EXPLORE 2024 Summer School

18 Aug 2024, 18:00 → 23 Aug 2024, 23:30 Europe/Berlin

Faculty Lounge (FIAS)

Laura Sagunski (chair), Rebecca Baumann, David Klemmer, Edwin Genoud-Prachex (University of Frankfurt), Jürgen Schaffner-Bielich

Pictures from the EXPLORE 2024 Summer School

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The 3rd international in-person

EXPLORE 2024 Summer School – Frontiers of Matter and Gravity in the Universe

will take place from 18th August to 23rd August 2024 at Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany.

The talks and lectures will be given by world-renown experts and outstanding early-career researchers in theoretical, numerical and observational astrophysics:  

• Prof. Dr. Elisa G. M. Ferreira (Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (KIPMU), University of Tokyo & Universidade de São Paulo; theoretical astrophysics)
• Bipradeep Saha (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata & Max Planck Institute for Astronomy; numerical astrophysics) 
• Prof. Dr. Camilla Hansen (Goethe University Frankfurt; observational astrophysics)

The summer school social events include:

• Standup paddleboarding on the Main
• A city quest game in Frankfurt

All students (Bachelor, Master, PhD), postdocs and early career researchers who are interested to learn about and explore hot topics in theoretical and observational astrophysics are invited to participate in the EXPLORE summer school!

There is no registration fee for participating in the summer school activities, including the social events and the summer school dinner. We cannot, however, offer additional financial support for travels and accommodation. The number of participants is limited to 40. 

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Please note that priority will be given to participants in the EXPLORE IVth edition, then to particpants of previous editions of EXPLORE, other members of Goethe University, York University, University of Alberta and MIT, as well as other members of ELEMENTS and of the CRC-TR 211, and finally to external people. Please note that external people should motivate their application with a cover letter and a CV (to be sent by the applicant during the application) and a recommendation letter from a professor to be sent directly to Prof. Laura Sagunski (see below). 

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What is EXPLORE? 

EXPLORE stands for "EXPeriential Learning Opportunity through Research and Exchange” (https://dmgw.space/EXPLORE). It is an international innovative teaching and research program at Goethe University Frankfurt in collaboration with York University in Toronto, Canada, the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, USA. The idea behind EXPLORE is to build the bridge between learning physics in a classroom and working as a scientist. EXPLORE brings together students from Goethe University Frankfurt with students from the international partner universities. Together they form the world’s first international undergraduate student collaboration in astroparticle physics!

The EXPLORE project is mentored by six faculty supervisors:

• Rahul Kannan (York university, Canada)
  
• Saeed Rastgoo (University of Alberta, Canada)
• Laura Sagunski (Goethe University, Germany)
• Jürgen Schaffner-Bielich (Goethe University, Germany)
• Sean Tulin (York University, Canada)
• Mark Vogelsberger (MIT, USA)

Sunday 18 August

Welcome dinner "Zum Gemalten Haus" (Schweizer Straße 67, 60594 Frankfurt am Main)

We meet right in front of the restaurant "Zum Gemalten Haus" and go in together.
Address: Zum Gemalten Haus, Schweizer Straße 67, 60594 Frankfurt am Main
Website: https://www.zumgemaltenhaus.de/
GoogleMaps: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Zum+Gemalten+Haus/@50.1011989,8.6795448,17z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x47bd0c1b85c2fc03:0x194e154e566dc0ef!8m2!3d50.1007!4d8.681932!16s%2Fg%2F1tr7hhmz?entry=ttu

Monday 19 August

Registration

Welcome: Prof. Dr. Laura Sagunski and Prof. Dr. Jürgen Schaffner-Bielich (on behalf of the EXPLORE team)

Opening - EXPLORE 2024 Summer School.pdf

Welcome: Mikael Horstmann (City Councilor of Frankfurt)

Welcome: Prof. Dr. Eckhard Elsen (scientific director of FIAS)

Welcome: Prof. Dr. Reinhard Dörner (Dean of Studies of the Department of Physics at Goethe University)

Summer School Picture

Coffee break

Invited talk: Numerical Astrophysics - Bipradeep Saha, "Understanding the role of early stars in galaxy formation and evolution using cosmological simulations"

Abstract:
In the ΛCDM cosmological paradigm, smaller objects merge to form larger ones. Stars in galaxies are classified into Population I (PopI), which are metal-rich, and Population II (PopII), which are metal-poor but have higher metallicities than primordial gas. This led to the hypothesis of Population III (PopIII) stars, which are metal-free and the first stars in the universe. Despite extensive searches, no PopIII stars have been observed. These stars form in dark matter halos with masses around 10^6 M⊙​, and their formation is driven by molecular hydrogen cooling, resulting in large characteristic masses.
PopIII stars' stellar radiation ionizes and heats surrounding regions, driving shocks that enrich both the host and nearby halos with metals, promoting PopII star formation. They burn brighter and hotter than metal-rich stars, playing a crucial role in ending the cosmic dark ages and initiating reionization. Understanding PopIII stars is essential for deciphering galaxy origins and early universe processes.
Here, I present a comprehensive model for simulating PopIII stars, incorporating a refined thermochemistry network and detailed spectra calculations, along with a model for PopIII supernova feedback. Using cosmological zoom-in simulations, the study reveals the significant impact of PopIII stars on early galaxy formation, gas content, metal enrichment, and ionization. The findings provide a valuable framework for studying PopIII stars and generating predictions for observations with the James Webb Space Telescope, enhancing our understanding of their role in shaping the early universe.

