Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg

Vorträge, Seminare, Ereignisse

A list of all Physics & Astronomy talks and seminars taking place in Heidelberg can be found at HePhySTO.


Upcoming events


2024-04-05
11:00
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Recent research results from the HKU Late State stellar evolution team - Strange Galactic alignments and solving the sulphur anomaly in Planetary Nebulae
Quentin Parker (Hong Kong)
Königstuhl Kolloquium ( Home pageHephysto link )
Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Level 3 Lecture Hall (301)
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Abstract
Planetary Nebulae (Pne) are a relatively rare but powerful late-stage stellar population in terms of what we can learn about stellar evolution and the chemical enrichment process of entire Galaxies. Their ionised shells exhibit numerous and strong emission lines over a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum. As such they represent highly useful “laboratories” for studying the plasma physics of these celestial objects.  Because most radiation from PNe is emitted via their strong emission lines they can be found to enormous distances outside of our own Galaxy. Their rich variety of lines also enables estimation of elemental abundances, expansion velocity of the nebula and associated kinematic age. HASH (Hong Kong/AAO/Strasbourg H-alpha PN catalogue) is a PNe mutliwavelength database of all currently known Galactic and Magellanic Cloud PNe. It has provided a powerful online resource for the global community to study both PNe and their CSPN with over 1100 users in more than 60 countries.

In this talk I will present some key, recent results from various HKU based projects on PNe facilitated via our ESO VLT data and HASH. I will cover a recent, enigmatic 5-sigma PNe alignment result in the Galactic centre, our robust abundance determinations and resolution of a decades old  so-called “sulphur anomaly” problem.

2024-04-12
11:00
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DSA-2000
Fabian Walter (MPIA)
Königstuhl Kolloquium ( Home pageHephysto link )
Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Level 3 Lecture Hall (301)
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TBD

2024-04-18
11:15
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Pranav Kukreti (ARI)
ARI Institute Colloquium ( Hephysto link )
ARI, Moenchhofstrasse 12-14, Seminarraum 1.OG
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2024-04-25
11:15
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The Local Volume Mapper (LVM): Physics at the energy injection scale
Kathryn Kreckel (ARI)
ARI Institute Colloquium ( Hephysto link )
ARI, Moenchhofstrasse 12-14, Seminarraum 1.OG
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Abstract
I will present an overview of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey V (SDSS-V) Local Volume Mapper (LVM), which began survey operations last November. The LVM is a new optical integral-field spectroscopic survey of the Milky Way (at <pc scales), Magellanic Clouds (at ~10pc scales), and of a sample of local volume galaxies. In all systems, LVM uniquely able to connect resolved pc-scale individual sources of feedback to kpc-scale ionized interstellar medium (ISM) properties. LVM resolves the regions where energy, momentum, and metals are injected into the ISM at the scale of gas clouds, while simultaneously charting where energy is being dissipated (via cooling, shocks, turbulence, bulk flows, etc.) to global scales. I will give an overview of the new telescope, and present early science results on Orion, individual nebulae in the Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds, and views of nearby dwarf galaxies.

2024-04-26
11:00
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James Kirk (Imperial)
Königstuhl Kolloquium ( Home pageHephysto link )
Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Level 3 Lecture Hall (301)

2024-04-26
11:00
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James Kirk (Imperial)
Königstuhl Kolloquium ( Home pageHephysto link )
Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Level 3 Lecture Hall (301)

2024-05-02
11:15
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Massless objects dynamics in star clusters
Francesco Flammini Dotti (ARI)
ARI Institute Colloquium ( Hephysto link )
ARI, Moenchhofstrasse 12-14, Seminarraum 1.OG
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Abstract
The dynamical evolution of massless objects in star clusters aims to explore their dynamics during the dynamical evolution of such structures, which is not easy observable in star clusters, and still not possible in dense star clusters such as globular clusters. In a star cluster, the main phenomenon we are going to focus on are the mass segregation and core collapse. I will first introduce previous works that looked into the motion of these objects, and then I will numerically explore the dynamical evolution of such objects, varying the number density of the hosting star cluster. As a final point, I will try to confute if the relative large abundance of free-floating planets in our galaxy is due to their ejected free-floating planets. I will use NBODY6++GPU-ML (a N-body code which performs simulations with a large number of particles and massless particles, i.e., star clusters with free-floating planets). The results pinpoint how the massless particles are not particularly affected by mass segregation, but only by the central gravitational evolution of the core of the star cluster, suggesting that those particles, in relatively dense star clusters, are ejected only at much larger timescales.

