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Concepción, 17 de Octubre 2022
Two Tenure track professorship positions at Universidad de Concepcion, Chile
Job Category: Faculty Positions (tenure and tenure-track)
Institution Classification/Type: Large Academic
Institution/Company: Universidad de Concepción
Department Name: Departamento de Astronomía
Street: Avda Esteban Iturra S/N
City: Concepción
State/Province: Bio-Bio
Country: Chile
The Astronomy Department at Universidad de Concepcion, Chile, invites applications for two tenure-track professor positions across all areas of astronomy, including astronomical instrumentation. Minimum requirements are a Ph.D. in astronomy, engineering, physics, or a closely related field, as well as an established record of excellence in research. Strong commitments to teaching, mentoring, outreach, and administration are highly desirable.
The city of Concepción is located a short 50 min flight from Santiago de Chile, about 500 km to the south, on the Pacific Ocean but not far away from the Andes. It is famous for its active cultural life and hosts the Universidad de Concepción, one of the prestigious in the country. The University is known for its large lush and green campus, recognized for its design and architectural style.
The Astronomy Department includes 12 faculty, ~10 postdocs, and ~50 Ph.D. and Masters students. Current research spans observational to theoretical Galactic and extragalactic astronomy, including star and cluster formation and evolution, stellar astrophysics evolution and variability, Galactic archeology, the distance ladder, AGN, galaxy clusters and galaxy evolution, astrochemistry, magneto-hydrodynamical and stellar-dynamical simulations. The Department is also interested in opening new research fields (including but not limited to astrobiology and planetary sciences).
We pursue vibrant instrumentation programs through the CePIA Radioastronomy (http://cepia.udec.cl/) and Cosmic Dust ( http://www.astro.udec.cl/dust_lab/) laboratories. Both labs are highly interdisciplinary and international. Our department members co-lead several large international (e.g., ERC Synergy and Max-Planck) and national (e.g., Milenium and BASAL) grants and research programs. The Department is internationally recognized for its public outreach and teacher training programs.
In addition to existing computational (e.g., http://www.astro.udec.cl/kultrun/ ) and instrumentation facilities, the successful applicants will have access to 10% of observing time on all telescopes in Chile (e.g., ALMA, ESO facilities), membership in large survey-mode experiments (e.g., SDSSV, LSST), and opportunities to participate in upcoming facilities (e.g., LCT , CCAT-Prime).
Applicants are expected to teach in Spanish within 2 years. The start date may be as early as March 2023. Applicants should submit a cover letter, a CV, a statement of research interests and future plans (max. 4 pages), a teaching statement including student mentoring experience (max. 2 pages), and the names of three professional references, on or before November 18th 2022 (link below).
Application page: https://form.jotform.com/222536031307647
Department homepage: http://www.astro.udec.cl/e/index.html
Visit the following link for more details: https://jobregister.aas.org/ad/a9159ee0
Application Deadline: Friday, November 18, 2022.
Apply to Job
Attention To: The Director
Institution/Company: Universidad de Concepción
Department Name: Departamento de Astronomía
Street: Avda Esteban Iturra S/N
City: Concepción
State/Province: Bio-Bio
Country:Chile
Phone: +56412661441
Email: svillanova@astro-udec.cl
Inquiries about Job
Attention To: The Director
Subject: Tenure track professorship position at Universidad de Concepcion, Chile-2022
Email: svillanova@astro-udec.cl
Franco López Flores
Comunicaciones Departamento de Astronomía
Universidad de Concepción
Concepción, 26 de Mayo 2020
Ph.D Gael Chauvin is awarded with the Charles Defforey- Institut de France Prize
The astrophysicist, who currently works as a researcher at the International Franco-Chilean Laboratory of Astronomy, obtained the distinction along with a team of colleagues for his SPHERE + project, dedicated to the search for exoplanets.
David Azócar
Concepción, 19 de Mayo 2020
A series of colloquia is held at the Department of Astronomy Udec
Since 29 April 2020 scientific seminars are being held in which academics from the Department of Astronomy participate together with researchers from various educational centres of the world. The first participating scientist was Dr. Giacomo Fragione, who is a member of Northwestern University, and works on topics related to gravitational wave-induced fusions of binary compact objects. On April 29, Dr. Fragione presented "Can hierarchical triples explain the LIGO-Virgo mergers?".
On May 6, Dr. Tom Richtler, an academic from the Department of Astronomy Udec, who focuses his work on studying globular clusters and galaxy cluster systems, presented " Luminosity profiles of spherical galaxies - their physical meaning". May 13 was Dr. Aaron Geller’s turn from Northwestern University. Geller presented "Visualizing Your N-Body Simulations", in which he gave an overview of his research on how stellar dynamics and stellar evolution conspire to create the most interesting stars and planets. On the 20th of May Dr. Jennifer Schober from the Astrophysics Laboratory, EPFL, talked about the origins and evolution of cosmic magnetic fields in "New insights on the origin and evolution of cosmic magnetic fields".
The colloquia continued on June 3 with the presentation of Tim Lichtenberg from the Oxford University, who talked about " Geophysical imprint on rocky planet formation and evolution". A week later, June 10, was the turn of Dr. Phillip Grete of University of Michigan, who unveiled K-Athena – a performance portable structured grid finite volume magnetohydrodynamics code. On June 17, Dr. Pierluigi Cerulo of the University of Concepción presented " The Morphological Evolution of Galaxies as a function of the Environment". The colloquiums will continue on June 24; 1, 8, 15 and 29 July.
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Comunicaciones Departamento de Astronomía
Universidad de Concepción
Concepción, 03 de Abril 2020
Investigador de Astronomía UdeC recibe reconocimiento por mejor paper del año en prestigiosa revista científica internacional.
- "IEEE MTT-S 2020 THz Science and Technology Best Paper Award", se titula el reconocimiento, entregado por IEEE, una asociación dedicada a promover la innovación y la excelencia tecnológica siendo la sociedad profesional técnica más grande del mundo.
- Se espera que el premio sea entregado en el próximo “International Microwave Symposium” que organiza la IEEE, a celebrarse la semana del 22 al 26 de junio de 2020 en Los Ángeles, California, EEUU.
- El Dr. Rodrigo Reeves, académico del Departamento de Astronomía de la Universidad de Concepción, forma parte del equipo galardonado.
“A Programmable Cryogenic Waveguide Calibration Load With Exceptional Temporal Response and Linearity”, se titula la investigación que obtuvo el premio a mejor paper del año en ciencia y tecnología. El trabajo fue desarrollado por los científicos Jacob W. Kooi (JPL), Rodrigo A. Reeves (UdeC), Arthur W. Lichtenberger (UVA), Theodore J. Reck (JPL), Andy K. Fung (JPL), Sander Weinreb (Caltech), James W. Lamb (Caltech), Rohit S. Gawande (JPL), Kieran A. Cleary (Caltech) y Goutam Chattopadhyay (JPL).
“La publicación trata del desarrollo de una fuente de calibración para instrumentos de detección de señales ultra-débiles y que operan a temperaturas criogénicas, como los usados en radio-astronomía milimétrica y sub-milimétrica. La fuente de calibración es programable, miniaturizada, muy ágil en su respuesta temporal, logrando cambiar y controlar su temperatura física en cosa de segundos”, explica el Dr. Reeves.
El diseño permite presentar, a los receptores de ondas como los de ALMA, una fuente radiativa de cuerpo negro ágilmente variable en temperatura, sin impactar en las condiciones de operación del instrumento a caracterizar, cosa que no había sido posible hasta ahora a temperaturas criogénicas, en el rango de ondas milimétricas. Este novedoso concepto es ahora extensible a frecuencias tan altas como los THz.
El reconocimiento es otorgado por IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society (MTT-S), el Instituto de Ingenieros Eléctricos y Electrónicos, organización técnica profesional más grande del mundo, compuesta por ingenieros, científicos y profesionales del área
Celeste Burgos BadalComunicaciones Departamento de Astronomía
Universidad de Concepción
Concepción, 02 de Marzo 2020
First Stars VI
Conferencia internacional sobre los orígenes estelares se lleva a cabo en Concepción.
Se trata de la sexta versión de “First Stars”, encuentro que se realiza por primera vez en Sudamérica y que reúne a más de 100 científicos de distintos países para discutir el estado actual de las investigaciones sobre los inicios del Universo.
Durante la última década, se ha hecho un progreso significativo hacia el sondeo de cómo se han formado las primeras estrellas, galaxias y agujeros negros. Destacan las primeras detecciones de ondas gravitacionales como una nueva ventana hacia nuestro Universo, la primera detección de una señal desde la época de reionización a través del experimento EDGES, así como el progreso continuo en áreas como la arqueología estelar o la búsqueda de las primeras galaxias. Además, se espera que en los próximos años se produzcan otros acontecimientos importantes debido a misiones futuras como el JWST y el SKA.
Debido a todos estos avances en investigación astronómica es que se celebra por primera vez en América del Sur, y específicamente en la ciudad de Concepción, la sexta versión de “First Stars”. Desde el 1 y hasta el 6 de marzo de 2020, en la Universidad de Concepción, se llevará a cabo el encuentro que tiene como objetivo discutir el estado actual teórico y observacional de la comprensión del ser humano sobre el nacimiento estelar a través de la historia cósmica, el impacto de la formación de la primera estrella y galaxia en la evolución posterior del Universo, las primeras explosiones de supernovas y el enriquecimiento químico, reionización cósmica y formación de agujeros negros supermasivo
Científicos del Departamento de Astronomía de la Universidad de Concepción conforman el comité local de organización de “First Stars VI” (ellos son la Dra. Bidisha Bandyopadhyay y los Dres. Stefano Bovino, Michael Fellhauer, Rafeel Riaz y Dominik Schleicher), evento que a nivel internacional es organizado también por científicos de Francia, Estados Unidos, Brasil, Alemania, Chile, Italia, Australia, Japón y Reino Unido.
En el encuentro, que convoca a unos 120 investigadores, se presta especial atención también a los planes actuales y futuros de observación desde el espacio y con destino a la Tierra y a su comparación con las predicciones de las simulaciones numéricas más avanzadas. Las anteriores conferencias se llevaron a cabo en Garching en 1999, en Pensilvania en 2003, en Santa Fe en 2007, en Kyoto en 2012 y en Heidelberg en 2016. La presente conferencia es la primera de la serie que tiene lugar en nuestro continente, y tiene como objetivo particular establecer vínculos más estrechos con la comunidad de observación en Chile, albergar los mayores telescopios del mundo y ofrecer oportunidades significativas en su comunidad astronómica. Además, busca incentivar a jóvenes investigadores y estudiantes a ser parte de la actividad. Entre los participantes confirmados se encuentras los científicos Andrew Bunker, de la Universidad de Oxford, Elisabetta Caffau del Observatorio de París, Shingo Hirano de la Universidad Kyushu de Japón, Takashi Hosokawa, de la Universidad de Kyoto, Japón, Mattis Magg de ITA, Alemania, Takashi Moriya, del Observatorio Astronómico Nacional de Japón y Ezequiel Treister de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, entre otros.
La actividad está financiada por el proyecto Anillo “ACT 172033 Formación y crecimiento de agujeros negros supermasivos”, el fondo Alma – Conicyt 31180014 y cuenta con el apoyo de la Vicerrectoría de la Universidad de Concepción por la segunda convocatoria "Fondos para Congresos Nacionales e Internacionales.
Para obtener más información, visitar: http://www.astro.udec.cl/FirstStarsVI/#home
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Comunicaciones Departamento de Astronomía
Universidad de Concepción
Concepción, 02 de Marzo 2020
Primera egresada del Magíster en Astronomía
Monserrat Martínez Marín es la primera graduada del programa de Magíster en Astronomía de la Universidad de Conceoción que ya inicia su tercer año de funcionamiento y que busca que sus egresados obtengan las competencias necesarias para proseguir con éxito una carrera en astronomía profesional en la era de los nuevos grandes telescopios proyectados en Chile como el “Extremely Large Telescope”, el “Vera Rubin Observatory” y el “Giant Magellan Telescope”.