Explore Summer School.pdf

EXPLORE student talk: Sonja Köhler (Goethe University Frankfurt)

Lunch break

12:30 Break

Invited lecture: Observational Astrophysics – Prof. Dr. Camilla Hansen, "Dark matter in galaxies via M/L-ratios"

EXPLORE_Galaxies_DM_2024.pdf

Coffee break

Scientific speed dating

Tuesday 20 August

Preparatory tutorial: Observational Astrophysics – Prof. Dr. Camilla Hansen, "Dark matter in galaxies via M/L-ratios"

Coffee break

Tutorial: Observational Astrophysics – Prof. Dr. Camilla Hansen, "Dark matter in galaxies via M/L-ratios"

Lunch break

Travel to the city center

You must take the metro "U8" at the Uni-Campus-Riedberg station, in direction "Südbahnhof" and go out at the station "Hauptwache"

City quest Frankfurt

Wednesday 21 August

Welcome: Dr. Mohab Abou Zeid (administrative director of ELEMENTS)

Welcome and invited talk: Leonora Jürgens (Program Manager Goethe Research Exchange Program), Presentation of the Goethe Research Exchange Program (GREP) and the International Lab Visit Program

Coffee break

Tutorial: Observational Astrophysics – Prof. Dr. Camilla Hansen, "Dark matter in galaxies via M/L-ratios"

Lunch break

Travel to the boathouse

Standup paddleboarding (team 1)

Meeting point at around 13:50 at the boathouse
Adresse: Schaumainkai 70, 60596 Frankfurt am Main
Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bootshaus+Goethe-Universität+Frankfurt/@50.102243,8.6680062,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x47bd0d91a6b3c7ef:0xcd51bbea73c7073d!8m2!3d50.1022396!4d8.6705865!16s%2Fg%2F11s7wc1szb?hl=de&entry=ttu

Standup paddleboarding (team 2)

Meeting point at around 13:50 at the boathouse
Adresse: Schaumainkai 70, 60596 Frankfurt am Main
Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bootshaus+Goethe-Universität+Frankfurt/@50.102243,8.6680062,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x47bd0d91a6b3c7ef:0xcd51bbea73c7073d!8m2!3d50.1022396!4d8.6705865!16s%2Fg%2F11s7wc1szb?hl=de&entry=ttu

Thursday 22 August

GREP-EXPLORE student talk: Muhammad Azeem (York University)

Coffee break

GREP-EXPLORE student talk: Karan Alavi (York University)

GREP-EXPLORE student talk: Zeinab Imani (York University)

Coffee break

GREP-EXPLORE student talk: Lauren Morley (York University), "SPHerical Dynamics of Miniquasars and Dark Matter Minihalos"

Lunch break

Feedback session

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gpMh1UyhXJVjT172MGHjaROVgq7lilDbjVZimGsGxhg/edit?usp=sharing

Coffee break

International evening

Friday 23 August

GREP-EXPLORE student talk: Hemish Ahuja (York University), "The Fine Imprint of the Dark Side: Quantum Black Hole Shadows"

GREP-EXPLORE student talk: Sian McGarva (University of Alberta), "Thermal Effects on Dark Boson Stars: Stellar Structure and Formation"

Coffee break

Plenary talk: Theoretical Astrophysics – Prof. Dr. Elisa G. M. Ferreira, "How to build a dark matter model: evidences and the landscape of dark matter candidates"

Abstract:
All we see in our universe, galaxies and stars, are only a tiny fraction of all the matter in the universe. 85% of this matter is made of a mysterious component, the dark matter. We measure dark matter's influence in our universe, but we still do not know what is made of. The nature of dark matter remains the biggest mystery in cosmology. In this talk, we are going to review the evidence for the existence of dark matter and gather all the knowledge we have about this mysterious component to create a model builder’s guide for dark matter models. Following these properties, there are many candidates to explain the nature of dark matter. I will present the current candidates for the explanation of the nature of dark matter, the landscape of dark matter models, which invokes different physical mechanisms spanning more than 80 orders of magnitude in mass. Finally, I will show how current and future observations, from astrophysical to particle colliders or even tabletop experiments, are going to be powerful to reveal more about the properties of dark matter to help us unravel the nature of dark matter.

Lunch with the Speaker

Farewell session

Free time (e.g., to visit a Frankfurt museum)

Frankfurt's museum landscape (website visitfrankfurt.travel)

Optional: Visit of the MUSE|UMS|UFER|FEST 2024 (https://museumsuferfest.de/)