2024-05-10
11:00
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TBD
Tom Megeath (Uni of Toledo)
Königstuhl Kolloquium ( Home pageHephysto link )
Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Level 3 Lecture Hall (301)
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Abstract: TBA

2024-05-16
11:15
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Do Dwarf Galaxies Dance to ΛCDM’s Tune?
Marcel Pawlowski (AIP)
ARI Institute Colloquium ( Hephysto link )
ARI, Moenchhofstrasse 12-14, Seminarraum 1.OG
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Driven by the increasingly complete observational knowledge of systems of satellite galaxies, mutual spatial alignments and relations in velocities among satellites belonging to a common host have become a productive field of research. The Planes of Satellite Galaxies issue is maybe the best-known type of such phase-space correlations. There is an ongoing, controversial debate on how much of a challenge observed, flattened distributions of apparently co-orbiting satellite galaxies pose for the ?CDM model of cosmology. With the fast expansion of proper motion measurements in recent years, largely driven by Gaia, other peculiar phase-space correlations have been uncovered among the satellites of the Milky Way. Concurrently, more complete observational samples of satellite galaxies around more distant hosts now enable us to expand the study such correlations to the Andromeda galaxy, Centaurus A, and beyond. In my talk, I will provide an introduction to this highly active field of research. I will review some of our recent results concerning planes of satellite galaxies, lopsided satellite galaxy systems, a potential “too-many-satellites” problem, and talk about how these (dis-)agree with cosmological expectations and other suggested formation scenarios.

2024-05-17
11:00
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Ryan Hickox (Dartmouth)
Königstuhl Kolloquium ( Home pageHephysto link )
Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Level 3 Lecture Hall (301)
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KoCo signature speaker (GC)

2024-05-23
11:15
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50 Years of Plate Tectonic - That’s all?
Ulrich A. Glasmacher (Institute of Earth Sciences, Heidelberg UNI)
ARI Institute Colloquium ( Hephysto link )
ARI, Moenchhofstrasse 12-14, Seminarraum 1.OG
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“Plate tectonics” is a young field of geoscientific research. What are the questions driving geoscientific research today? Can geoscience develop a unification theory of the endogen and exogen processes on our planet Earth that may even be valid for the processes on other planets? The lecture provides an insight into the development of geoscientific research over the last 500 years. It ends in a detailed explanation of today's research on plate tectonics. Surprises, better changed ways of thinking, are planned. Let me take you on a journey through the last 500 years and take you into the depths of our planet Earth and its effects on the surface evolution of the planet.

2024-05-24
11:00
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TBA
Raphael Hviding (MPIA)
Königstuhl Kolloquium ( Home pageHephysto link )
Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Level 3 Lecture Hall (301)
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TBA

2024-05-31
11:00
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Antoine Dumont (MPIA)
Königstuhl Kolloquium ( Home pageHephysto link )
Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Level 3 Lecture Hall (301)

2024-06-06
11:15
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Deciphering the features of the black hole mass function
Michela Mapelli (ITA)
ARI Institute Colloquium ( Hephysto link )
ARI, Moenchhofstrasse 12-14, Seminarraum 1.OG
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Abstract
With nearly one hundred gravitational-wave events observed by LIGO and Virgo, the mass spectrum of binary black holes starts revealing a number of features. While the most common primary black hole mass is about 8-10 Msun, the data reveal an excess at 35 Msun and a long tail extending out to 90 Msun. Such features must encode the formation history of binary black holes, but their analysis has brought us more questions than answers to date. In my talk, I discuss several possible scenarios for the emergence of these features, based on novel semi-analytic models of binary evolution and star cluster dynamics.

2024-06-07
11:00
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Sarah Casewell (Leicester)
Königstuhl Kolloquium ( Home pageHephysto link )
Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Level 3 Lecture Hall (301)
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KoCo Signature Speaker