Aprobada con nota máxima, Monserrat defendió su tesis de Magíster “Identificación de poblaciones de galaxias con un enfoque filogenético” el día 24 de enero de 2020. Bajo la guía y co-guía de los profesores Ricardo Demarco y Guillermo Cabrera, respectivamente, el trabajo fue evaluado también por el profesor Neil Nagar. La investigación de Monserrat también contó con la participación de los Dres. Pierluigi Cerulo, Nathan Leigh y Rodrigo Herrera-Camus.
Durante dos años, Monserrat trabajó en la implementación de árboles filogenéticos para estudiar la evolución de galaxias. Inspirada en el trabajo de la astrofísica chilena Paula Jofré, quien desarrolló un método a través del uso de árboles filogenéticos para identificar familias de estrellas, Monserrat propuso trabajar esta temática en su magíster, pero enfocada a las galaxias. “Decidí proponer este tema a los profesores Demarco y Cabrera y ellos aceptaron porque se ajustaba al conocimiento del profesor Demarco con las galaxias y del profesor Cabrera en ciencia de datos”, explica.
El profesor Demarco es astrónomo y centra sus investigaciones en entender cómo se formaron las galaxias que observamos en el universo local, al igual que sus propiedades físicas a distintos redshifts. Por su parte, el profesor Cabrera es ingeniero civil informático y sus áreas de trabajo son la ciencia de datos, astroestadística y astroinformática, entre otras.
Con el magíster de Monserrat se realizó un trabajo interdisciplinario entre astronomía y ciencias de la computación. La científica aprendió técnicas de inteligencia artificial y su uso en astronomía. “Basada en el trabajo realizado por la astrofísica chilena Paula Jofré, Monserrat se preguntó si el método podía aplicarse a las galaxias, su estructura y evolución. Fue algo muy novedoso, que configuró sola, obviamente discutíamos cualquier duda, en términos generales en astrofísica, pero los detalles del método fueron estudiados por cuenta de Monserrat, desarrollando por sí misma este camino de investigación. Es la primera vez que veo una estudiante partir de cero con un proyecto de tesis, lo que es notable y muestra el nivel que ha alcanzado, destacándose así del resto de sus pares gracias a su esfuerzo, dedicación y por supuesto sus capacidades.”, comenta el Dr. Ricardo Demarco.
Respecto a cómo evalúa el Magíster en Astronomía, Monserrat señala que “cubre todas las áreas que son necesarias para un astrónomo y abre la posibilidad de estudiar electivos de cualquier ámbito de investigación de la universidad. Cada profesor tiene su estilo propio de enseñanza, lo que te da libertad de elegir la forma que más te acomode. El programa de magister está bien estructurado y entrega la ventaja de empezar a investigar o pensar en tu tesis desde el primer semestre con el ramo de unidad de investigación”.
Ahora el paso a seguir para Monserrat es un doctorado en astronomía en la Universidad de Swinburne en Melbourne, Australia. “Mi profesor guía será el Dr. Karl Glazebrook e investigaremos las poblaciones estelares de las primeras galaxias (redshift >4) que se formaron en el Universo, utilizando algoritmos inteligentes para estudiar los espectros del telescopio espacial James Webb”, explica la científica. “Monserrat combinará técnicas de inteligencia artificial con datos ya disponibles para preparar el trabajo que luego realizará con este telescopio, que en unos años más estará orbitando en el espacio. Cuando esto ocurra, Monserrat se encontrará en un grupo privilegiado de científicos al hacer uso de este observatorio, realizando ciencia de frontera, ya que cuenta con las capacidades para desarrollar investigación de primera línea”, complementa el Dr. Demarco.
Así el Departamento de Astronomía, a través de su programa de Magíster, espera continuar formando profesionales que aporten al desarrollo de la ciencia en cualquier parte del mundo. “Estamos trabajando en formar profesionales competentes a partir de un arduo trabajo del cuerpo académico, apoyados en los logros obtenidos durante nuestro programa de pregrado. Esperamos que este magíster se consolide como foco de interés para estudiantes y colegas, no tan sólo en Chile sino que también en el extranjero, en cuanto a la formación de capital humano avanzado, lo que visibiliza además del trabajo realizado en el Departamento de Astronomía también el de la Universidad de Concepción, ubicándola en un contexto internacional”, finaliza el Dr. Demarco.
Celeste Burgos BadalComunicaciones Departamento de Astronomía
Universidad de Concepción
Concepción, 02 de Marzo 2020
Magíster en Astronomía logra tres años de acreditación
La Comisión Nacional de Acreditación entregó el pasado 20 de diciembre de 2019 su evaluación, otorgando por tres años la acreditación al Magister de Astronomía, el máximo de tiempo que se le otorga a los programas que aun no cuentan con egresados.
Muy contentos se encuentran los académicos del Departamento de Astronomía al recibir la noticia de que por tres años se contará con acreditación para el magíster que inició el año 2017.
El proceso empezó aquel año bajo la supervisión del Dr. Sandro Villanova, director del magíster y académico del Departamento de Astronomía. “Reunimos y analizamos todos los antecedentes para iniciar el proceso de acreditación, tales como el plan de estudios, entorno institucional, cuerpo docente, estudiantes inscritos, colaboraciones institucionales, proyectos de investigación, etc., para realizar una autoevaluación del programa involucrando al cuerpo docente y administrativo, y también a los estudiantes. De ese proceso detectamos las fortalezas y debilidades del programa y desarrollamos un plan para resolver las falencias que pudiera tener”, cuenta el Dr. Villanova.
Una vez terminado el informe, éste fue enviado a la Comisión Nacional de Acreditación, CNA, la cual en agosto de 2017 envió a un grupo de evaluadores para revisar el programa en terreno visitando la Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas, el Departamento de Astronomía y reuniéndose con el decano Dr. Roberto Riquelme, el cuerpo docente y estudiantes.
“La comisión evaluadora envió su informe a la CNA, la cual hizo una evaluación final y nos otorgó el día 20 de diciembre 2019 una acreditación por tres años, que es el máximo disponible para un programa que aún no cuenta con egresados. El próximo año tendremos que empezar una nueva acreditación para que nuestros estudiantes puedan aplicar a los beneficios de Conicyt sin interrupciones”, explica el Dr. Sandro Villanova.
El Magíster en Astronomía busca proveer personal especializado y astrónomas y astrónomos capaces de desarrollar proyectos de investigación de vanguardia con tecnología de punta, utilizando la infraestructura de instrumentación presente y futura en nuestro país. Recordemos que la Universidad de Concepción es la única institución de educación superior del centro sur de Chile que dicta la carrera de astronomía, por lo que se torna importante continuar con este tipo de programas.
La naturaleza del magíster ofrecido por el Departamento de Astronomía, la variedad de sus asignaturas y las líneas de investigación entregadas por sus profesores, en las áreas de Astrofísica estelar y galáctica, Astrofísica extra-galáctica y Astrofísica teórica e instrumental, son únicas en Chile y otorgan al programa un perfil de excelencia y la única alternativa de postgrado en astronomía al sur de Santiago.
Más información sobre el magíster en: http://www.astro.udec.cl/s/news/news/n13-es.html
Celeste Burgos BadalComunicaciones Departamento de Astronomía
Universidad de Concepción
Concepción, 18 de Diciembre 2019
Estudiante de la Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas UdeC recibe beca DAAD para estudios en el extranjero
Patricio Alister, quien actualmente estudia la formación de semillas de agujeros negros en cúmulos primordiales, desarrollará un doctorado en Alemania.
Durante tres años, Patricio Alister, estudiante de la Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas de la Universidad de Concepción trabajará como investigador doctoral en la Universidad de Heidelberg, esto gracias a la beca Conicyt- DAAD para estudios en el extranjero. “Mi investigación se centrará en la pérdida de masa en colisiones protoestelares, usando simulaciones para desarrollar un modelo de pérdida de masa que se pueda aplicar posteriormente en simulaciones de cúmulos estelares primordiales, donde estas protoestrellas se encuentran y colisionan constantemente, y ver finalmente cómo esto influye en la formación de semillas de agujeros negros supermasivos”, explica Patricio.
Actualmente, Patricio se encuentra realizando un magíster en la misma línea de investigación, estudiando cómo la pérdida de masa afecta las colisiones estelares en la formación de semillas de agujeros negros supermasivos. “La diferencia con mi proyecto para el doctorado es que ahora no tengo modelos de colisiones protoestelares, que es lo que voy a desarrollar en mi investigación en Alemania”, puntualiza Patricio.
En la Universidad de Heidelberg, Patricio trabajará con el astrónomo alemán Ralf Klessen. “La idea de postular a esta beca surgió ya que el profesor Dominik cuenta con contactos de expertos relacionados con mi área de estudio así que resultaba muy conveniente destinar mis estudios en ese lugar”, señala. Consultado por cuál es el aporte que espera entregar a la ciencia con su investigación, Patricio cuenta que “explicar la presencia de agujeros negros supermasivos en el presente es una de las metas actuales de la astronomía, y para eso es importante crear buenos modelos teóricos, capaces de explicar lo que vemos hoy. En ese sentido mi proyecto aporta mejorando el realismo de modelos de formación de semillas de agujeros negros que ya existen, para validarlos, o mejorarlos. Lo ideal es obtener buenos resultados para aportar con un modelo científicamente válido. También un modelo de pérdida de masa en protoestrellas es algo no estudiado y puede ser importante en otras áreas”, finaliza.
Celeste Burgos BadalComunicaciones Departamento de Astronomía
Universidad de Concepción
Concepción, 17 de Diciembre 2019
Destacado encuentro científico se realizará por primera vez en Chile
- Se trata del “7° Simposio Chile-Colonia-Bonn: Física y química de formación estelar, el universo dinámico a través del tiempo y las escalas” que se realizará en Puerto Varas y reunirá a centenares de astrónomos.
- La Dra. Amelia Stutz, académica del Departamento de Astronomía UdeC, se adjudicó fondos del Comité Mixto ESO-Chile para promover la participación de jóvenes astrónomos en esta actividad.
- Con este encuentro se busca destacar el papel clave que Chile tiene como centro de la astronomía mundial.
Sabemos que hoy en día Chile se posiciona como figura central en el desarrollo de investigación astronómica. Con el objetivo de promover que los jóvenes astrónomos sean parte de las distintas interacciones científicas, reuniones, conferencias y encuentros de clase mundial en materia científica es que la Dra. Amelia Stutz, académica del Departamento de Astronomía de la Universidad de Concepción, en conjunto con científicos chilenos y alemanes, llevará a cabo el “7° Simposio Chile-Colonia-Bonn: Física y química de formación estelar, el universo dinámico a través del tiempo y las escalas”, el cual se realizará del 28 de septiembre al 2 de octubre de 2020 en Puerto Varas.
“Capacitar a jóvenes astrónomos en resultados científicos de vanguardia, es una de las formas más directas de transformar el potencial astronómico de Chile en logros científicos, y destacar el papel clave que Chile tiene como centro de Astronomía”, explica la Dra. Stutz. Es por esto que a través del proyecto “Del Cervino al Volcán Osorno: El Simposio ISM Chile-Colonia-Bonn 2020”, el cual obtuvo fondos del Comité Mixto ESO-Chile, el equipo de trabajo llevará a cabo este simposio, que reunirá a centenares de científicos para intercambiar avances en sus investigaciones.
“Solicitamos estos fondos para apoyar la continuación de esta serie de conferencias, que se realizarán por primera vez en Chile. Estos fondos se utilizarán para cubrir gastos de jóvenes investigadores chilenos y extranjeros, ya sea en inscripciones y traslados para facilitarles su participación en la actividad”, explica la Dra. Stutz. La actividad es organizada por el Instituto de Física de la Universidad de Colonia, Instituto Argelander de Astronomía de la Universidad y el Instituto Max Planck de Radioastronomía de Bonn y forma parte de una serie de simposios sobre la física y la química del medio interestelar (ISM) que vienen realizándose desde 1998..
Para más información visite la página: https://astro.uni-koeln.de/symposium-star-formation-2020.html
Celeste Burgos BadalComunicaciones Departamento de Astronomía
Universidad de Concepción
Concepción, 14 de Noviembre 2019
Investigadora del Departamento de Astronomía UdeC analizará la física de los agujeros negros
- Se trata de la Dra. Bidisha Bandyopadhyay, quien actualmente realiza un postdoctorado en la Universidad de Concepción.
