
Non-Thermal Astrophysics
Division Prof. Dr. Jim Hinton
Research in the division covers two main areas:
- high-energy astrophysics exploring the sources and acceleration processes of high-energy particles in the Universe, and
- particle physics probing the Standard Model.
High energy astrophysics employs atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes or dense particle detector arrays to measure gamma rays emitted by high-energy particles in our Galaxy and beyond. The division has contributed major parts of the hardware of the H.E.S.S. Cherenkov telescopes and the HAWC high-energy extension, and plays a significant role in preparing the next generation Cherenkov Telescope Array CTA. Associated research groups cover theory and phenomenology of high energy astrophysics, theoretical astrophysics and infrared astrophysics.
Accelerator-based particle physics projects are primarily aimed at the study of heavy-quark production and decays, with emphasis on the phase space relevant to both particle physics and cosmic-ray physics.
The GERDA experiment at the Gran Sasso underground laboratory investigates neutrinoless double-beta decay of 76Ge, probing mass and nature of neutrinos.
Associated research activities
- Max Planck Research Group Astrophysical Plasma Theory (Brian Reville)
- High-Energy Astrophysics Theory (Felix Aharonian)
- Infrared Astrophysics (Richard Tuffs)
- Director emeritus Werner Hofmann
- Director emeritus Heinrich J. Völk
- Relativistic Astrophysics (Heisenberg Fellow Frank Rieger, MPIK&ITA University of Heidelberg)
News
At the turn of the year, Prof. Dr. Jim Hinton on a rotational basis took over the Institute management of MPIK. Deputy for the next 18 months is…
Another milestone in the search for neutrinoless double-beta decay
The GERmanium Detector Array (GERDA) experiment at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS) of INFN, Italy, has reported its final results on…
A new scenario for particle acceleration at pulsar wind termination shocks
Large-scale numerical simulations