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Max-Planck-Institut Für Astrophysik Annual Report 2017

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Max-Planck-Institut Für Astrophysik Annual Report 2017 Max-Planck-Institut für Astrophysik Annual Report 2017 Contents 1 General Information 3 1.1 AbriefhistoryoftheMPA ........................... ....... 3 1.2 CurrentMPAfacilities . ......... 4 1.3 2017attheMPA.................................... .... 5 2 Scientific Highlights 15 2.1 The Hydrangea project: high-resolution hydrodynamic simulations of galaxy clusters . 15 2.2 Constraining theories of gravity using the large-scale distribution ofgalaxies . 17 2.3 The Circum-galactic Medium of Galaxies as Probe of Gas Accretion ........... 19 2.4 Simulating separate universes to study the clustering ofdarkmatter . .. .. .. .. 20 2.5 Gravitational noise interferes with determining the coordinates of distant sources . 21 2.6 Intense radiation and winds emitted by massive stars regulate star formation in galaxies 23 2.7 Wanted: the rotating radio emission of the Milky Way . ............... 25 2.8 Instabilities in relativistic magnetized accretion disks.................... 26 2.9 Probing molecular clouds with supermassive black hole X-rayflares.. .. .. .. .. 28 2.10 Rise and Shine: Type Ia supernova models at early times . ................ 31 2.11 Bridging the Gap: From Massive Stars to Supernovae in 3D ................ 32 2.12 LOFAR radio observations document rejuvenation in space ................ 34 3 Publications and Invited Talks 37 3.1 PublicationsinJournals . .......... 37 3.1.1 Publicationsthat appearedin 2017(262) . ........... 37 3.1.2 Publicationsacceptedin2017 . ......... 51 3.1.3 Publicationsaselectronicfile . .......... 52 3.2 Publicationsinproceedings . ........... 52 3.2.1 Publications in proceedings appeared in 2017 . ............. 52 3.3 Talks........................................... .... 54 3.3.1 Invited review talks at international meetings . ............... 54 3.3.2 InvitedColloquiatalks. ........ 56 3.3.3 Publictalks................................... .... 57 3.4 Lecturesandlecturecourses. ........... 57 3.4.1 LecturesatLMUandTUM. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... 57 3.4.2 Shortandpubliclectures . ....... 58 4 Personnel 59 4.1 Scientificstaffmembers . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ........ 59 4.1.1 Staffnews...................................... .. 60 4.2 PhDThesis2017andMasterthesis2017. ........... 60 4.2.1 Ph.D.theses2017 ............................... .... 60 4.2.2 Mastertheses2017.............................. ..... 61 4.3 Visitingscientists.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .......... 62 1 1 General Information 1.1 A brief history of the MPA rector is formally the successor of Wolfgang Hille- brandt who retired in 2012. The MPA was orig- The Max-Planck-Institut für Astrophysik, usually inally founded as an institute for theoretical as- called MPA for short, was founded in 1958 under trophysics, aiming to develop the theoretical con- the directorship of Ludwig Biermann. It was estab- cepts and numerical algorithms needed to study lished as an offshoot of the Max-Planck-Institut für the structure and evolution of stars (including the Physik, which at that time had just moved from sun), the dynamics and chemistry of the interstel- Göttingen to Munich. In 1979, as part of plans lar medium, the interaction of hot, dilute plas- to move the headquarters of the European South- mas with magnetic fields and energetic particles, ern Observatory from Geneva to Garching, Bier- and the calculation of transition probabilities and mann’s successor, Rudolf Kippenhahn, relocated cross–sections for astrophysical processes in rar- the MPA to its current site. The MPA became efied media. From its inception the MPA has fully independent in 1991. Kippenhahn retired had an internationally-recognized numerical astro- shortly thereafter and this led to a period of un- physics program that was long unparalleled by any certainty, which ended in 1994 with the appoint- other institution of similar size. ment of Simon White as director. The subsequent appointments of Rashid Sunyaev (1995) and Wolf- Over the last 20 years, activities at the MPA gang Hillebrandt (1997) as directors at the insti- have diversified considerably. They now address tute, together with adoption of new set of statutes a much broader range of topics, including a va- in 1997, allowed the MPA to adopt a system of riety of data analysis and even some observing collegial leadership by a Board of Directors. The projects, although there is still a major empha- Managing Directorship rotates every three years, sis on theory and numerics. Resources are chan- with Eiichiro Komatsu in post for the period 2015- neled into directions where new instrumental or 2017. computational capabilities are expected to lead to rapid developments. Active areas of