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Max-Planck Institut für extraterrestrische Physik
Max-Planck Institut für extraterrestrische Physik
Giessenbachstr
Garching
Andreas Burkert
(LMU/USM),
Stephan Paul
(TUM, E18)
Description
For the second time, the Cluster hosts its annual ‘Science Week’. From 1 to 4 December 2008 Cluster scientists and invited guests will present their current research work in the fields of astrophysics, particle and nuclear physics. The Science Week is an interdisciplinary event and directed to all scientists who want to gain insight into the current state of all Cluster research areas A-G.
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Extra Talk: Black holes in classical and pseudo-bulgesOver the past decade we have learned that probably all ellipticals and bulges contain central SMBH. SMBH masses correlate well with the (luminosities, and therefore stellar) masses of the bulges harboring them, with about 0.15\% of the bulge mass being found in the SMBH. In addition, there exists a very strong correlation of SMBH mass with the velocity dispersion of the bulge. Here we use our diffraction limited observations with SINFONI at the VLT to investigate whether these relations remain valid, or how they change, when galaxies with classical or so called pseudo-bulges are considered.Speaker: Roberto Saglia (MPE)
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10:00
Coffee break
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4
RA B Talk: Understanding SUSY and QCD effects on flavour observablesFlavour physics, in particular the large number of B- physics observables, provides a rich source of sensitive probes of the details of the weak interactions and possible physics beyond the Standard Model. A major theoretical challenge is to obtain the necessary theoretical control of the unavoidable Standard-Model strong-interaction effects, disentangling them from the fundamental short-distance physics to be studied. In this talk I report on recent work on B-decays into light hadrons based on the limit m_B >> Lambda_QCD and the consequences for the interpretation of B-factory and LHCb data. Furthermore I discuss selected signatures of the well-motivated supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model in flavour-physics observables that are accessible at ongoing and near-term experiments.Speaker: Sebastian Jaeger (TUM, Excellence Cluster Universe)
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5
RA C Talk: Precision Flavour Physics with B Decays into Light Vector MesonsCharmless hadronic B-meson decays provide us with many opportunities to probe the quark flavour sector and to look for signals of physics beyond the standard model. From the theoretical point of view in particular the decays into a pair of longitudinally polarized vector mesons are very promising. We discuss the theory of $B\to V_LV_L$ decays as well as important applications. Measurements of CP violation give interesting results for CKM parameters already at present, among them one of the currently most precise values for $|V_{ub}|$. Future experiments have the potential to lead to unprecedented levels of accuracy and crucial new physics tests.Speaker: Gerhard Buchalla (LMU)
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12:00
Lunch
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6
Extra Talk: Understanding Cosmic Acceleration with Galaxy Redshift SurveysThe discovery that the Universe is accelerating will possibly be seen in a few years as one of the turning points in the history of cosmology. After nearly ten years, the origin of the accelerated expansion is still unknown. One possibility is that the Universe is permeated by a "dark energy" which gives rise to a gravitational repulsion. Alternatively, perhaps the very equations of General Relativity need to be modified or generalized to higher-dimensional worlds. I will first review these general ideas and will then discuss perspectives for understanding the nature of cosmic acceleration using large surveys of galaxy redshifts. The importance of large redshift surveys in this context has become more and more evident over the last couple of years. First, the typical scale of the "baryonic acoustic oscillations" (BAOs) detected in the galaxy power spectrum provides a standard ruler to measure the expansion history of the Universe H (z). Complementarily, we have shown how linear redshift-space distortions due to galaxy coherent motions can be measured at different epochs to trace the evolution of the growth rate of cosmic structures f (z). These two measurements represent a key combination to pinpoint the physical origin of the accelerated expansion, as they allow us to distinguish true “dark-energy” models from a modification of the gravitation theory. For this reason, massive (>10^8) redshift survey experiments are part of current candidate dark energy missions under development by ESA and NASA/DOE, in the framework of the EUCLID project and the JDEM program, respectively. I will present the status of these efforts, aiming for launch around 2017, and discuss some examples of what is going to be done beforehand by ground- based surveys.Speaker: Luigi Guzzo (INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera)
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RA E Talk: Shedding Light the Nature on Dark EnergyI will outline how future cosmological observations might be able to help in the understanding of the nature of dark energy. I will discuss different cosmological probes and show how they will be able to investigate different aspects of the cosmic acceleration. In particular I will mention weak lensing, baryon accoustic oscillations, galaxy cluster counts and supernovae. I will put this in the context of discussing a dark energy component vs. a modification of Einstein's gravity on large scales. I will conclude by showing how proposed missions and observations will be able to further our understanding of these models."Speaker: Jochen Weller (USM, Excellence Cluster Universe)
