Photo courtesy NASA/CXC/CfA//MPIfR/ESO/WFI/APEX

Teaching

SS2026:
Seminar (MVRS) on
Radio Galaxies at High Energies,
University of Heidelberg, Faculty of Physics and Astronomy,
2 hours per week, Friday 14:15-15:45, Phil.weg 12, EG070
(2 credit points; presentation language is negotiable)

NOTE:
- This seminar will be held in hybrid form, with a few sessions taking place online (Zoom).
- First in-person meeting is on April 24.
- If you want to attend, please register via heiCo or contact me by email by April 15.

1. Course Context:
The technical and instrumental advances in the last few decades have led to the emergence of a new discipline in modern astronomy dealing with the properties of matter and radiation under extreme physical conditions. In a wide sense, this discipline called High Energy Astrophysics might be defined as focusing on the "astrophysics of high energy processes and their application in astrophysical and cosmological contexts." (M.S. Longair)
At highest photon energies (the so-called VHE or TeV gamma-ray domain), Heidelberg plays a prominent role in this field with the Max-Planck Institut for Nuclear Physics (MPIK) as the lead institute of the H.E.S.S. observatory and in preparation of the upcoming CTA Observatory.

2. Course Description:
Active Galactic Nuclei are the most powerful persistent sources in the Universe. They can show highly variable emission up to highest gamma-ray energies. Given the accessible energy budget, they belong to the prime candidate sources for the acceleration of cosmic rays to multi EeV energies. This seminar aims to give insights into the source properties of Radio Galaxies and discuss the astrophysical processes, including particle acceleration and emission. A specific focus will be given to physical concepts and astrophysical contexts, including a discussion of selective highlight results.

3. Seminar Rules: You can find the seminar rules here.

4. Topics include:

  • Particle Acceleration and High Energy Emission in AGN (intro)
  • Radio Galaxies as TeV emitters
  • Gap-type Particle Acceleration Around Supermassive Black Holes
  • VHE Gamma-Ray Emission from large-scale Jets in FR I
  • Shear Particle Acceleration in AGN Jets
  • Gamma-Ray Emission from the Giant Lobes in Centaurus A
  • Stochastic Particle Acceleration
  • AGN Jets as UHECR Accelerators
  • High Energy Neutrinos from a nearby (radio-quiet) AGN
  • Evidence for Shock Acceleration in AGN Jets

    • 5. Basic reference literature:

  • J. Matthews et al.: Particle Acceleration in astrophyscial jets (2020) [Link]
  • Proceedings of the 2022 Heidelberg Symposium on High-Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy [Link]
  • F.M. Rieger: Theory of Gamma-Ray Loud AGNs (2023)[Link]
  • F.M. Rieger and A. Levinson: Radio Galaxies at VHE Energies (2018)[Link]

    • Further topics, literature and details will be specified during the first meeting.