- A través de un proyecto Fondecyt Postdoctorado se estudiarán los procesos de acreción de un agujero negro.
"Probing the accretion physics of nearby low-luminosity AGN with the Event Horizon Telescope" ("Sondear la física de acreción de AGN de baja luminosidad cercana con el Event Horizon Telescope"), se titula el proyecto que llevará a cabo la Dra. Bidisha Bandyopadhyay, proveniente de la India y que actualmente realiza un postdoctorado en el Departamento de Astronomía de la Universidad de Concepción. El proyecto se realizará gracias a un Fondecyt Postdoctorado y tendrá una duración de tres años, tiempo en el que la Dra. Bandyopadhyay trabajará junto al Dr. Dominik Schleicher, académico del Departamento.
“Con la primera imagen del anillo de fotones de M87 que fue anunciada por el proyecto del Telescopio de Horizonte de Evento, EHT, se ha abierto una nueva ventana para sondear regiones en la proximidad de agujeros negros supermasivos. El Event Horizon Telescope proporciona una oportunidad única para sondear la física de los agujeros negros supermasivos a través de interferometría de muy larga base (VLBI por sus siglas en inglés), como la existencia del horizonte de eventos, la astrofísica de los agujeros negros supermasivos, los flujos de acreción y las propiedades del chorro”, explica la Dra. Bandyopadhyay.
Con este proyecto, se busca contribuir de manera importante a las predicciones e interpretaciones pertinentes de los datos obtenidos con el EHT mediante el desarrollo de herramientas numéricas que puedan aplicarse en este contexto. “Mientras que sólo para Sgr A* y M87, es evidente que uno debe ser capaz de resolver la sombra del agujero negro, incluso resolver escalas correspondientes a alrededor de 100 radios Schwarzschild, es en principio suficiente para estudiar los flujos de acreción”, puntualiza la Dra. Bandyopadyay, quien ha desarrollado y aplicado las herramientas disponibles que se pueden emplear para una comparación con modelos teóricos.
“A través de este proyecto, esperamos participar de manera relevante en la interpretación de los datos EHT, y proporcionar predicciones que serán relevantes para planificar observaciones futuras. A través de la colaboración con el Dr. Christian Fendt en Heidelberg, así como con el Dr. Fu-Guo Xie en Shanghai, que actualmente mantiene el código RIAF, también aportaremos experiencia adicional en el país, que será útil para el modelado de los flujos de acreción en general. Ya tenemos reuniones regulares conjuntas con el Prof. Neil Nagar y el Dr. Venkatessh Ramakrishnan, encuentros que son muy valiosos para la interpretación conjunta de los datos. El profesor Neil Nagar y el Dr. Venkatessh Ramakrishnan son miembros de la colaboración EHT, quienes aportaron en la obtención de la primera imagen del anillo fotónico alrededor del agujero negro de M87. Para explorar y entender las emisiones de alta energía (rayos X) de las fuentes, hemos establecido colaboración con el grupo de la profesora Patricia Arévalo de la Universidad de Valparaíso”, finaliza la Dra. Bandyopadyay.
Celeste Burgos BadalComunicaciones Departamento de Astronomía
Universidad de Concepción
Concepción, 18 de Octubre 2019
Científicos determinan otros dos agujeros negros que serán estudiados con el Telescopio de Horizonte de Eventos
- Se trata de los agujeros negros ubicados en las galaxias NGC 3998 y Cen A, objetos que cuentan con las características necesarias para poder ser analizados.
- La investigación comenzó el año 2018 y fue publicada en la revista científica Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
El Event Horizon Telescope, EHT, una red de radiotelescopios ubicados en distintos puntos de nuestro planeta, permitió captar lo que es la primera imagen de la sombra de un agujero negro supermasivo (M87), un hito en la astronomía. Esta gran herramienta otorga una oportunidad única para los científicos y científicas de seguir investigando sobre estos monstruos espaciales, a través de la interferometría de muy larga base (VLBI, por sus siglas en inglés), es decir haciendo uso de esta serie de radiotelescopios esparcidos por el planeta actuando como un solo gran telescopio del tamaño de la Tierra, para así analizar la física de los agujeros negros, como por ejemplo estudiar su Horizonte de Eventos, los procesos de acreción, o la formación de chorros en Núcleos de Galaxias Activas de Baja Luminosidad (LLAGN, por sus siglas en inglés).
El EHT ha permitido sondear regiones en el disco de acreción del agujero negro que antes eran imposibles de resolver, por lo que uno de los puntos a investigar son los diferentes procesos físicos que ocurren en el disco de acreción para obtener una idea de la fuente de energía que alimenta estos sistemas.
En este contexto, es que un grupo de investigadores formularon un modelo teórico con el objetivo de predecir el perfil de emisión de los discos de acreción de agujeros negros supermasivos en galaxias cercanas, para determinar si el Telescopio de Horizonte de Eventos o el Global 3mm VLBI Array (otra red de instrumentos compuesta por ocho antenas ubicadas en distintas zonas de la Tierra como España, Francia, Alemania y Suecia, entre otros países) pueden resolver estas estructuras.
La publicación titulada “Resolving accretion flows in nearby active galactic nuclei with the Event Horizon Telescope” (“Resolviendo flujos de acreción en galaxias cercanas con el Telescopio Horizonte de Eventos) presenta la investigación llevada a cabo por los científicos Dra. Bidisha Bandyopadhyay, como primera autora; el Dr. Venkatessh Ramakrishnan (quien además se encuentra junto a Bidisha realizando un postdoctorado en el Departamento de Astronomía de la Universidad de Concepción), los Dres. Neil Nagar y Dominik Schleicher, académicos del Departamento de Astronomía UdeC; la Dra. Patricia Arévalo, Elena López y Yaherlyn Díaz, investigadoras de la Universidad de Valparaíso, además del Dr. Fu-Guo Xie del Observatorio de Shanghai. Cabe destacar que los Dres. Neil Nagar y Venkatessh Ramakrishnan fueron dos de los investigadores que participaron en la obtención de la primera imagen de la sombra de un agujero negro supermasivo, M87, publicada en abril de 2019.
De esta forma, después de la primera imagen del agujero negro M87, se pueden planificar observaciones de agujeros negros supermasivos en otras galaxias. Y es lo que plantea hacer este grupo de investigadores con su reciente publicación, quienes determinaron que los agujeros negros supermasivos ubicados en las galaxias NGC 3998 y Cen A son buenos candidatos para observaciones en el futuro. “Esto porque son los únicos objetos encontrados hasta el momento (además de M87 y Sgr A*), cuya estructura del disco de acreción puede ser observada, ya que cuentan con un tamaño lo suficientemente grande como para ser analizados, a diferencia de otros objetos que sólo se visualizan como un pequeño punto”, explica el Dr. Schleicher.
Los agujeros negros supermasivos ubicados en las galaxias NGC 3998 y Cen A tienen una masa de 270 millones y 55 millones la masa del sol y se encuentran a una distancia de 51 y 14 millones de años luz de la Vía Láctea, respectivamente, en nuestro alrededor cósmico. En comparación a M87 son menos masivos, pero se encuentran más cercanos (M87 tiene 6,4 mil millones masas del sol y se encuentra a 55 millones de años luz de nuestra galaxia) y debido principalmente a que cuentan con una acreción mucho más activa que M87 y Sgr A* permiten el estudio del crecimiento de un agujero negro.
La investigación fue publicada en la revista científica Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Societ, (MNRAS) y se realiza bajo el apoyo de los fondos Anillo ACT172033, ALMA-Conicyt 31160001 y Fondecyt Postdoctorado 3190366.
Para acceder a la publicación de la investigación: https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2019arXiv190705879B/abstract
Celeste Burgos BadalComunicaciones Departamento de Astronomía
Universidad de Concepción
Concepción, 9 de Octubre 2019
Dr. Neil Nagar recibe Premio Municipal de Ciencias 2019 por su participación en la primera imagen de un agujero negro
Cada año la Municipalidad de Concepción premia a ciudadanos penquistas que hayan significado un aporte en las áreas del arte y las ciencias. En esta ocasión quien recibe el Premio Municipal de Ciencia es el astrónomo Neil Nagar, académico del Departamento de Astronomía UdeC, quien fue parte del equipo que captó la primera imagen de un agujero negro supermasivo.
El premio consta de un aporte monetario de 35UF, lo que equivale a cerca de un millón de pesos chilenos que le permitirán al investigador seguir desarrollando su trabajo como astrónomo.
Durante el mes de abril de este año los investigadores del Event Horizon Telescope, un conjunto de ocho telescopios distribuidos en distintas zonas de nuestro planeta, lograron fotografiar un agujero negro supermasivo. Los 347 investigadores, entre los que se encuentran Neil Nagar y Venkatessh Ramakrishnan del Departamento de Astronomía de Universidad de Concepción, quienes contribuyeron a este hito astronómico y científico, por el cual además recibieron el premio Breakthrough 2020, conocido también como el “Oscar de la ciencia”, en la categoría “Física Fundamental” y un reconocimiento por parte del Parlamento Chileno.
El Premio Municipal de Arte, de Ciencia, de Investigación aplicada y Ciencias Sociales, reconoce en el área de la ciencia el hito trascendental que significó, no sólo para la ciudad sino que para historia de la investigación astronómica, la primera imagen de la sombra de un agujero negro tomada por un equipo de 347 científicos y científicas de todo el mundo, entre ellos el científico destacado Neil Nagar.
El investigador, es doctor en Astronomía y se concentra en el estudio de galaxias activas, agujeros negros supermasivos, cinemática de galaxias y rayos cósmicos de altísima energía.
Cabe destacar que el astrónomo no es el único académico del Departamento de Astronomía UdeC que ha sido distinguido por la Municipalidad con este premio, pues Wolfgang Gieren, Ronald Mennickent y Douglas Geisler fueron premiados también en los años 2009, 2014 y 2016 respectivamente por sus aportes a la ciencia.
La ceremonia se llevará a cabo el día 11 de octubre a las 19:00 horas en el Salón de Honor "Regidor Carlos Contreras Maluje" de la Municipalidad de Concepción.
Acerca de Neil Nagar
- Doctor en Astronomía por la Universidad de Maryland, College Park, Estados Unidos en 2000
- Bachelor en Ingeniería Electrónica y Magister en Matemática de Birla Institute of Tecnology and Science, Pilani, India en 1993
- Trabaja con el EHT (Event Horizon Telescope) desde 2010, hoy en subgrupo de galaxias activas, calibración y explotación de datos de ALMA.
- Se incorporó al Departamento de Astronomía UdeC en el año 2004.
Premios Municipales
- Están destinados a reconocer la obra de ciudadanos residentes o ciudadanos penquistas
- Consta de cuatro categorías: arte, ciencia, investigación aplicada y ciencias sociales
- Se premia con con diploma alusivo del galardón y la cantidad de dinero equivalente a 35 UF
- El jurado lo preside el Alcalde de Concepción, se compone por cinco concejales y un representante de cada universidad con presencia en la ciudad por más de diez años.
Comunicaciones Departamento de Astronomía UdeC
Concepción, 9 de Octubre 2019
En el marco del Foro de Cooperación Económica de Asia Pacífico:
Astrónoma UdeC participa en encuentro sobre el rol de la mujer en el desarrollo económico e intelectual
La Dra. Amelia Stutz fue parte del “Diálogo público - privado sobre la mujer y la economía”, actividad que forma parte del foro APEC, instancia en la cual compartió su experiencia y visión respecto al papel de la mujer en el ámbito laboral.
Este 2019, Chile es sede del Foro de Cooperación Económica de Asia Pacífico, APEC, encuentro que se realiza con el objetivo de promover el crecimiento de los países participantes a través de la cooperación técnica y económica por medio del intercambio comercial en la región Asia Pacífico. Este año, las temáticas prioritarias en APEC, encuentro que reunirá a líderes económicos internacionales los días 16 y 17 de noviembre, son “Sociedad Digital”, “Integración 4.0”, “Crecimiento Sustentable” y “Mujer, Pymes y Crecimiento Inclusivo”. En el marco de ésta última, desde el 30 de septiembre y hasta el 4 de octubre se llevaron a cabo en La Serena una serie de encuentros enfocados en la mujer y su participación en áreas que suelen ser masculinizadas.