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RA F Talk: Does a factor of 10^8 Matter - comparing Black Holes throughout the UniverseBlack holes can be described by only two parameters, but their behaviour is governed by at least one further parameter. I shall review some observations of black holes with drastically different masses and outline current investigations into linking and comparing them.Speaker: Robert Dunn (Excellence Cluster Universe)
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15:30
Coffee break
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RA D Talk: Strangeness Production and Aggregation in Nuclear MatterThe study of the strange particle production and interaction in nuclear matter can provide fundamental informations about the strong potential. From one side the subthreshold production of kaons and phi mesons in heavy ion collisions can be considered to investigate the in-medium potential. On the other hand elementary reactions can be performed to set a basis for a quantitative comparison with different colliding system and analyze the effect of cold matter. Besides the analysis of these known mesons, we are testing the hypothesis of the existence of more complicated objects. These can be composed of a negative kaons and several nucleons (ppK-) and their discovery could provide important information on the nature of the Kaon-Nucleon potential. These variety of activities is the focus of our research and this talk aims to give an overview of the on-going efforts.Speaker: Laura Fabbietti (TUM, Excellence Cluster Universe)
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RA G Talk: How sensitive is Nucleosynthesis in Astrophysical ExplosionsUnderstanding the nucleosynthesis and energy production in different astrophysical environments depends upon our knowledge of the nuclear physics involved. Tests of the sensitivity of nucleosynthesis in a particular site to variations in nuclear rates can, when interpreted carefully, provide a means for determining which of these rates play significant roles in the thermonuclear burning. These results may then motivate new and pertinent experiments. Such studies are especially crucial in explosive phenomena because of the large number of reaction-rates that may be involved, with many (or most) of these rates only determined theoretically due to the lack of any experimental information. I will discuss the power of sensitivity studies in guiding experiments relevant to classical novae, Type I X-ray bursts, and core-collapse supernova explosions.Speaker: Anuj Parikh (TUM)
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17:00
Break
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Münchner Physik Kolloquium Talk: A Fair Chance for Nuclear AstrophysicsMassive stars end their lives in a supernova explosion triggered by the gravitational collapse of their inner core. Nuclear processes play a crucial role in the explosion, as for example the dynamics of the collapse is greatly determined by weak-interaction processes like electron captures on nuclei and neutrino- induced reactions. Supernovae are also the environment of fast explosive nucleosynthesis. This most likely includes the r-process by which half of the elements heavier than iron are produced. Very recently a novel nucleosynthesis process has been found, named the μ process. It should occur in each supernova producing medium-mass nuclei and might be the long searched-for origin of the protonrich Mo and Ru nuclides.Speaker: Karlheinz Langanke (GSI Darmstadt)
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19:00
RECEPTION
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Universe Awardee Talk: Precision Measurement of the Top Quark Mass with Fermilab's D0 ExperimentThe top quark plays a special role in the Standard Model of Particle Physics. With its enormous mass of about 170 GeV it is as heavy as a gold atom and it is the only quark with a mass near the electroweak scale. Together with the W boson mass, the top quark mass allows indirect constraints on the mass of the hypothetical Higgs boson, which might hold the clue to the origin of mass. Top pair production with a semileptonic decay is the "golden channel" for mass measurements, due to a large branching fraction and a relatively low background contamination compared to other decay channels. Top mass measurements based on this decay, performed with the matrix element method, have always been among the single best measurements in the world. In 2007, the top mass world average broke the 1% level of precision. Its measurement is no longer dominated by statistical but instead by systematic uncertainties. The reduction of systematic uncertainties has therefore become a key issue for further progress. The talk will introduce new developments in the treatment of b jets. These address the major source of systematic uncertainty in the latest top mass measurements. A substantial reduction of this uncertainty is achieved.Speaker: Petra Haefner (LMU)
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10:00
Coffee break
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RA A Talk: Brane world constructions on Calabi-Yau manifoldsD-branes have played an important role in recent developments in string theory. One of the reasons is that they allow to embed non- abelian gauge theories (such as the standard model) into the string theory context. I discuss various aspects of D-brane physics.Speaker: Ilka Brunner (LMU)
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RA B Talk: Development for Future e+e- Colliders: CALICE Calorimeters & sBelle PixelsThe physics program at the future International Linear Collider requires unprecedented jet energy resolution. This can be achieved with a concept called Particle Flow, requiring highly granular calorimeters. Within the CALICE collaboration we develop and study a scintillator tile hadronic calorimeter with silicon photomultiplier readout, and we work on new SiPMs for next generation detector prototypes. Results of the analysis of CALICE data taken in test beams will be presented and the status of the SiPM studies will be discussed. We are also contributing to a new silicon pixel detector for the SuperBelle experiment at the upgraded KEK-B flavor factory. This detector will be based on the DEPFET technology developed at the semiconductor laboratory of the Max-Planck-Society. The outline of this new project at the Excellence Cluster Universe will be presented.Speaker: Frank Simon (MPP, Excellence Cluster Universe)
