The research of our group is dedicated to the Evolution of Starforming Galaxies and focuses on the Theory of the Interstellar and Intergalactic medium, the acceleration and propagation of high energy particles, and the interpretation of their observational signatures mainly in X-rays, UV, as well as in gamma-rays and radio continuum. Our approach is basically theoretical (both analytical and numerical), but tightly connected to observations. For detailed information about our research projects, please click on the corresponding headings.

I. Theory of the Interstellar Medium (ISM)

Main research topics:

• Dynamical evolution of ISM on large and small scales

• Study of interstellar turbulence and its effect on ISM structure

• Investigation of interaction of ISM components

• Local Bubble and neighbouring superbubbles

• Comparison of models with observations (from radio to X-rays)

II. Theory of the Intergalactic Medium (IGM)

Main research topics:

• Dynamical evolution of galactic outflows (galactic fountains and winds)

• Non-equilibrium ionization (NEI) modeling of hot plasmas

• Self-consistent dynamical and thermal modeling of soft X-ray spectra in galactic halos

• Study of metal injection into IGM by winds and ram pressure stripping

• Modeling of IGM features in galaxy groups

III. Origin and Propagation of Cosmic Rays

Main research topics:

• Cosmic ray and MHD wave driven galactic winds

• Transport of cosmic ray nucleons and modeling of diffuse gamma-ray emission

• Transport of cosmic ray electrons and modeling of radio continuum emission

• Acceleration of cosmic rays in galactic outflows

IV. Research Group Members

Current Members of the team at the Institute of Astronomy (U Vienna) and Center of Astronomy and Astrophysics (TU Berlin) are:

Baumgartner, Verena: Metal Ejection into Intergalactic Medium of Groups and Clusters of Galaxies by ram pressure stripping and galactic winds (PhD)
Bolte, Jan: Numerical Simulations of ISM, Evolution of supernova remnants and superbubbles, galactic winds, development of computer algorithms (Post-doctoral Research Assistant)
Breitschwerdt, Dieter : Theory of Interstellar and Intergalactic Medium, High Energy Astrophysics, Analytical and Computational Astrophysics (Professor, Head of Group)
de Avillez, Miguel (Department of Mathematics, University of Évora, Portugal): Theory of Interstellar Medium, Turbulence Theory, Computational Astrophysics (Guest Professor)
Guadarrama, Rodrigo: numerical ISM studies (PhD)
Harfst, Stefan: N-body Simulations of stellar associations, stellar dynamics, evolution of clusters in the vicinity of black holes (Post-doctoral Research Assistant)
Hildmann, Attila: Numerical Simulations of Superbubbles (Diplom)
Kruse, Fabian: Cosmic Ray Transport (Diplom)
Patzer, Beate: Formation of dust grains in red giant winds, dust physics and chemistry in C- and O-rich environments, chemistry in planetary atmospheres (Akad. Oberrätin/Senior Researcher) 
Rampke, Matthias: Numerical ISM studies (MSc)
Schulreich, Michael: Modeling of ISM in external galaxies, evolution of ISM in high redshift galaxies (PhD) 
Tautz, Robert: Transport of cosmic rays in turbulent flows, nonlinear theory, numerical simulations of particle trajectories (Post-doctoral Research Assistant)
Triptow, Jenny: Particle transport in magnetic fields (MSc)
Wetzlich, Jan: numerical studies of stellar dynamics near black holes (MSc)
Zwettler, Georg : Acceleration of Cosmic Rays beyond the "knee", Fokker-Planck transport equation in special geometries (MSc)

External members:


da Camaro Manuel, Nuno (Department of Mathematics, University of Évora, Portugal): High Resolution Numerical Studies of Supersonic Compressible Turbulence in Molecular Clouds (PhD)

V. Job Openings

Currently available jobs in our research group can be found here.