Uno de éstos fue el “Diálogo público privado sobre la mujer y la economía”, actividad a la que fue invitada la Dra. Amelia Stutz, académica y astrónoma del Departamento de Astronomía de la Universidad de Concepción, donde participó junto a otras destacadas científicas del área como María Teresa Ruiz, Mónica Rubio y Sotoko Takahashi.
“En general, conversamos sobre aspectos relevantes respecto a cómo desarrollamos nuestras carreras científicas, desde nuestros inicios hasta el día de hoy, motivando a las nuevas generaciones a que perseveren por sus metas e intereses, en ámbitos en los que no sólo se debe trabajar por dichas metas, sino que también luchar por ellas, ya sean profesionales e intelectuales, considerando que hablamos de contextos masculinizados”, explica la Dra. Stutz, científica que se especializa en las múltiples longitudes de onda relacionadas con la formación de estrellas, incluyendo la identificación y caracterización de las protoestrellas más jóvenes, propiedades de las nubes moleculares y el papel de los campos magnéticos en el proceso de formación de estrellas.
En el encuentro, además se hicieron presente líderes nacionales y extranjeros del área empresarial y política, con el objetivo de dialogar en torno al empoderamiento económico de la mujer, aprovechando las oportunidades de las nuevas industrias y el desarrollo digital a nivel regional.
“Me parece importante el poder visibilizar los logros en campos como la astronomía, un área muy especializada, con la que la gente en general no tiene mucho contacto. Entonces, poder establecer una retroalimentación, conociendo las realidades académicas y científicas, se torna muy importante a la hora de destacar el gran trabajo hecho por las mujeres y así poder inspirar a otras también”, señala la Dra. Amelia Stutz, quien ha centrado su trabajo en la nube molecular de Orión, la región más masiva y cercana de formación de estrellas de alta masa y de cúmulos estelares, donde junto con sus colaboradores desarrollaron un nuevo modelo para la formación de dichos cúmulos.
Además, el día 4 de octubre se llevó a cabo el foro “Mujeres y Astronomía” en la Biblioteca Regional Gabriela Mistral de La Serena, instancia en que las astrónomas expusieron frente a estudiantes y público general. “La actividad se inició con una destacable charla del Dr. Rodolfo Barbá de la Universidad de La Serena sobre el rol histórico de la mujer en la sociedad chilena y luego compartí con los asistentes mis experiencias en el ámbito personal y profesional como mujer que ha realizado estudios y que se ha desempeñado profesionalmente en Estados Unidos, Alemania y Chile”, comenta la Dra. Stutz, quien desde el año 2016 forma parte del equipo de profesores del Departamento de Astronomía de la Universidad de Concepción.
En la ocasión, las expositoras dieron a conocer sobre el quehacer de las mujeres en la ciencia astronómica, sus aportes y cómo es trabajar en los observatorios. Se comentó, además, sobre lo que implica tratar de compatibilizar el desarrollo profesional con el personal y el aporte que la diversificación en investigadoras e investigadores puede otorgar para diversificar la manera de abordar los problemas científicos que requieren ser resueltos.
“Es muy enriquecedor poder sobre todo compartir las experiencias con nuevas generaciones y público general. Pude ver el interés y entusiasmo de ellos y recibir retroalimentación, uno de los aspectos más importantes en este tipo de encuentros”, finaliza la Dra. Stutz.
Las actividades forman parte de las más de 200 reuniones que componen el Foro de Cooperación Económica de Asia Pacífico, APEC, a realizarse en noviembre de este año. Recordemos que este es un encuentro internacional creado en 1989, a instancias de Australia y Japón, para fortalecer la comunidad de la región Asia Pacífico. Cuenta con 21 miembros, los que se denominan “economías”. Éstos son: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canadá, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japón, Corea del Sur, Malasia, México, Nueva Zelandia, Papúa Nueva Guinea, Perú, Filipinas, Rusia, Singapur, China Taipei, Tailandia, Estados Unidos y Vietnam.
Celeste Burgos BadalComunicaciones Departamento de Astronomía UdeC
Concepción, 3 de Octubre 2019
Dr. Douglas Geisler del Departamento de Astronomía es nombrado profesor emérito de la Universidad de Concepción
El científico y académico Dr. Douglas Geisler recibió el título de Profesor Emérito de parte del Consejo Académico de la Universidad de Concepción, grado honorífico que se entrega a las y los académicos destacados de la casa de estudios.
La ceremonia se llevó a cabo el día miércoles 02 de octubre a las 16:00 horas en el Salón del Mural de la Universidad de Concepción. En la ceremonia participaron el rector de la Universidad de Concepción, Dr. Carlos Saavedra, el decano de la Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas, Dr. Roberto Riquelme, el director del Departamento de Astronomía, Dr. Ricardo Demarco, académicos y colegas de la Universidad; y amigos y familiares del Dr. Geisler.
“Es un honor total, lo mejor de mi vida, es uno de los reconocimientos más destacados que un profesor puede recibir y estoy sumamente orgulloso”, señaló Geisler, quien ha realizado su trabajo desde hace 20 años en la UdeC, como investigador y docente, siendo unos de los primeros integrantes que dieron forma al grupo de astronomía de la universidad. Su área de investigación se desarrolla en la astronomía óptica e infrarroja analizando la edad y composición de las poblaciones estelares en galaxias cercanas.
“La Universidad siempre ha sido abierta al desarrollo de nuestra querida ciencia, desde los días del rector Sergio Lavanchy y vicerrector Ernesto Figueroa hasta el actual rector Carlos Saavedra. Siempre las autoridades han estado dispuestas a apoyar nuestro crecimiento y nosotros siempre hemos realizado un buen trabajo, haciendo investigación de la más alta envergadura, ganando proyectos importantes del nivel nacional e internacional y siendo anfitriones de reuniones científicas de calidad mundial. Es un tremendo privilegio trabajar en una gran Universidad, y también en el país más importante del mundo en términos de las observaciones astronómicas”.
Entre sus investigaciones, se destaca su trabajo con el telescopio Gemini Sur, con el cual fue posible captar una imagen nunca antes vista del cúmulo estelar Liller 1, ubicado en el centro de nuestra galaxia, difícil de observar debido a la gran distancia y al polvo estelar en dicha zona. Sin embargo, junto a su equipo de trabajo, fue posible obtener una imagen de calidad ultra nítida y sin precedentes, revelando una vasta ciudad de estrellas y uno de los pocos lugares en el Universo donde se cree que ocurren colisiones estelares.
El Dr. Geisler obtuvo su doctorado en astronomía en la Universidad de Washington, EE.UU, en 1983. Como dato anecdótico, relata que fue parte del Comité de Tesis de Doctorado de Neil deGrasse Tyson (astrofísico conocido popularmente por conducir la secuela de la serie de TV “Cosmos”), en la Universidad de Columbia. “Esto fue en el año 1990 más o menos, cuando yo estaba trabajando en el Observatorio Inter-Americano de Cerro Tololo. Su tesis en parte usaba una técnica que yo desarrollé y así su profesor guía me pidió ser parte del Comité. Conocí a Neil en persona por primera vez cuando había una reunión científica en La Serena en 1990, donde él presentó algunos de los resultados de su trabajo de este entonces; años después, en una actividad social, compartimos una cena y me pude percatar de su don único para enseñar y entretener a la vez”, acota.
En 1999 Geisler se incorpora a la UdeC, desde donde ha formado nuevos astrónomos y desarrollado ciencia de punta. “En la universidad he tenido el apoyo de tantas personas - colegas como Wolfgang Gieren, todos los profesores y el staff del Departamento de Astronomía; el decano de nuestra facultad, Roberto Riquelme, quien me sugirió la idea de postular a este honor y ha luchado para esto por varios años; gente como Patricia Muñoz, María Teresa Sandoval, Marcela Sanhueza, Marllory Fuentes y Jeanette Espinoza, quienes han hecho de nuestra querida facultad y departamento un lugar muy acogedor y eficiente para trabajar, y finalmente mi señora, María Eugenia Barraza, que siempre me ha acompañado por esta vida, apoyándome en todo”, finaliza el Dr. Gieren.
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Comunicaciones Departamento de Astronomía UdeC
Concepción, 13 de Septiembre 2019
Rector Saavedra entrega reconocimiento a astrónomos UdeC que integran equipo ganador del Premio Breakthrough
La mañana del 13 de septiembre el rector de la Universidad de Concepción, Carlos Saavedra, recibió en dependencias de rectoría a los Dres. Neil Nagar y Venkatessh Ramakrishnan, astrónomos UdeC que forman parte de la Colaboración EHT, agrupación internacional de científicos que captó por primera vez en la historia la imagen de un agujero negro supermasivo, trabajo por el cual el equipo de científicos fue recientemente galardonado con el Premio Breakthrough de Física Fundamental.
"Este es un gran premio para la astronomía, pero también un reconocimiento para la Universidad. Astronomía UdeC es una de las áreas más proactivas de nuestra casa de estudios; les agradecemos su trabajo y esfuerzo por este gran avance en ciencia", señaló el rector Carlos Saavedra.
Por su parte, el Dr. Neil Nagar agradeció el recibimiento de hoy y destacó que a través del premio Breakthrough de Física Fundamental se reconoce por igual a todos los miembros del equipo EHT, "estamos orgullosos de este premio, sobre todo también porque aquí no se consideraron jerarquías, sino que se destacó por igual a todos los integrantes del equipo internacional", puntualizó.
Para el Dr. Ramakrishnan, el premio Breakthrough es "un gran reconocimiento para todo el equipo y también para los jóvenes investigadores que son parte de éste para desarrollar a futuro nuevas posiciones en investigación. Agradezco el reconocimiento que hoy nos entrega la Universidad y el apoyo que nos da para realizar investigación", finalizó el Dr. Ramakrishnan.
Recordemos que ambos investigadores y los más de 300 investigadores de la colaboración internacional del Telescopio de Horizonte de Eventos fueron galardonados con 3 millones de dólares con el premio Breakthrough de Física Fundamental. “Los fondos obtenidos permitirán mejorar la infraestructura del EHT, colaborar con investigadores ampliando posiciones de trabajo, poder desarrollar conferencias científicas y publicación de artículos, entre otras opciones”, comenta el Dr. Ramakrishnan.
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Comunicaciones Departamento de Astronomía UdeC
Concepción, 12 September 2019
Researchers who captured the first image of a black hole were honoured with the 2020 Breakthrough Prize
The Breakthrough Prize Foundation and its founding sponsors, Sergey Brin, Priscilla Chan, Mark Zuckerberg, Ma Huateng, Yuri and Julia Milner, and Anne Wojcicki, announced the awardees of this year. Among them, the "Fundamental Physics" category recognised the 347 researchers who contributed to capturing the first image of the shadow of the supermassive black hole in M87, taken by the EHT and published on 10 April, marking a milestone for science and astronomy.
The Breakthrough Prize, considered the "Oscars of Science", consists of US$3 million, evenly split among the 347 EHT researchers, and will be received by Shep Doeleman, Director of the EHT, on behalf of all awardees, on 3 November.
Part of this group includes Drs. Neil Nagar and Venkatessh Ramakrishnan, an academic staff member and postdoctoral researcher respectively, at the Department of Astronomy, University of Concepcion, who, thanks to their contribution to the EHT, made the university the only Chilean institution to be part of this astronomical milestone.
Therefore, on Friday 13 September at 10:00, at the Rectorate building of the University of Concepcion, the Rector Carlos Saavedra will receive both researchers in recognition of their work and award. During this event, a press conference will also be held in order to provide further details about the award and the ongoing research of the two scientists.
"I deeply appreciate that on this occasion, unlike the Nobel Prize which awards leaders of scientific groups, it was decided to recognise each member who contributed to capturing the image of the black hole, regardless of who the leader or founder of the project was, demonstrating the importance that each and every member has in achieving the proposed objectives", stated Dr. Neil Nagar, academic at the Department of Astronomy and EHT member, who received this prize.