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RA C Talk: Direct vs indirect probes of Supersymmetry: the synergy of flavor physics and the LHCWe outline the role and the interplay of the direct search of Supersymmetry at the LHC with the indirect searches performed by low energy (flavor physics) observables. In particular, we focus on the electric dipole moments (EDMs), lepton flavor violating (LFV) processes, the (g-2) of the muon and CP violating phenomena in the hadronic sector.Speaker: Paride Paradisi (TUM)
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12:00
Lunch
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Extra Talk: Decoupling the Vacuum from GeometryThe vacuum energy density of the standard model can be inferred only due to its coupling to gravity, because it affects the average expansion history of the Universe. The observed expansion history is in drastic conflict with theoretical expectations and gives rise to the cosmological constant challenge - the mother of all technical naturalness problems. In this talk I will present a new and consistent perspective on this challenge.Speaker: Stefan Hofmann (NORDITA, Sweden)
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RA D Talk: Cosmic-ray positrons from dark matterAfter giving a brief review on the current status of the cosmic-ray positrons, I will talk about our model that a hidden gauge boson constitutes the dominant component of dark matter and decays into the standard model particles through the gauge kinetic mixing with a U(1)B-L in the bulk.Speaker: Fuminobu Takahashi (Univ. of Tokyo)
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RA E Talk: AGN, Cosmology, and Dark Matter: MAGIC's TeV Gamma-Ray ViewThe MAGIC telescope with its 17-m diameter mirror is currently the largest single-dish Imaging Air Cherenkov Telescope. MAGIC set out to study astrophysical objects that are expected to be very high energy (VHE) gamma- ray emitters in the energy range of about 30 GeV to 10 TeV, most of which are already known in other energy bands (i.e. at gamma-ray, X-ray, radio and/or optical frequencies). In this presentation we discuss recent VHE observations of the giant radio galaxy M87 and the flat-spectrum radio quasar 3C279 with MAGIC, which have implications for the physics of active galactic nuclei, but also for cosmology. We also report the status of dark matter searches with MAGIC, and future cosmology studies with VHE gamma-ray observations.Speaker: Robert Wagner (MPP)
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15:30
Coffee break
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RA F Talk: Measurement of a Neutrino Mixing Angle with Double ChoozDouble Chooz will be the next reactor neutrino experiment to search for a non-vanishing leptonic mixing angle theta(13) with unprecedented sensitivity, which might open the way to unveiling CP violation in the leptonic sector. The measurement will be based on a precise comparison of the antineutrino spectrum at two identical detectors located at different distances from the Chooz nuclear reactor cores in France. The construction of the far detector has started in 2008 and the first neutrino results are expected in 2009. The current status of the experiment, its physics potential, design and expected performance of the detector are reviewed.Speaker: Tobias Lachenmaier (TUM, Excellence Cluster Universe)
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RA G Talk: Population synthesis of Al-26 from star forming regionsThe Orion region hosts one of the closest associations of recent massive-star formation. Measurements of the 1809 keV emission from this region have been performed with INTEGRAL and the COMPTEL observatory and they show a significant offset of the 26Al emission from the massive stars that are believed to be the source of the 26Al, and the emission appears rather extended. This suggests that the radioactive material flows from the stellar associations into the nearby Eridanus cavity. This provides a unique opportunity to study how massive stars interact with their surroundings, and to investigate the properties of the turbulent ISM in the vicinity of OB associations. We model this region with a population synthesis code. Further studies will use these results to model the Orion region, taking the special geometry of this region into account. This study also bears on the larger theme of Galactic Chemo Dynamics, as winds and supernova ejecta of massive stars provide the essential feedback mechanisms responsible for the formation and evolution of galaxies.Speaker: Rasmus Voss (TUM/MPE)
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Universe Awardee Talk: A new era of leptogenesisMy thesis is devoted to some forefront issues in the field of leptogenesis. As well as nicely explaining the origin of the matter-antimatter asymmetry of the Universe, this mechanism is intimately related to the nature of neutrino masses in that it is the cosmological consequence of the see-saw mechanism. After describing in detail the generic features of leptogenesis, I will turn to more specialized aspects, in particular the importance of flavor effects, the possible relevance of quantum effects, as well as the role played by the heavier right- handed neutrinos.Speaker: Steve Blanchet (University of Maryland, USA)
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10:00
Coffee break
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RA D Talk: Unified origin of baryons and dark matterWe investigate the possibility that both the baryon asymmetry of the universe and the observed cold dark matter density are generated by decays of a heavy scalar field which dominates the universe before nucleosynthesis. Since baryons and cold dark matter have common origin, this mechanism yields a natural explanation of the similarity of the corresponding energy densities. The cosmological moduli and gravitino problems are avoided.Speaker: Michael Ratz (TUM)
