Unifying view on cosmic interacting matter

Scientific organizers:

Prof. Anna Franckowiak (RU Bochum), Prof. Johannes Albrecht (TU Dortmund & LAMARR) and Prof. Julia Tjus (RU Bochum)

January 18 - January 23, 2026, Physikzentrum Bad Honnef, Germany
supported by

 

 

 

The field of astrophysics has made a transition in recent years towards multi-messenger physics, widening the detectable spectrum from electromagnetic radiation at all wavelengths to other messengers like cosmic rays, neutrinos, and gravitational waves. These different messengers have provided highly valuable pieces of information on the nonthermal and violent Universe. This type of multi-messenger physics is now in transition to a precision science: on the one hand, the detection of elementary particles in astro(particle) physics is identified to significantly improve our knowledge of the nonthermal Universe and its signatures. On the other hand, the interpretation of these data is in need of precision input concerning the basic properties of matter, for once concerning the behavior of the ensemble (plasma physics), but also the interaction and decay properties of baryonic and dark matter (particle, astroparticle, and astrophysics). In this school, we will systematically investigate the interplay of matter and energy with special consideration of plasma and particle physics; particular concern will be given to the energy transfer between magnetic fields, cosmic rays, baryonic matter, and dark matter. In doing so, we aim to present our students an unifying view of the cosmic interacting matter.

Presently, most universities do not offer the complete education program necessary to understand and describe the field, as a unifying view on Cosmic Interacting Matter requires techniques from Astrophysics, Astro-particle physics, ground-based particle physics, as well as plasma physics. We propose this school to overcome this drawback by inviting renowned scientists from all mentioned fields.

The School aims at providing solid foundations to those who want to start working in the field while rounding the overview for those already engaged in aspects of its research, both experimentally and in theory. The envisioned main audience consists of Master and PhD level students, as well as young
postdocs. The school profits from the excellent research infrastructure and networks from several initiatives: CRC1491, for which the school is the ideal training event, the LAMARR institute for Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence and the "Big Bang to Big Data" B3D cluster (NRW) combining radio astronomical research with data science expertise.

The school will provide comprehensive lectures on
• Introduction to astro-particle physics (Astro) (3h lecture + 1h discussion)
• Astrophysical Plasmas and Cosmic Ray Propagation (Plasma) (2h + 1h discussion)
• Cosmic ray flux calculations and particle physics input (Particles) (2h+1h discussion)

⇒ More information
Registration closed!

FEES: 200 € full board and lodging (for DPG* members 100 € )
* The German Physical Society (DPG)

Attention: There are some fake companies, which pretend to organize your stay in Bad Honnef. Please, be careful and do not reply to them. Your accommodation and full board will be provided exclusively by the Physikzentrum.