Meanwhile, Dr. Venkatessh Ramakrishnan, who is conducting postdoctoral research at the Department of Astronomy in the University of Concepcion, stated: "The Breakthrough Prize is one of the highest honours to date, and receiving it as an active EHT member opens up possibilities to obtain a more competitive role in the future, and to continue research on the Event Horizon Telescope".
Expectations for the Nobel Prize in Physics
Regarding this topic, Dr. Ramakrishnan pointed out that "there are always several expectations for awards from around the world by many people in the astronomical community, including the Nobel Prize. However, within our team, our focus is on producing high-quality results without any expectation of receiving any kind of prize, as that would distract us from our primary aim".
"We, as members of the EHT Collaboration, continue working on this research and we expect to publish more results within one or two years on SgrA*, M87 and other galaxies. With these new results, our science will reach a much more mature stage, paving the way for, maybe, a Nobel Prize", commented Dr. Nagar.
Concerning the planned use of the prize money, Dr. Ramakrishnan explained: "The funds obtaind will allow us to upgrade the EHT infrastructure, create more positions to facilitate collaboration with researchers, support attendance at scientific conferences and publish articles, among other options", he concluded.
It should be noted that, besides the Breakthrough Prize, both researchers received the Recognition Medal from the Chilean Parliament last April for their important contribution to science and humanity by publishing the first image of the shadow of a supermassive black hole, achieved through simultaneous observations by eight radio telescopes all pointed at the galaxy M87 and located around the world. In this way, astronomers transformed our planet into a giant telescope- the EHT -in order to obtain an unprecedented resolution, enabling the visualisation of ,for the first time in history, the black hole's silhouette in great detail, thus confirming theoretical predictions regarding the structure of these types of celestial objects.
Currently, the EHT Collaboration team continues to conduct research on black holes, specifically the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way, Sagittarius A, SgrA*. "We hope to obtain new images and more detailed results regarding M87 and other galaxies. In this way, we expect to have many more results in the near future, contributing to stronger tests in physics, particularly the General Theory of Relativity", concluded Dr. Nagar.
Breakthrough Prizes
- In 2012, four billionaire marriages- the co-founder of Google, Sergey Brin and biologist Anne Wojcicki; the founder of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan; Russian physicist Yuri Milner and his wife Julia Milner; and Jack Ma, owner of a successful Chinese e-commerce company, and his wife Cathy Zhang -decided to establish the Breakthrough Prizes to recognise outstanding contributions to science.
- It includes Fundamental Physics, Mathematics and Life Sciences, as well as the 'New Horizons' category for early-career researchers.
- The prize is worth 3 million US dollars, twice the amount awarded by the Nobel Prize.
- This is the eighth occasion the prize has been held, and the jury is made up by scientists who have won in previous editions.
About the awarded UdeC researchers
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Department of Astronomy Communications
Concepción, 11 September 2019
Dr. Ronald Mennickent Cid delivered lecture at Harvard University
Dr. Ronald Mennickent, academic at the Department of Astronomy and Director of Research and Artistic Creation, was invited to give a lecture at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on 9 September.
The academic visited Harvard to deliver a lecture on his research into mass exchange processes in binary stars, their evolution, and accretion disc activity. This work was carried out under the Fondecyt Regular Project No. 1190621, recently awarded to Dr. Mennickent.
During the event, Dr. Mennickent received valuable feedback from Dr. Selma de Mink and two of her PhD students, who are currently developing stellar evolution models for progenitors of gravitational wave sources.
The host at Harvard was academic Dimitar Sasselov, who was Dr. Mennickent’s supervisor during his postdoctoral visit in 1998/99. In 2002, Sasselov led the team that discovered what was then the most distant known planet in the Milky Way, whose light takes five thousand years to reach Earth.
Moreover, Sasselov is the director of the Harvard's Origins of Life initiative, an interdisciplinary research programme in astrobiology. As part of his work, he travels around the globe with his students to collect in situ samples of geological sediments at Earth's primitive stage, which allows them to study extremophiles - microorganism potentially adapted to life in conditions similar to those on other planets. The academics Mennickent and Sasselov discussed the possibility of the University of Concepcion hosting a future visit to the Atacama Desert. This motivated by the unique conditions the region offfers for studying organisms adapted to extreme environments. It would also encourage cross-disciplinary research between astronomy, geology, biology, and other field at our institution, in the emerging field of astrobiology, where the involvement of professionals from different disciplines is key.
Concepción, 29 August 2019
Astronomer from the Department of Astronomy to lead team associated with the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Chile
Dr. Rodrigo Herrera-Camus, an academic at the Department of Astronomy of the University of Concepción, will lead the “Baryonic Cycle in Galaxies” team, in association with the Max Planck Society.
This collaboration will last five years and aims to promote the exchange of knowledge between researchers and students from Chile and Germany through research, internships, meetings and lectures, with a focus on the study of galaxy formation and evolution.
Dr. Rodrigo Herrera-Camus completed his postdoctoral studies at Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Germany where he joined the Infrared/Submillimetre Group. "There, I worked with the Group Leader , Dr. Reinhard Genzel, we submitted a proposal to the President of the Max Planck Society to create a group in Chile. Our application was reviewed by a panel of experts and then accepted, hence, for the following five years we will focus on strengthening research and the exchange of knowledge in the field of astronomy", explained Dr. Herrera-Camus.
The research will be conducted at ALMA and VLT observatories in Chile and NOEMA in France. It will focus on studying the properties of molecular and ionised gas in galaxies as they evolve. "ALMA is currently revolutionising our understanding of the properties of molecular gas in galaxies, particularly those we can observe when the Universe was less than one or two billion years old. For example, one of the collaborative projects is focused on kinematic properties of a galaxy when the Universe was only one billion years old. This will allow us to learn about its structure - both baryonic and dark matter - and how advanced it is in its formation process", noted Dr. Herrera-Camus.
As mentioned earlier, one of the key goals of this project is to create a collaborative network between the Max Planck Society and the astronomical community in Chile. "On the scientific side, we expect to make significant contributions to the field of galaxy evolution, while on the academic side, our interest lies in promoting the exchange of experiences, knowledge and ideas for future projects between students, postdocs, and academics from both continents through regular visits and remote meetings", explained Dr. Rodrigo Herrera-Camus.
Through this collaboration, it is expected that academics and students from the Department of Astronomy conducting research in galaxy astrophysics are able to join and take full advantage of the exchange and collaboration opportunities offered by this programme. "The goal is that within five years we will have publications co-authored by students and professors from both institutions", concluded Dr. Rodrigo Herrera-Camus.
The Department of Astronomy, part of the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Concepción, plays an important role in the professional training of new scientists in the region. It has highly qualified faculty members and actively engages in outreach activities to the community. Meanwhile, the Max Planck Society operates as an internationalised network of autonomous, interdisciplinary institutions. In Latin America, it has established scientific cooperation projects with Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay, among others.
Celeste Burgos BadalDepartment of Astronomy Communication
Concepción, 22 August 2019
Technological advance in Astronomy at UdeC enhances precision in atmospheric water vapour measurements
The Centre for Astronomical Instrumentation (Centro Para la Instrumentación Astronómica, CePIA in spanish) at Universidad de Concepción (UdeC) is currently developing new technology aimed at enhancing the accuracy of atmospheric water vapour measurements and deepening our understanding of its influence on astronomical observations.
Northern Chile is recognised as one of the best locations in the world for conducting millimetre and sub-millimetre astronomical observations, due to its high-altitude sites and extremely low humidity. Consequently, several of the world’s most important astronomical observatories have been established in the region. However, despite these exceptional conditions, atmospheric water vapour — along with its temporal variability — has always posed a challenge to the detection of faint cosmic signals, as it both attenuates and scatters them, reducing their detectability.
As a result, several instruments and techniques have been developed to reduce the effects of atmospheric water vapour on astronomical observations. These instruments, known as water vapour radiometers, are mainly manufactured by companies in countries such as Germany and Sweden. Although there has been progress in recent years, these devices still face significant challenges when it comes to accurately measuring water vapour. Ideally, all radio telescopes would be equipped with such radiometers, as they provide key data for the calibration of scientific measurements and for planning observational strategies. However, only a few currently possess this instrument, mainly due to its high cost and limited precision. ALMA and Paranal Observatory are among the few facilities equipped with such devices.
In response to this challenge, the project "Development of Pseudo-Correlation Radiometer Prototypes for Ultra-Sensitive Systems", led by the Centre for Astronomical Instrumentation (CePIA) within the Department of Astronomy, in collaboration with the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Concepción, aims to develop a water vapour radiometer prototype with greater sensitivity than those currently available on the market. The project is based on a redesigned signal reception architecture and the integration of ultra-sensitive millimetre-wave components currently under development, such as monolithic MMIC low-noise amplifiers (LNAs). In this way, the development of astronomical instrumentation is advancing from Concepción, driven by Chilean professionals, with the aim of achieving more precise results than those currently obtainable.
For instance, in the case of ALMA, the radiometers installed on the telescopes are located within the antennas, meaning they become inoperative whenever the telescope shutter is closed due to weather conditions or maintenance. As a result, this project also seeks to develop and deploy these new, highly sensitive radiometers on the Chilean high-altitude sites, enabling continuous, real-time measurements of atmospheric water vapour. The data will be stored, generating a long-term database that will be valuable for the ongoing operations of observatories located within ALMA's terrain.
Through the program: FONDEF IdeA I+D by CONICYT, CePIA researchers at UdeC develop this technology at WenuLafquen platform, also located at UdeC.
“We have been developing a prototype of a similar instrument for the LLAMA observatory, which is to be located in north-west Argentina, supported by the Quimal initiative from Conicyt, where this work is currently in the integration phase. The experience gained from developing this instrument for LLAMA significantly contributes to facilitating the design and development of the advanced water vapour measurement system now being undertaken in this project, which is supported by the Fondef initiative,” said Dr. Rodrigo Reeves, director of CePIA.
The project is conformed by the Centre for Astronomical Instrumentation of the Department of Astronomy at Universidad de Concepión, led by the Director Dr. Rodrigo Reeves and the Vice-Director Dr. Silvia Riquelme, expert in technological development. Other institutions involved include the Mechanical Engineering Department at the same university; Chinese Academy of Sciences South America Center for Astronomy (CASSACA), which contributes through various resources towads prototype validation; and the Finnish company VTT, which is interested in potentially bringing the technology to market.
Once the prototype has been tested within CePIA laboratories, it will undergo validation by CASSACA in the Antofagasta Region, where it will be compared against other instruments of its kind.
Celeste Burgos BadalAstronomy Department Communications
Concepción, 20 August 2019
Early Universe and its chemistry: new ideas and observation paths
Astonishing discovery for the astrochemistry world was unveiled this april: The presumably detection of the first molecular bind in the Universe. The helium hydride ion HeH+ was detected in the planetary nebula NGC 7027, confirming chemical predictions that essentially explains the Universe as we know it possible.
In august, Novotny et al. published “Quantum-state-selective electron recombination studies suggest enhanced abundance of primordial HeH+” in the journal Science. Dr. Stefano Bovino, an academic at the Astronomy Department, who was invited by Science to comment on the article, explained: "the destruction rate for HeH+ by collisions with electrons was measured. This is the most important destruction process for this molecule; in fact, it determines its abundance and observability. The experiment also represents an step forward for studies of this kind, that is, ionic molecules with electrons, which can be now applied to other molecules relevant to astrophysics".
Dr. Bovino specialises in astrocemistry and focuses on state-of-the-art models to allow comparison and a better interpretation of observational data. As astrochemist, he is involved in several different problems where microphysics is relevant, for instance, the interestellar medium in galaxies, star formation in molecular clouds, and the transition between Popullation III and II stars including the early universe's chemistry. "During my PhD I conducted studies related to HeH+. In an article of 2011, using new theoretycal calculations we combined quantum chemistry and astrochemical models, where we showed that HeH+ abundance is higher than expected from previous studies", explained Dr. Bovino.
These results generated renewed interests in this topic, where it was cited by other researchers in prestigous journals such as Nature and Science. Because of this, the journal Science invited him to comment the article "Quantum-state-selective electron recombination studies suggest enhanced abundance of primirdial HeH+".
