hole Magnetospheres* (Arman Tursunov)
  • Component Separation & Multi-Frequency Modelling with Resolve* (Richard Fuchs)

This workshop equipped participants with valuable tools and knowledge to apply Bayesian algorithms in their research, with a focus on future developments in astrophysical imaging.
Group picture of the meeting at the MPI for Mathematicas in the Natural Sciences, on 27 September 2023.  Picture taken by Thomas Endler at the MPI MIS.

27-28 September 2023: Second Workshop on German Science Opportunities for the ngVLA, MPI for Mathematics in the Sciences, Leipzig, Germany

The Second Workshop on German Science Opportunities for the Next Generation Very Large Array (ngVLA) brought together the German scientific community and international experts to discuss emerging research opportunities with the ngVLA, a project of the US National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO). Held on 27-28 September 2023 at the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences in Leipzig, this workshop followed the successful first meeting in Bonn in December 2022.

The event featured discussions on German interests in ngVLA science, with contributions from renowned international guests, including Tony Beasley (NRAO Director) and Eric Murphy (ngVLA Project Scientist), fostering valuable scientific exchange.

Highlights:
  • Scientific Exchange: Discussions on Germany's role in ngVLA research and opportunities for collaboration.
  • Special Event: On the afternoon of 28 September, participants attended a presentation on key components of the 18-metre ngVLA telescope prototype, organized by mtex antenna technology and NRAO. The event, under the patronage of the Prime Minister of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer, provided a rare chance to explore the technical advancements behind the ngVLA telescopes.

This workshop not only advanced the scientific conversation on ngVLA research but also offered insights into the cutting-edge technology shaping the future of radio astronomy.
Conference picture, taken on September 21, 2023

21-22 September 2023: M2FINDERS and Beyond: Magnetic Fields around Black Holes

The "M2FINDERS and Beyond" workshop was a two-day event held at the historic Ringberg Castle in Kreuth, situated to the south of Munich, from 21 to 22 September 2023. This exclusive, invitation-only gathering brought together members of the M2FINDERS project, along with external collaborators and experts, with the objective of exploring the latest developments in Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) science, with a particular focus on magnetic fields near black holes.

The workshop presented the findings of the ERC-funded M2FINDERS project, which has developed innovative techniques for VLBI data analysis with the objective of mapping magnetic fields at scales smaller than 1000 gravitational radii from supermassive black holes. The discussions encompassed the physics and evolution of active galactic nuclei (AGN), along with prospective avenues for VLBI observations.

3-6 May 2022: Polarization in VLBI: tools for advanced calibration and analysis (M2FINDERS training workshop)

3-6 May 2022: Polarization in VLBI: tools for advanced calibration and analysis (M2FINDERS training workshop)

This workshop, organised in the framework of the M2FINDERS project, addressed interferometric polarimetry combined with hands-on tutorials using the most recent software packages as PolSolve and EHTim as well as well the established programs AIPS and Difmap.  Main lecturer was Prof. Iván Martí Vidal from the Universitat de València in Spain.
Zur Redakteursansicht