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RA C Talk: Flavour Physics in the Standard Model and BeyondAfter a brief introduction into the concept of flavour in the Standard Model and the success of the CKM mechanism in explaining the quark flavour transitions, I will focus on the role of flavour physics in view of the expected New Physics to be found at the LHC experiments. In particular, I will explain the concept of Minimal Flavour Violation in the quark sector, and discuss some of the insights and open issues of this approach.Speaker: Thorsten Feldmann (TUM)
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12:00
Lunch
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RA E Talk: Type Ia supernovae as cosmological distance indicators – a modeler's perspectiveType Ia supernovae are one of the most promising tools for constraining the nature of dark energy. This is reflected by the many ongoing or planned observational campaigns. With the growing number of observed objects, the precision of determining cosmological parameters from Type Ia supernovae is no longer limited by statistical uncertainties. Instead, systematic errors start to dominate. To some extent, these systematics may be reduced by a better theoretical understanding of the objects. Theoretical models of Type Ia supernova explosions have seen a rapid development over the past years. After briefly summarizing the application of Type Ia supernovae in observational cosmology, I will describe the current status of the modeling efforts. I will show that simulations of supernova explosions have reached considerable predictive power. Implications for Type Ia supernova cosmology derived from such models will be discussed.Speaker: Friedrich Roepke (MPA)
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15:30
Coffee break
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28
RA F Talk: Recent news from GRB observationsCosmic gamma ray bursts emit their bulk luminosities in the 300-800 keV band and are established to be the most energetic explosions in the universe after the Big Bang. They are followed by a longerlasting afterglow in the radio to X-ray band. Afterglow observations provide detailed inside in the GRB physics and their redshifts, which span a range up to 6.7, making GRBs the second distance object detected to data. Due to their extreme energetics and distances, GRBs can be used as cosmological tools to trace the history of star formation in the universe. I will report on recent observations of GRB afterglows addressing both, their physical origin, as well as their potential for cosmology.Speaker: Thomas Kruehler (MPE)
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RA G Talk: Ionization and Triggered Star Formation in Turbulent Molecular CloudsWe present high resolution simulations on the impact of ionizing radiation of massive O-stars on the surrounding turbulent interstellar medium (ISM). The simulations are performed with the newly developed software iVINE which combines ionization with the tree/SPH-code VINE. We show that radiation from hot stars penetrates the ISM, efficiently heats cold low density gas and amplifies over-densities seeded by the initial turbulence. The formation of observed pillar-like structures in star forming regions (e.g. in M16) can be explained by this scenario. At the tip of the pillars gravitational collapse can be induced, eventually leading to the formation of low mass stars. Detailed analysis of the evolution of the turbulent spectra shows that UV-radiation indeed provides an excellent mechanism to sustain and even drive turbulence in the ISM. A wide range parameter study enables us to derive an analytic approach to determine the density of the resulting pillars.Speaker: Matthias Gritschneder (USM)
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17:30
GENERAL MEETING OF CLUSTER MEMBERS
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Universe Awardee Talk: PENeLOPE, on the way towards a new precise neutron lifetime measurementThe neutron lifetime allows access to fundamental parameters of the weak interaction. Therefore, measurements of the lifetime provide direct tests of the standard model of particle physics. Moreover , a precise knowledge of the neutron lifetime is important for astrophysical models. However, a recent result disagrees with the PDG average of 885.7 +-0.8 s by roughly 6 standard deviations.. To resolve this discrepancy, we are developping an experiment with a superconducting magnetic trap for ultracold neutrons (UCN) at E18. These UCN will be trapped in a multipole field of a flux density up to 2 T and will be bound by the gravitational potential to the top. This makes the extraction and detection of the decay protons possible and allows a direct measurement of the neutron decay rate. Our envisaged precision of < 0.1 s demands almost lossless storage and good knowledge of systematic errors, which could result from neutron spin flip and high energetic UCN which leave the storage volume only slowly. Therefore, the neutron spectrum is cleaned by an absorber. The big storage volume of 800 liters and the expected high neutron flux of the UCN source at the FRMII give more than 10^7 neutrons per filling of the storage volume. This shall allow us to concentrate on systematic effects, as the necessary statistics is reached within days; a crucial point for this kind of experiments. The talk will motivate the measurement, desribe it in detail, present simulations and discuss systematic effects and investigations.Speaker: Ruediger Picker (TUM)
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10:45
Coffee break
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12:00
Lunch
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15:45
Coffee break
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