The analysis by Drs. Stefano Bovino and Danielle Galli is titled “First molecule still animates astronomers. A study of the helium hydride ion stirs up primordial astrochemistry”. Dr. Bovino states: "Basically, in our article we comment the new articles: HeH+ observations by Rolf Güsten and collaborators and the new experiment by Novotny et al. considering the general context".
The article explains why these new studies are important for the field. "In fact, we have observed HeH+ in a planetary nebula, a hot environment where ionised hydrogen is present and HeH+ can form. However, ideally, we would like to observe HeH+ in a quasar, that is, the active nucleus of a distant galaxy in order to test theoretical predictions about the history of the Universe."
These results have open a new path for the observation of this molecule. "For example, we could observe the effect of this particle over the cosmic microwave background, because photons emitted from primordial molecules can interact with the cosmic background radiation, which generate spectral fluctuactions.", concludes the academic.
To read the analysis by the Drs. Bovino and Galli over Novotny et al. article, visit the link: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/365/6454/639/tab-pdf
To read Novotny et al., article, visit the link: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/365/6454/676.abstract
To read about the first observation, visit the link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1090-x
Celeste Burgos BadalAstronomy Department Communications
Concepción, 13 August 2019
Dr. Douglas Geisler of the Astronomy Department has been named Professor Emeritus at Universidad de Concepción
Scientist and Academic Dr. Douglas Geisler has received the title of Professor Emeritus by the Academic Council of Universidad de Concepción - an honorary degree awarded for outstanding academics of the institution.
"Its a complete honor, the greatest of my life, its one of the most prestigious distinctions a professor can receive, and I am extemely proud of it", stated Geisler. For 20 years, he has worked as researcher and professor at the institution, and he has been one of the founding members who established the astronomy group at the university. He specialized in the stellar population composition and their ages in nearby galaxies by infrared and optics astronomy.
"The university has always been open for our beloved science development, from those days with the Principal Sergio Lavanchy and Vice-Principal Ernesto Figuero to the current Principal Carlos Saavedra. Authorities has always been willing to support our growth and we had always done a good job in return. We have done high-level research, awarded important national and international projects, and we have hosted several scientific meetings of the highest quality. Its a huge privilege to work in a great university, and also in the most important country in the world for astronomical observations".
One of his distinguished investigations, refers to the first-time captured image of the stellar cluster Liller 1 - achieved through the Gemini South Telescope - located at the center of the galaxy, such object is hard to observe because of the large distance and the cosmic dust in its region. However, working alongside his team, they succeeded in obtaining an unprecedented, ultra-sharp image, revealing a uncountable stellar metropolis and one of the rare sites in the Universe where stellar collisions can occur.
Dr. Geisled obtained his PhD in Astronomy at the University of Washington, USA, in 1983. As anecdote, he mentions that he was a member of the Doctoral Committee of Neil deGrasse Tyson thesis, at University of Columbia. "This was more or less in the 90s, when I worked at Cerro Tololo Observatory. Part of his thesis employed a technique I developed, which led his advisor to invite me to join the committee. I met Neil in person for the first time in a scientific meeting held at La Serena in 1990, where he showed some results of his work; years later, in a social activity, over dinner I recognised his unique gift for educating and entertaining through his voice", he remarked.
In 1999, Dr. Geisler joined Universidad de Concepción, where he has trained new generations of astronomers and conducted cutting-edge research. "At the university, I've been supported by so many – colleagues like Wolfgang Gieren, all faculty and staff at the Astronomy Department; our Faculty Dean Roberto Riquelme, who suggested this idea to apply for this honour and has struggled for this cause for years; and wonderful people like Patricia Muñoz, María Teresa Sandoval, Marcela Sanhueza, Marllory Fuentes and Jeanette Espinoza, who have made our beloved faculty and department both welcoming and efficient. Finally, my wife María Eugenia Barraza, my lifelong companion", concluded Dr. Geisler.
Celeste Burgos BadalAstronomy Department Communications
Concepción, 05 June 2019
Astronomical Milestones achieved from Chile
It is well known that our country, Chile, is one of the best places to develop astronomy. The reason lies in its skies, the Atacama Desert has clear skies for more than 300 days that are well-suited for astronomical observations. This, combined with its low environmental humidity, readily allows for the development of this science. Hence, northern Chile is home to some of the most advanced observatories in the world and it is expected to host 70% of the world's astronomical infrastructure in the next decade.
Among all this, the Department of Astronomy at University of Concepcion stands out, with prolific researchers who are constantly carrying out outstanding research in the field.
From our Milky Way to the Large Magellanic Cloud: The most precise measurement of the Universe
One example of these achievements is the research titled "A distance to the Large Magellanic Cloud that is precise to one per cent", conducted by Drs. Grzegorz Pietrzynski (first author), Darek Graczyk, and Wolfgang Gieren, all from the Department of Astronomy and members of the "Araucaria Project", a group of 22 researchers from several countries such as Poland, France, the USA, and Germany. Through ten years of research, they succeeded in determining, with the highest precision to date, the distance between the Milky Way and the Large Magellanic Cloud, with 1% accuracy, something never achieved before and a major breakthrough for astronomy. Thanks to such research, another project, led by Nobel Prize winner Adam G. Riess, was able to determine that the Universe is expanding 9% faster than previously thought, thus strengthening the cosmic distance scale.
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Event Horizon Telescope: the first image of a black hole
Another remarkable breakthrough relates to the first-ever captured image of a supermassive black hole in history. On 10 April 2019, it was announced worldwide that the Event Horizon Telescope Project succeeded in capturing the shadow of a black hole located in the centre of the galaxy M87. In this way, for the first time ever, the shadow of a black hole was visualised, located 55 million light-years from Earth and has a mass 6.5 billion times that of the Sun. In this major achievement - in which eight telescopes were used, installed in several countries and mimicking an Earth-sized telescope - two researchers from the Department of Astronomy, Drs Neil Nagar and Venkatessh Ramakrishnan, took part in the project, whose contribution made the University of Concepcion the only South American institution to be part of this success. Since 2016, these researchers together with over 200 other researchers conducted data analysis, galaxy sampling, and mass determination of black holes, among other contributions that led to this image.
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Leighton Chajnantor Telescope: the radio telescope approaching Chile:
The project - originated by the University of Concepcion - aims to bring a new astronomical instrument from Hawaii to Chile, which will be used for deep sky surveys in a submillimetric range where data remains limited.
This high-impact project was initiated through the Department of Astronomy and is represented by Dr. Rodrigo Reeves, Head of the Centre for Astronomical Instrumentation. While it is primarily led by the University of Concepcion, other institutions involve include the California Institute of Technology and the Shanghai Normal University. The objective is to restore and relocate to Chile a 10.4-metre radio telescope currently located in Hawaii, USA, to be installed on the Chajnantor Plateau - one of the world's best sites for astronomical observation.
By utilising this instrument, it is expected to carry out deep sky surveys in the submillimetric range - which remain scarcely explored. Moreover, it is intended to characterise the reionisation epoch, a period in the early Universe that current instruments have only limited access to.
Besides, an important point to stress is that a fraction of the LCT activities will be carried out physically on the University of Concepción campus, specifically in laboratories and control rooms at WenuLafken Observatory, located within the university. This brings significant benefits in terms of international collaboration, community outreach, education, and the training of scientists and engineers.
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Department of Astronomy Communications
Concepción, 22 May 2019
Researchers and scientific communicators meet to discuss initiatives for Supermassive Black Hole Ring project
Researchers from Valparaíso, Metropolitana and Biobío regions will join the discussion.
From 23 to 28 May, the meeting for the "CONICYT Ring Project ACT172033: Formation and Growth of Supermassive Black Holes" will be held will be held, lead by the academic Dr. Dominik Schleicher from Universidad de Concepción .
The meeting will be host on Universidad de Concepción Campus at EmpreUdec and Astronomy Department Auditorium facilities. It will gather 32 researchers and scientific communicators from Universidad de Valparaíso, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Universidad Diego Portales y Universidad de Concepción, that are also active members of the CONICYT project.
The meeting aims to "enhance collaboration and scientific exchange, while planning next year's research and public outreach projects", explained Dr Dominik Schleicher. This includes determining all project-funded initiatives – from purely black hole research to outreach activities for community as the Astronomical Congress, Astronomy School for Teachers, and Inclusive Astronomy initiatives.
The first meeting was held in 2018 on Valparaíso aimed only for main researchers of the project, unlike the current meeting where all Ring Project members will gather.
The CONICY Ring Project ACT172033 started in 2017 aimed to study supermassive black holes from theory and observations.
Celeste Burgos BadalAstronomy Department Communications
Concepción, 16 April 2019
Astronomers from Universidad de Concepción to receive Medal Recognition by the Senate Chamber
Scientists Neil Nagar and Venkatessh Ramakrishnan will receive this dinstinction for their contribution to capturing the first-ever image of a black hole - an historical achievement for astronomy.
Congratulations continue for Drs. Neil Nagar and Venkatessh Ramakrishnan, both from the Astronomy Department of Universidad de Concepción, who will be awarded the Medal Recognition by the Senate of Chile for their contribution to Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) in capturing the first-ever image in history of a black hole's shadow.
Jaime Quintana Leal, President of the Senate of Chile, invited both researchers "for their extraordinary contribution to science and humanity". They will be received at the Senate Chamber in Valparaiso on 17 April.
On 10 April 2019, the first-ever image of a black hole was unveiled to the world. This milestone was achieved by the collaborative work of over 200 researchers from the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) - a global network of telescopes across Chile, México, USA, Europe and the South Pole - which work as a single Earth-sized telescope. After years of research, the team succeeded in capturing this historic image, now part of scientific history.
Thanks to the contributions of Neil Nagar and Venkatessh Ramakrishnan, Universidad de Concepción became the only Chilean institution to participate in this international project.
Dr. Nagar Contribution
Universidad de Concepción has been an EHT member since its fundation. Dr. Nagar - academic at the Astronomy Department of Universidad de Concepción since 2004 - serves as co-coordinator of the EHT Working Group “AGN and Other Non-Horizon Science”. His key contributions include the analysis of ALMA datasets, support in APEX observations, proposals (e.g., Co-PI in M87 and SgrA* proposals to ALMA) and funds for postdoctoral researchers, the creation of a sample with nearby galaxies - beyond SgrA* and M87 - for EHT observations, and mass determination for black holes as M87 and other future objects aimed by EHT.
Dr. Ramakrishnan Contribution
Ramakrishnan was appointed as ALMA-Conicyt postdoctorate researcher at Universidad de Concepción since 2007 to support the scientific utilisation of EHT. He has done significant contributions for the EHT Imaging Group, participating in all imaging efforts done to M87. His work also focuses on imaging other EHT objects. Ramakrishnan specialises in both continuum and spectral line images from ALMA data obtained for the EHT, hence improving the calibration for EHT, and shortlisting a bigger sample of nearby galaxies for future EHT observations. Besides, He is actively involved in all EHT observations (past and future) at APEX.
Celeste Burgos Badal
Astronomy Department Communications
Concepción, 12 April 2019
Team of Astronomers Captures the First-Ever Picture of a Black Hole
The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), a network of eight telescopes located around the world and formed through an international collaboration, was designed to capture images of a black hole. On 10 April 2019, six coordinated press conferences worldwide revealed, as announced by EHT researchers, the first direct evidence of a supermassive black hole and its shadow.
This revolutionary advance was announced in a series of six scientific articles published in a special issue of the The Astrophysical Journal Letters. The image reveals the black hole at the centre of Messier 87 (M87) [1], a massive galaxy in the nerby Virgo galaxy cluster. This black hole is located 55 million light-years from Earth and it has a mass 6.5 billion times that of the Sun. [2].
The EHT links telescopes located worldwide to form an unprecedented Earth-sized virtual telescope. [3]. For scientists, it offers a new way to study the most extreme objects in the universe, as predicted by Einstein's general theory of relativity, in the centenary year of the historic 1919 experiment that first confirmed the theory[4].