2024-06-13
11:15
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Frontier multiwavelength view of distant radio-loud AGN in 3D: JWST/NIRSpec IFU+MUSE+ALMA
Wuji Wang (ARI)
ARI Institute Colloquium ( Hephysto link )
ARI, Moenchhofstrasse 12-14, Seminarraum 1.OG
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Abstract
The distant (z~3) radio-loud AGN (=high-z radio galaxies, HzRGs) are hosted by some of the most massive galaxies living in the centre of (proto-)clusters. They are the perfect laboratory for studying simultaneously both the radiatively driven and jet-driven feedback at around Cosmic Noon. To disentangle the interactions between different components in the interstellar to circumgalactic medium (ISM to CGM), I exploit the state-of-the-art integral field spectrographs (IFS) through my PhD: NIRSpec/IFU, MUSE, and ALMA. Using MUSE, I mapped 100s kpc Ly-alpha nebulae around HzRGs and linked them to other quasar species. Through analysis of absorbing gas, I found evidence of CGM enrichment at z~4.5 by AGN feedback. The NIRSpec/IFU on board JWST unveils the ISM in sub-kpc resolution. The warm ionised gas shows multiple components and complex morphologies which could be related to outflow, shocks, and companions. For one of the HzRGs, I discovered its inefficiency in radiatively driven feedback even close to the central AGN. I will also show the ALMA observed [CII] line which indicates rotation structures, but its broad line width may also trace multi-phase outflows. Last but not least, spatially resolved cold dust in ALMA Band8 pinpoint the young stars in the hosts. The richer information brought by the combination of these IFS will revolutionise our understanding of the evolution of distant galaxies.

2024-06-14
11:00
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TBD
Christina Eilers (MIT)
Königstuhl Kolloquium ( Home pageHephysto link )
Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Level 3 Lecture Hall (301)
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TBD

2024-06-20
11:15
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A tutorial on Gaia's astrometric data and their usage
Ulrich Bastian (ARI)
ARI Institute Colloquium ( Hephysto link )
ARI, Moenchhofstrasse 12-14, Seminarraum 1.OG
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I will carefully explain what the published astrometric Gaia data for any given star mean in detail, and how they can be used in practice. In particular, I will elaborate on the precision estimates and on the quality/reliability flags given for each star in the Gaia data releases. In addition, I will give a preview of the forthcoming epoch astrometry data, i.e. of the individual astrometric measurements for all Gaia sources, to be published for the first time in Gaia DR4 in early 2026. Since Gaia mainly does one-dimensional measurements, the structure and usage of these epoch data are not intuitive for an astronomer.

2024-06-27
11:15
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Mapping AGN Ionized Gas Outflows: Insights from Different Selection Techniques
Marco Alban (ARI)
ARI Institute Colloquium ( Hephysto link )
ARI, Moenchhofstrasse 12-14, Seminarraum 1.OG
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Abstract
AGN belong to the Universe's most powerful non-explosive sources, and their emission covers the whole electro-magnetic spectrum. Different methods are therefore employed to identify AGN, but, most importantly, the various wavelength regimes provide different windows on AGN physics. The physical processes that may impact whether an AGN is detected in a given astronomical observation at a given wavelength and which class it is then assigned to may include orientation, accretion rate, black hole mass, environment, host galaxy properties, and cosmic time (redshift). Understanding the differences and similarities between these different AGN classes is a pre-requisite to understanding AGN physics and the role AGN play in galaxy evolution. We have compiled a sample of 632 AGN among the galaxies observed within the large MaNGA IFU survey. These AGN were identified through independent selection techniques, such as radio, BPT, broad-lines, mid-IR color, and X-ray selections. Using the MaNGA IFU data, we have mapped and characterized ionized gas flows in these sources to understand the dependence of galaxy-wide outflows on host galaxy properties, AGN class, and AGN luminosity. I will present how wind characteristics and outflow sizes differ between AGN samples, which parameters drive these differences, and how strongly AGN feedback signatures suffer from selection bias. I will also show that radio-selected AGN show stronger outflows and larger outflow sizes when carefully matched to control samples which suggests that radio-selected AGN may trace an evolved phase of AGN activity. Our results are important in the context of AGN duty cycle and highlight IFU data's potential to deepen our knowledge of AGN and galaxy evolution.

2024-06-28
11:00
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Aarynn Carter (STScI)
Königstuhl Kolloquium ( Home pageHephysto link )
Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Level 3 Lecture Hall (301)

2024-07-04
11:15
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Unlocking the various evolutionary pathways of sun-like stars
Nicole Reindl (LSW)
ARI Institute Colloquium ( Hephysto link )
ARI, Moenchhofstrasse 12-14, Seminarraum 1.OG
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There is no one way to live a life. How true this statement is also for stars is well reflected in the zoo of H-deficient stars, and strikingly beautiful and diverse planetary nebulae morphologies. In this talk I will give an overview of how my research on hot, evolved stars has and will help to disentangle the various evolutionary paths of sun-like stars.

