Extragalactic Astrophysics

The research spans a wide range from experimental/observational studies in nearly all wavelengths to modelling and simulations on high performance computers. The focus is on galaxy clusters and interaction of galaxies, galaxy groups and galaxy evolution and surveys.

Galactic and Stellar Astrophysics

The research in this group mainly cover the investigations of normal and "born-again" planetary nebulae, structures in the interstellar medium, egnerated in the late stages of stellar evolution, novae and peculiar erruptive variables.

Plasmaastrophysics

The theoretical and phenomenological projects cover self organization in plasmas, magnetic reconnection and the evolution of waves and turbulences. The main focus lies on investigations in the solar wind.

Modelling the Sky Background - ESO in-kind Projects

Observations at large telescopes have to be planned very carefully. One of the main aspects here is the sky background. The light of the astronomical target is influenced and partly destroyed. We develop new software modules to improve observation planning and do an efficient accurate data reduction for ESO telescopes.