"We have taken the first ever photograph of a black hole", declared Sheperd S. Doeleman, Director of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) at the Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics "It is an extraordinary scientific achievement, accomplished by a team of over 200 researchers"
Black holes are extraordinary cosmic objects with enormous mass yet extremely compact dimensions. Their presence affects their surroundings in extreme ways, distorting space-time and overheating any surrounding material.
"If it is within a bright region, like a disc of gas shining intensely, we can expect that a black hole creates a dark region similar to a shadow, something predicted by Einstein’s general theory of relativity that we have never seen before", explained Heino Falcke, the Chair of the EHT Science Council, at University of Radboud in the Netherlands. "This shadow, caused by the gravitational bending and the light captured by the event horizon, reveals a lot about the nature of these fascinating objects and has allowed us to measure the large mass of the black hole in M87."
Using multiple calibration and imaging methods, a ring-shaped structure with a dark region at the centre - the black hole's shadow - has been discovered, which was consistently detected across several independent observations conducted by the EHT.
"When we were sure that we had captured the image of the shadow, we could compare our observations against a large library of computational models that include the physics of curved space, superheated matter and intense magnetic fields. Many of the structures in the image match the theoretical predictions surprisingly well", commented Paul T.P. Ho, member of the EHT Science Council and Director of the East Asian Observatory. "This allows us to be confident in the interpretation of our observations, including the estimated mass of the black hole".
Over 200 researchers contributed to this work. Among them were Drs. Neil Nagar and Venkatessh Ramakrishnan - an academic and a postdoctoral researcher, respectively - both from the Department of Astronomy at the University of Concepcion. Their contribution made the university the only Chilean institution to participate in this astronomical breakthrough. "This discovery is one of the most precise tests that Einstein's general theory of relativity has faced, which is now approximately 100 years old. This is because the discovery lies at the limit of strong gravity (event horizon, very close to a black hole), which makes it easier to detect small differences between observation and theory; and the theory has survived… for now", commented Dr. Neil Nagar.
"The image we captured is the strongest and most direct evidence that confirms the existence of supermassive black holes (masses millions of times greater than that of the Sun). Previously, the confirmation of the existence of black holes with masses ten times that of the Sun was through the detection of gravitational waves", noted Dr. Nagar.
"Confronting theory with observation is always a crucial moment for a theorist. It was a source of pride and relief to have concluded that observations matched the prediction so well", added Luciano Rezzola, member of the EHT Council from University of Goethe, Germany.
The creation of the EHT was a formidable challenge. It required the upgrading and connection of a global network of eight telescopes, located in multiple high-altitude locations. Among these locations, the volcanoes in Hawaii and Mexico, the mountains in both Arizona and Sierra Nevada, the Atacama Desert in Chile, and Antarctica.
The observations conducted by the EHT employ a technique called Very-Long-Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) that synchronises telescopes located in facilities around the world, and exploits the Earth's rotation to create a large Earth-sized telescope that can observe at a wavelength of 1.3 mm. This technique allows the EHT to achieve an angular resolution of 20 microarcseconds (fine enough to read a newspaper in New York from a coffee shop in Paris) [5].
The telescopes that contributed to this achievement are ALMA and APEX, both in Chile, the 30-metre IRAM telescope, the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope, the Large Millimeter Telescope Alfonso Serrano, the Submillimetre Array, the Submillimetre Telescope, and the South Pole Telescope[6]. The raw data obtained from these telescopes totalled petabytes (1 petabyte = 1.024 terabytes), and were processed and combined by highly specialised supercomputers located at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy and the Haystack Observatory at MIT.
"For ESO, it was a source of satisfaction to be able to have contributed significantly to this result through its European leadership and its fundamental role in two telescopes that are part of EHT, ALMA and APEX, located in Chile" [7], said Xavier Barcons, Director General of ESO. "ALMA is the most sensitive facility in the EHT, its 66 high-precision antennas were vital in making the EHT a success".
The construction of the EHT and the observations announced today represent the culmination of decades of theoretical, technical, and observational work. This example of teamwork required the close collaboration among researchers from around the world. Thirteen institutions worked together to create the EHT, using both pre-existing infrastructure and support from many institutions. The key funding was provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the European Research Council (ERC), and funding agencies in East Asia [8].
"We have achieved something that, just a generation ago, seemed impossible", concluded Doeleman. "The revolutionary advances in technology, the links between the world’s leading radio observatories, and the innovative algorithms, all of these together have opened an entirely new window for studying black holes and the event horizon".
Notes
[1] The shadow of a black hole is the closest we can come to capturing the image of a black hole, an entirely dark object from which light cannot escape. The boundary of a black hole - the event horizon, from which the EHT takes its name - is approximately 2.5 times smaller than the projected shadow and is almost 40 billion kilometres.
[2] Supermassive black holes are relatively small objects, which has made it impossible to observe them directly until now. Given that the size of the event horizon is proportional to its mass, the more massive it is, the bigger its shadow becomes. Thanks to its large mass and its relative proximity, it was predicted that the black hole in M87 would be one of the most visible from Earth, making it the perfect target for the EHT.
[3] Although the telescopes are not physically connected, they are able to synchronise their data using atomic clocks — hydrogen maser, which precisely measure the time of the observations. These observations were taken at a wavelength of 1.3 mm during a worldwide campaign conducted in 2017. Each telescope produced a large amount of data - approximately 350 terabytes per day - which was stored in high-performance helium hard drives. This data was sent to specialised supercomputers - known as correlators - located at theMax Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy and the MIT Haystack Observatory , where they were combined. Then, using novel computational tools developed by the collaboration, the data was carefully converted into an image.
[4] A hundred years ago, two expeditions were sent to Principe (off Africa's coast) and Sobral (Brazil) to observe the solar eclipse in 1919. The aim was to test general relativity by observing whether starlight would bend around the edges of the Sun as predicted by Einstein. Inspired by these observations, the EHT sent members to some of these remote and high-altitude radio astronomy facilities to test once again our understanding of gravity.
[5] The participation of the East Asian Observatory in the EHT represents also the involvement of many regions across Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, India and Indonesia.
[6] Future EHT observations will benefit from substantially higher sensitivity thanks to the participation of the IRAM NOEMA Observatory, Greenland Telescope, and the Kitt Peak Telescope.
[7] ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) is an international astronomical facility established through a collaboration between the European Southern Observatory (ESO, Europe), the National Science Foundation (NSF, USA), the National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS, Japan), together with the National Research Council of Canada, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST, Taiwan), the Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA, Taiwan), the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI, Korea), in cooperation with the Republic of Chile. Operations of APEX are managed by ESO; the 30-metre Telescope is operated by IRAM (partners of IRAM are MPG in Germany, CNRS in France, and IGN in Spain); the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope is managed by EAO; the Large Millimeter Telescope Alfonso Serrano is operated by INAOE and the UMass; the Submillimetre Array is operated by SAO and ASIAA; and the Submillimetre Telescope is managed by ARO (Arizona Radio Observatory). Operations of the South Pole Telescope are managed by the University of Chicago and is equipped with specialised instrumentation for the ETH provided by the University of Arizona .
[8] The BlackHoleCam project is funded by the EU to capture images, make measurements, and understand black holes. The main aim of BlackHoleCam and the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) is to capture the first image of a billion-solar-mass black hole located in the nearby galaxy M87, as well as its smaller counterpart, Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole located at the centre of our Milky Way. This allows us to measure with extreme precision the spacetime deformation caused by a black hole.
Neil Nagar
EHT - UDEC
He obtained his PhD in Astronomy from the University of Maryland, College Park, USA, in 2000, and earned his Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and Master's degree in Mathematics from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India, in 1993. His research focuses on active galaxies, supermassive black holes, galaxy kinematics, and ultra-high-energy cosmic rays.
He has been working with the EHT since 2010. Currently, he is involved in sub-groups focusing on active galaxies, calibration of ALMA data collected during EHT observations. His research group is leading projects aimed at measuring the mass of supermassive black holes (including M87) utilising ALMA and VLT, and at identifying additional nearby galaxies for future EHT observations.
Currently, he has been teaching in the Department of Astronomy at the University of Concepción since 2004.
Specific roles in ALMA and EHT:
- ALMA Phasing Project (APP) and APEX: Nagar has participated in the APP since 2009 and contributed funding equivalent to approximately five years of postdoctoral funding and around $80K US in equipment, as well as to the maser installation and setting up the APP. Postdoctoral researchers Nestor Lasso collaborated in programming the PIC cards (inserted in the correlator), while the postdoctoral researchers Jay Blanchard played an important role in the installation and bringing into service. Drs. Nagar and Blanchard have also been heavily involved in most of the efforts to commissioning and conduct APEX observations from 2014 to the present.
- EHT: Dr. Nagar has participated since 2009, starting with the APP. The University of Concepcion has been an EHT member since its establishment. Dr. Nagar is co-coordinator of the "AGN and other non-horizon sciences" group of the EHT. His main contributions include the analysis of ALMA data sets, support during APEX observations, time proposals (e.g., Co-PI of the proposals for M87 and SgrA* at ALMA) and funds to mainly postdoctoral researchers, development of a sample of nearby galaxies beyond M87 and SgrA* for EHT observations, and the determination of black hole masses for M87 and other future EHT targets.
Venkatessh Ramakrishnanr
EHT - UDEC
He obtained his PhD in Space Science and Technology from Aalto University, Finland, in 2016, and holds a Master's degree in Astronomy from University of Turku, Finland. His research focuses on active galaxies, particularly their variability and kinematics. He has worked with the EHT since 2016 and is currently working in the sub-groups of active galaxies, image reconstruction algorithms, and data calibration, supporting EHT testing and observations using the APEX telescope. Moreover, he dedicates part of his work to projects aimed at identifying nearby galaxies for future EHT observations.
He has been working in his postdoctoral research at the Department of Astronomy since 2016. Dr. Venkatessh was hired through the ALMA-CONICYT Postdoctoral Programme at University of Concepcion to support the scientific use of EHT. He has made significant contributions to the EHT Imaging Group, having participated in all major imaging efforts of M87, and is also dedicated to obtaining images of other EHT targets. His work includes continuum and spectral line imaging data of ALMA from the EHT, contributing to improved calibration and collecting a larger sample of nearby galaxies for future EHT observations. In addition, he has been involved in all EHT runs - system set up and observations - at APEX.
Additional information
This research has been published as a series of six articles in a special issue of The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
The EHT collaboration involves over 200 researchers from Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America. This international collaboration is working to capture the first and most detailed images of black holes thanks to the creation of a virtual telescope the size of the Earth. Supported by significant international funding, The EHT combines pre-existing telescopes equipped with new systems, effectively creating a new instrument with greater angular resolution than ever before.
The single telescopes involved are: ALMA, APEX, 30-metre IRAM Telescope, the NOEMA-IRAM Observatory, the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope, the Large Millimeter Telescope, the Submillimeter Telescope, the South Pole Telescope, the Kitt Peak National Observatory, and the Greenland Telescope.
The EHT Consortium is composed of 13 institutes: the Seneca Academy Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, the University of Arizona, the University of Chicago, the East Asian Observatory, the Goethe University Frankfurt, the Institut de Radioastronomie Millimétrique, the Large Millimeter Telescope, the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, the MIT Haystack Observatory, the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, the Radboud University, and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.
The European Southern Observatory is the leading intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the most productive astronomical observatory in the world. It has sixteen member countries: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Switzerland, together with the host country, Chile, and the strategic partner, Australia. The institution develops an ambitious programme centred on the design, construction and operation of powerful facilities for ground observations that enables the astronomers to make significant scientific discoveries. It also plays an important role in promoting and fostering cooperation in astronomical observations. In Chile, it operates three unique observing sites in the world: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor. In Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope together with the Very Large Telescope Interferometer, the most advanced in the world, as well as two survey telescopes: the Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy, which observes in the infrared, and the VLT Survey Telescope, which surveys in visible light. In this location, ESO will host and operate the Cherenkov Telescope Array, the largest and most sensitive gamma-ray observatory in the world. ESO is also a partner in two facilities in Chajnantor, APEX, and ALMA, currently the largest operational astronomical project in the world. Finally, at Cerro Armazones, close to Paranal, ESO is building the Extremely Large Telescope, a 39-metre telescope, which is said to be "the world’s biggest eye on the sky".