2024-07-05
11:00
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Maximilian Häberle (MPIA)
Königstuhl Kolloquium ( Home pageHephysto link )
Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Level 3 Lecture Hall (301)
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2024-07-11
11:15
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Early and late, near and far: New JWST and NOEMA studies of different AGN populations
Caroline Bertemes
ARI Institute Colloquium ( Hephysto link )
ARI, Moenchhofstrasse 12-14, Seminarraum 1.OG
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Abstract
The lives of galaxies are governed by the baryon cycle, which involves the accretion of gas, its consumption via star formation, and its ejection or heating through feedback from stars and active galactic nuclei (AGN). In massive galaxies, the crucial impact of AGN feedback for regulating star formation has been supported by a wealth of observational and theoretical studies. In this talk, I will highlight results from two distinct surveys, studying AGN with diverse outflow strengths, at different redshifts and at different evolutionary stages. Firstly, I will present results from the JWST Early Release Science Program Q3D studying three luminous quasars with large-scale outflows at different redshifts (z~0.4, 1.6, 3). Specifically, the targets are undergoing the rare and intense extremely red quasar phase, believed to represent an early “blow-out” stage: After a quasar is fed large amounts of gas funnelling to the centre (entraining dust), it launches violent outflows that will rapidly clear out the central dust. I will share new insights into the geometry, mass loading and kinematics of the winds, accretion, as well as localised physical conditions. I will also present a cross-comparison of virial black hole masses derived via multi-wavelength tracers, and discuss implications for the increasing number of studies on black hole growth at high redshift in the JWST era. On the low-redshift side, I will introduce a sample of AGN with low-velocity ionised outflows and suppressed star formation, and present a first look into their molecular gas distribution via new NOEMA (Northern Extended Millimeter Array) follow-up observations. These sources are suspected to be at a late evolutionary stage and potentially undergoing one of the final phases of AGN feedback before quenching.

2024-07-18
11:15
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Big science with small telescopes: galaxy morphologies
Andreas Koch-Hansen (ARI)
ARI Institute Colloquium ( Hephysto link )
ARI, Moenchhofstrasse 12-14, Seminarraum 1.OG
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Even small-aperture (amateur) telescopes are indispensible for astronomical research. This, way, deep exposures of galaxies in the local universe reveal a complexity of substructures. Here I will show selected highlights from a dedicated campaign, the HERON survey, that allowed us to investigate the formation channels of galaxies with some peculiar morphologies such as boxy halos.

2024-07-25
11:15
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Unveiling the Role of Active Galactic Nuclei Winds in Shaping Galaxies: Impacts on Stellar Populations and Chemical Enrichment
Rogemar Riffel (UFSM)
ARI Institute Colloquium ( Hephysto link )
ARI, Moenchhofstrasse 12-14, Seminarraum 1.OG
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Identifying and characterizing the processes that transform galaxies from star-forming to quiescent is a fundamental goal of extragalactic astronomy. One critical transformation mechanism is galactic-scale feedback due to active nuclei (AGN). In an ongoing collaboration between Brazil (UFSM - Santa Maria, UFRGS - Porto Alegre and UNIVAP - São José dos Campos) and Germany (ARI - Heidelberg, AIP - Potsdam), our goal is to investigate the impact of AGN feedback in galaxy through the study the properties of multi-gas phase AGN winds, stellar populations, environmental effects, and chemical abundances of AGN hosts. In this talk, I will introduce the collaboration and present previous results obtained by our group. We have been studying the AGN feeding and feedback processes over 15 years, using optical and near-infrared integral field spectroscopy of inner kiloparsec of nearby active galaxies obtained with large telescopes. These observations are used to spatially resolve the molecular and ionized gas emission structure and kinematics. We find that while outflows in ionized gas are seen in most objects studied, in molecular gas they are less common, which usually is dominated by rotation in the disk of galaxies and shows inflows in some cases. The observed ionized outflows are not powerful enough to effectively quench star formation in the AGN host galaxies in most cases.

2024-09-20
11:00
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Jes Jørgensen (NBI)
Königstuhl Kolloquium ( Home pageHephysto link )
Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Level 3 Lecture Hall (301)
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2024-09-27
11:00
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: Nicolas Bouche (CRAL)
Königstuhl Kolloquium ( Home pageHephysto link )
Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Level 3 Lecture Hall (301)
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2024-11-29
15:00
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@3PM
Patzer Colloquium
Königstuhl Kolloquium ( Home pageHephysto link )
Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Level 3 Lecture Hall (301)
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