Research
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2024.12.12
Dark Matter under the Gravitational Lens [EN]
Dark Matter (DM) is the clearest sign that the Standard Model of particle physics is incomplete. A determination of the DM particle mass will rule out entire classes of hypothetical extensions to the Standard Model, thus pointing the correct path towards New Physics. In this talk, I describe how gravitational lensing can differentiate between the two top contenders for DM: ultra-massive (WIMP...
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2024.12.04
Imaging Giant Planet Formation [EN]
The new generation of infrared high-contrast imagers and sub-mm interferometer has been revolutionising our view of planet formation for the last decade. Protoplanetary discs have now been imaged at a high level of detail, revealing a wealth of structures including cavities, annular gaps, spiral arms, shadows and asymmetries. In order to connect these structures to forming planets and provide t...
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2024.11.14
Highlights of the MeerTime Key Science Project with MeerKAT [EN]
Using a novel new teaching tool that uses a game engine to create an interactive astronomy universe Professor Matthew Bailes will talk about the highlights of the MeerTime program at MeerKAT. These include the discovery and timing of many new pulsars in globular clusters, giant pulse studies, many new pulsar masses, insights from the eclipses of the double pulsar and a tantalising Hellings and ...
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2024.11.06
A chemical survey of exoplanet atmospheres with Ariel
TBD
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2024.09.12
Tensions on small scales: Too many galaxy-galaxy strong lenses in galaxy clusters?
In the standard cosmological model, the matter content of the Universe is dominated by cold dark matter (CDM), collisionless particles that interact with ordinary matter (baryons) only through gravity. Gravitationally bound dark-matter halos form hierarchically, with the most massive systems growing through mergers of smaller ones. As structure assembles in this fashion, large dark-matter halos...
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