Celeste Burgos Badal
Astronomy Department Communications
A new generation of astronomers graduates
On 30 March 2019, 16 astronomy undergraduates students from the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences celebrated their graduation. The ceremony was attended by the Dean and Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Dr. Roberto Riquelme and Dr. Myrna Sandoval respectively; the Head of the Astronomy Department, Dr. Ricardo Demarco; the Degree Programme Director, Dr. Dominik Schleicher; and the graduates' families.
The graduates are: Jennifer Anguita, Juanita Antilén, Claudio Bravo, Camila Cid, Marcelo Cortés, Daniela Durán, Caleb Gatica, Andrea Guerrero, Nicol Gutiérrez, Matías Morales, Morín Órdenes, Alexander Pillard, Matías Sotomayor, Carolina Vargas, Carlos Venegas and Phillipe Vergara.
Celeste Burgos Badal
Astronomy Department Communications
Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences student awarded DAAD scholarship for studies abroad
The Astronomy Department scores another exciting news: the MSc student Felipe Navarrete, who obtained his scolarship, will course his PhD studies in stellar astrophysics for three years, particularly in magnetic fields of type M dwarf stars at Hamburg Observatory.
He will work alongside professor Robi Banerjee - director of Hamburg Observatory - and the postdoctoral researcher Marcel Völschow in the same institution.
"This research involves the development of a computational model for magnetic fields formation in type M dwarf stars. Currently, there are many enigmas related to the origin of their magnetism, as the solar analogy breaks down given that M-dwarfs are structurally different from the Sun", explained Felipe.
After the development, the model can be used to understand the underlying processes for the magnetic fields formation in type M dwarfs, perform comparison with observations, help determine what causes the eclipsing time variation in certain binary stars type, and to assess the magnetic fields impact on potentially habitable exoplanets.
During the application process, Felipe received guidance from the academic Dr. Dominik Schleicher of the Astronomy Department. "Professor Domink told me about this scolarship and supported me throughout the application process. With these studies, I hope to build an international collaborative network, which is currently indispensable for conducting high-quality science", Felipe concluded.
Celeste Burgos Badal
Astronomy Department Communications
Student from Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences to pursue PhD in Germany
Joaquín Zamponi, an MSc student in the Theory Group of Universidad de Concepción's Astronomy Department, has been selected to pursue his PhD at Germany's International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS). Zamponi commented: "Initially, 341 applications from 50 countries were received, with only 45 candidates shortlisted and invited for the IMPRS Recruitment Workshop (25-27 February) at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Graching". Hence, for three years he will collaborate with the scientific community, particularly in the astrochemistry and radioastronomy, conducting synthetic observations of protostellar disks for comparison with actual ALMA interferometer observations.
In Garching, Joaquín will work in his PhD supervised by Dra. Paola Caselli and Dr. Bo Zhao in the same institution. "Professor Caselli is a leading expert in astrochemistry with near three decades of experience. Because of this, for me it is a great success to work under her supervision. Professor Zhao is an expert in numerical simulations that includes magnetohydrodynamic effects. Their work represent the cornerstone of my thesis. Once the program starts, I will be part of Center of Astrochemical Studies (CAS) in MPE", Joaquín Explained.
Currently, Joaquín is part of the Theory Group of the Astronomy Department as researcher and MSc student and said: "My contribution lies on the astrochemical and observational studies of massive star formation regions. It is important to stress the constant support to stundents from professors of the group. Thanks to this I was able to reach the needed contacts in order to apply for the PhD, without the support of my supervisors, Domink Schleicher and Stefano Bovino, the path to a successful application would have been harder."
The MPE is located alongside the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics (MPA) and the European Southern Observatory (ESO). These institutions host over 200 international researchers working across multiple branches of astronomy. "Starting from the lowest point and being enrolled among such researchers allows me to gain scientific experience. The research workflow in the campus is exceptionally intense, with regular seminars and international guests invited who you can talk with when any question arise during thesis development. At the end, being part of the scientific community to me is one of the highest achievements to date, and I hope to meet its high standards", Joaquín concluded.
Celeste Burgos Badal
Astronomy Department Communications
From our Milky Way to the Large Magellanic Cloud
The most precise measurement of the Universe
Over 16 years of research, a team led by academics from Universidad de Concepción has worked to refine the calibration of the cosmic distance ladder within the local Universe. They could determined the distance to the closest galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud, with 1% uncertainty - something never achieved before and a big success for astronomy.
The research, titled 'A distance to the Large Magellanic Cloud accurate to one per cent', was published in Nature on 14 March 2019.
The article is led by the Drs. Grzegorz Pietrzynski (first author), Darek Graczyk y Wolfgang Gieren of the Universidad de Concepción, working with a team of 22 researchers from Poland, Francia, USA and Germany.
The research forms part of the "Araucaria Project" from Centro de Astrofsica y Tecnologías Afines (CATA), supported by Instituto Milenio de Astrofísica (MAS) - led by Dr. Wolfgang Gieren of the Astronomy Department from Universidad de Concepción.
The research utilised the very rare eclipsing binary stars (one per million stars) through a novel technique calibrated by the research team. "The Large Magellnic Cloud is being used to calibrate the distance scales to all galaxies in the Universe. It is the first time in the history of Astronomy that the distance to a galaxy has been measured with such presicion".
In 2013, the same "Araucaria Project" team - established in 2002 at Universidad de Concepción - determined the distance to the Large Magellanic Cloud with 2.2% precision (published in Nature that same year). Dr Wolfgang Gieren, researcher from MAS, explains:"Improvement this precision to 1% is a huge step to better understand our knowledge of cosmic expansion and the dark energy phenomenon, which represent one of the greatest contemporary mysteries of Astrophysics"
But, How was this advance achieved?
To improve the precision achieved in 2013 (from 2.2% to 1%), researchers expanded the sample of binary star systems in the Large Magellanic Cloud from eight to twenty. This was combined with a new calibration performed of the technique using interferometric measurements obtained from ESO's Paranal Observatory in Chile. The study additionally utilised telescopes at La Silla Observatory, The Magellan at Las Campanas Observatory, and the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) near Cape Town, South Africa.
The research required 16 years because "the most of the binary sistems in the Large Magellanic Cloud need several years to complete their orbital cycles, which we had to completely cover through photometric and spectropic observations", clarifies Dr. Gieren, who is co-author of the study alongside Dr. Pietrzynski. Both researchers participated in observations, data analysis, and writing in the article.
Thus, after more than a decade of dedicated scientific work led from Chile, this research represents a significant advance in our understanding of the Universe's evolutionary history.
Celeste Burgos Badal
Astronomy Department Communications
Scientists behind the universe’s most precise measurements of nearby galaxy distances meet in Concepción
On March 6, 7 and 8, the Araucaria Project science meeting will take place, aiming to share breakthroughs and collaborative strategies among researchers working on distance measurements in the Universe.
A few years ago, a team of astronomers working on the "Araucaria Project" determined with unprecedented accuracy the distance to the Large Magellanic Cloud, one of the Milky Way's closest neighbouring galaxies.
Through this work, the international team of scientists - comprising researchers from Chile, Poland, Germany, France, the United States, Italy and England - has further developed even more precise advances in the field. As a result, researchers will convene in Concepción from 6 to 8 March to discuss and share progress and plan next steps.
Dr. Wolfgang Gieren, one of the leaders of "Araucaria Project" and academic at the Astronomy Departmen from Universidad de Concepción, states: "We aim to improve the precision with which we can determine distances to galaxies, from the closest to the most remote in the Universe. This is fundamental for practically all fields of Astrophysics, including cosmology. The perhaps most important parameter in cosmology, the so-called Hubble constant, depends critically on our ability to measure ultra-precise distances to galaxies".
The Araucaria Project scientific meeting will take place at Hotel atton, beginning on March 6 at 09:00 and continuing through March 8. Over these days, 30 scientists will present talks on topics inclugind photometry softwares, stellar clusters with variable stars, analyses of the Large Magellanic Cloud, Cepheidas, among others.
This marks the fourth meeting between the project's members - following previous gathering in Poland (2017), France (2013) and Germany (2010) - and it is intended to update the topic of each group and sub-group of research. Next topics of work will be define and so does the scientific goals for the next three to five years.
Araucaria Project
The Araucaria Project was established in 2000 by researchers Wolfgang Gieren and Grzegorz Pietrzynski of the Astronomy Department of Universidad de Concepción, with the primary aim of refining the calibration of the cosmic distance ladder in the local Universe.
Dr. Gieren said "It was an extraordinarily ambitious project. We gave it a special name reflecting its Southern Chilean origins – the Araucaria Project – because we both love this tree that symbolises the region for us."
Approximately 30 researchers from Chile, Poland, Germany, France, United States, Italy and England belong to the project, which has produced nearly 200 papers in top-tier international journals - including three in Nature.
Dr. Gieren explains: "In 2013, we published in Nature the most precise measurement - with just 2% uncertainty - to the nearest galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud, using a technique developed by us through the Araucaria Project. We used eclipsing binary stars, which are very rare, that can be used to measure distances. The Large Magellanic Cloud serves as the base, the zero point, to determine distances to farest galaxies, therefore it is fundamental to measure the Large Magellanic Cloud's distance with the highest precision possible"
The Nature publication gained significant media attention due to the discovery's importance and has since become the standard reference in astronomical literature for distance measurements, accumulating nearly 400 citations to date. Through the Araucaria Project, researchers have produced groundbreaking - and at times spectacular - results in the fields of variable stars and stellar evolution, including both empirical and theoretical studies.
Days: 6,7 y 8 de Marzo
Venue: Hotel Atton. Eleuterio Ramírez 75, Concepción
Hora: 9:00 - 18:00
Participants: Thirty national and international cosmology researchers will exchange ideas and knowledge on cosmic distance scale measurements.
*The Araucaria Project has produced the most precise distance measurement to date of the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy*
More info: araucaria.camk.edu.pl
Comunicaciones Departamento de Astronomía UdeC
January 28, 2019
Astronomy Department UdeC adds a new telescope for teaching and research
The Astronomy Department at Universidad de Concepción adds a new instrument for scientific development to its facilities: a 40-centimetre diameter catadioptric telescope (which uses mirrors and lenses to capture images) that is remotely operated.
The idea came up a few years ago, when Dr. Douglas Geisler had the idea to acquire a telescope with technological capabilities to support teaching and research. Then, Dr Sandro Villanova, the project's executive director, made the necessary arragenments to acquire the telescope. "A year and a half ago, I started making inquiries, I contacted Officina Stellare, an italian business that designs and manufactures this kind of technology, and I took charge in defining the telescope's size, mount, cameras, filters and other technical details according to the budget we had", In this way, the telescope arrived in Chile at the beginning of 2018. Recently, it was installed at the scientific platform WenuLafquen at UdeC and it lies inside a dome for its protection.
The project cost $120,000 and was funded by BASAL AFB-17002.
Until 2018, the Astronomy Department had five telescopes: one refractor, one reflector, and three catadioptrics, the largest has 27-centimetre diameter used for outreach and teaching located at Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas. However, the presence of light pollution and environmental conditions produced limitations when astronomical observations were conducted; something that will change with the new equipment.
For Mr. Fernando Cortés, in charge of telescopes, the new 40-centimetre optical telescope greatly enhances both teaching for students and research development. "It will no longer be necessary to travel to the observatories in the northern Chile for certain sessions of the Bachelor's in Astronomy, which will save money and time, besides the astronomical science development from Concepción", explained.
Furthermore, for research, this new telescope allows remote control, which removes the need of an astronomer inside the facilities and adds professional efficiency. Its environment, being less light polluted, favours better images and data, allowing for the study of star clusters, variable stars, planets, star-forming regions and nearby galaxies.
It is significant to point out that the scientific platform, WenuLafquen, has a criogenic station, a microwave laboratory and a 3-metre radiotelescope. These equipment transforms UdeC into the only academic institution in the region with this kind of instrumentation and observatories.
The next steps are the installation of comunication networks, both electrical system and software, for setting up the telescope, which is expected to take place in the first semester of 2019.
Comunicaciones Astronomía UdeC
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