current In 2007 Martin Asplund arrived as a new direc- research include stellar evolution, stellar atmo- tor but, for personal reasons, decided to return to spheres, accretion phenomena, nuclear and parti- The Australian National University in 2011. He cle astrophysics, supernova physics, astrophysical remains linked to the institute as external Scien- fluid dynamics, high-energy astrophysics, radiative tific Member, joining the other external Scientific processes, the structure, formation and evolution Members: Riccardo Giacconi, Rolf Kudritzki and of galaxies, gravitational lensing, the large-scale Werner Tscharnuter. Eiichiro Komatsu arrived in structure of the Universe, the cosmic microwave 2012 from the University of Texas to take up a di- background, and physical and early universe cos- rectorship, bringing new impetus to the institute’s mology. Several previous research themes (solar research into the early universe and the growth of system physics, the quantum chemistry of astro- structure. This generational change continued in physical molecules, general relativity and gravita- 2013 when the MPA’s own Guinevere Kauffmann tional wave astronomy) have been substantially re- was promoted to a directorship, thereby ensuring duced since 1994. that the institute will remain a centre for studies of the formation and evolution of galaxies. In 2017 Since 2001 the MPA has been part of the In- Volker Springel, a former group leader at MPA, ternational Max-Planck Research School in Astro- came back from the University of Heidelberg to physics, a joint initiative between the Max Planck become a director in the department of Computa- Society and the Ludwig-Maximilians University of tional Astrophysics. Munich. About 70 PhD students participate in Finally, another search is currently underway for the school at any given time, most of them at the a new director, active in general areas including, MPE or the MPA. This has subtantially increased but not limited to, stellar astrophysics, planetary and internationalised the graduate student body at science, and high-energy astrophysics such as ac- MPA over the last decade and has resulted in pro- cretion disks and compact objects. This new di- ductive social and professional links between MPA 3 4 1. General Information students and those at other local institutions. Cur- tists and computer specialists. In addition, a group rently about 25 students at MPA participate in the of scientists constitutes the “Computer Executive IMPRS. Committee”, responsible for the long-term strat- MPA policy is effectively set by the Wis- egy and planning, and for balancing the requests senschaftliche Institutsrat (WIR) which has met of the different groups and users. Our aim is to sat- regularly about 6 times a year since 1995 to discuss isfy the needs by providing both extensive in-house all academic, social and administrative issues af- computer power and by ensuring effective access to fecting the institute. This consists of all the perma- the supercomputers and the mass storage facilities nent scientific staff and the Max-Planck Research at the Max Planck Computing and Data Facility Group leaders, as well as elected representatives of (MPCDF) and the Leibniz Computer Centre of the the postdocs, doctoral students and support staff. state of Bavaria (LRZ). It acts as the main formal conduit for discussion MPCDF and MPA coordinate their activities and communication within the institute, advising and development plans through regular meetings the directorate on all substantive issues. Ad hoc to ensure continuity in the working environment subcommittees of the WIR carry out the annual experienced by the users. Scientists at MPA are postdoc and student hiring exercises, monitor stu- also very successful obtaining additional supercom- dent progress, oversee the running of the computer puting time, typically of the order of millions of system, and, in recent years, have carried out the CPU-hours per project at various other supercom- searches for new directions and directorial candi- puter centres at both national and international dates. level. The most important resources provided by Other aspects of the MPA’s structure have his- the MPCDF are parallel supercomputers, PByte torical origins. Its administrative staff is shared mass storage facilities (also for backups), and the with the neighboring, but substantially larger MPI gateway to the German high-speed network for sci- für extraterrestrische Physik (MPE). The library ence and education. MPA participates actively in in the MPA building also serves the two institutes discussions of major investments at the MPCDF, jointly. All major astronomical books and peri- and has provided several benchmark codes for the odicals are available. The MPA played an im- evaluation of the next generation supercomputer portant role in founding the Max-Planck Society’s options. In
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