Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics
| Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) |
|
|---|---|
| Category: | research Institute |
| Carrier: | Max Planck Society |
| Legal form of the carrier: | Registered association |
| Seat of the wearer: | Munich |
| Facility location: | Potsdam ( Golm ) and Hanover |
| Type of research: | Basic research |
| Subjects: | Natural sciences |
| Areas of expertise: | Gravitational physics , astrophysics , mathematics |
| Basic funding: | Federal government (50%), states (50%) |
| Management: | Alessandra Buonanno (Executive Director), Bruce Allen (Deputy Executive Director) |
| Employee: | approx. 150 in Potsdam, approx. 200 in Hanover |
| Homepage: | www.aei.mpg.de |
The Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) (AEI) is a non-university research facility of the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science e. V. (MPG). The institute has locations in Potsdam and Hanover .
The institute conducts basic research in mathematics , data analysis , astrophysics and theoretical physics as well as applied research in the fields of laser physics , vacuum technology , vibration isolation and classical and quantum optics . The institute plays a leading role in GEO600 , a laser interferometric gravitational wave detector , which began measuring operations in Ruthe near Hanover, and in LISA , a laser interferometer in space, with a planned start date in 2034.
history
The newly founded institute started its work in April 1995 and has been located in the Potsdam Science Park in Potsdam- Golm since 1999 .
In 2001, the institute took over a branch in Hanover that previously belonged to the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics (MPQ) and has been a sub-institute of the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics since 2002. This sub-institute works together with the Institute for Gravitational Physics (formerly the Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics) at Leibniz Universität Hannover in the "Center for Gravitational Physics".
Work areas
The main research focus of the institute is on the general theory of relativity . In particular, the development and propagation of gravitational waves and the development of a theory of quantum gravity are researched .
- The department “Quantum Gravity and Unified Theories” in Potsdam, under the direction of Hermann Nicolai, is dedicated to the development of a theory that combines quantum theory and general relativity.
- The “Astrophysical and Cosmological Theory of Relativity” department in Potsdam, headed by Alessandra Buonanno as the successor to Bernard F. Schutz , deals with the research of gravitational waves , black holes and neutron stars and the analytical and numerical solution of the Einstein equations .
- The department “Numerical and Relativistic Astrophysics”, under the direction of Masaru Shibata, researches the merging of neutron stars and mixed binary systems - double systems of a black hole and a neutron star - as well as collapsing star cores that create black holes.
- The main focus of the work of the “Laser Interferometry and Gravitational Wave Astronomy” department in Hanover, headed by Karsten Danzmann , is the development of gravitational wave detectors both on earth and satellite-based in space (see also: GEO600 , LISA ).
- The department “Observation-based Relativity and Cosmology” in Hanover under the direction of Bruce Allen deals with the development and implementation of algorithms for the data analysis of different sources of gravitational waves (see also: Einstein @ Home ), as well as the search for pulsars .
Young Scientists - International Max Planck Research Schools
The training of doctoral students is structured in two International Max Planck Research Schools ( IMPRS ):
- The International Max Planck Research School for Mathematical and Physical Aspects of Gravitation, Cosmology and Quantum Field Theory is a graduate program of the Albert Einstein Institute in cooperation with the Humboldt University of Berlin , the University of Potsdam , IISER Thiruvananthapuram and the Chennai Mathematical Institute in the areas of classical gravity, quantum gravity and particle physics.
- The IMPRS on Gravitational Wave Astronomy trains doctoral students in all areas of gravitational wave astronomy - from classical and non-classical interferometry on earth and in space to data analysis and the modeling of gravitational wave sources. This doctoral program is a cooperation between the Albert Einstein Institute and the Leibniz University of Hanover , the Laser Center Hanover , the University of Potsdam , the Humboldt University and the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics .
Web links
- Homepage of the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (German)
- Homepage of the branch in Hanover
- Publications of the institute in the MPG eDoc server (bibliography)
- Einstein-Online - Basic knowledge of the special and general relativity theory (Einstein year 2005)
- International Max Planck Research School for Mathematical and Physical Aspects of Gravitation, Cosmology and Quantum Field Theory
- IMPRS on Gravitational Wave Astronomy
Coordinates: 52 ° 24 ′ 59 ″ N , 12 ° 58 ′ 13 ″ E