UMR Astrophysics Instrumentation Modelisation
Cosmology and Galaxy Evolution group (LCEG)
The "Cosmology and Galaxy Evolution" team (LCEG) focuses on the study of the formation, evolution, and physical properties of large cosmological structures, galaxy clusters, galaxies themselves, and their internal structures, extending to large-scale star formation. These structures are studied across cosmic time, from the birth of the first galaxies to the closest objects today. These studies are conducted using multi-wavelength observations with state-of-the-art observatories (ALMA, JWST, VLT, IRAM, and Euclid), complemented by advanced cosmological and galaxy evolution simulations using Europe's largest supercomputers. Continuous interaction between observations and simulations is sought to maximize data interpretation and provide the best constraints for structure formation models.
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Laboratory Star Formation and Interstellar Medium
It can be argued that the astrophysical quest for our origins rests on two pillars: the formation of large structures into galaxies and the formation of stellar systems. The interstellar medium (ISM) is at the heart of this quest, as the initial conditions of protostellar and protoplanetary disks are directly inherited from the ISM, which, in turn, transmits numerous feedback mechanisms from massive stars or energetic events that punctuate the life cycle of galaxies. Research conducted by the Laboratory for Star Formation and Interstellar Medium (LFEMI) at AIM enables a coherent and self-consistent study of the ISM as a highly heterogeneous, dynamic, magnetized, and multi-phase fabric, whose signatures are detected across multiple wavelengths and at very different spatial scales. This translates directly into diversified observation techniques and a wide range of models and simulations with similar ingredients but specific and complementary focuses.
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Cosmology and Statistics Laboratory
The theme of the Universe's energy content, primarily focused on questions of dark matter, dark energy, and gravity, is a rapidly growing activity within the Laboratory for Cosmology and Statistics (LCS), reflected by leading contributions to major international collaborations.
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Study and development of space eletronic systems
The team at the Laboratory for the Study and Development of Space Electronic Systems (LEDES) is responsible for defining, designing, and developing embedded electronic equipment. They have expertise in defining and sizing electronic system architectures, as well as in analog and digital space electronics, particularly detection chains.
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Spectral-imaging laboratory for space science
The team at the Laboratory for Interface Science and Space Instruments (LISIS) bridges the gap between science and space instruments from design phases to operational flight. They specify instruments, develop data analysis software, and ensure that these instruments meet scientific objectives.
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Laboratory for Interface Science and Space Instruments
The team at the Laboratory for Interface Science and Space Instruments (LISIS) bridges the gap between science and space instruments from design phases to operational flight. They specify instruments, develop data analysis software, and ensure that these instruments meet scientific objectives.
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High Energy Cosmic Phenomena Research Laboratory
The scientific objective of the Laboratory for the Study of High Energy Cosmic Phenomena (LEPCHE) is the discovery, characterization, classification, and understanding—from the perspective of fundamental physics—of the most energetic and violent astrophysical phenomena. These sources are usually revealed by their radiations in the high-energy domain (X-rays and γ-rays).
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Space Systems and Architectures Laboratory
The team at the Laboratory for Space Systems and Architectures (LSAS) is responsible for system architecture definition and technical oversight throughout the design, development, and testing of various instrument models.
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Astrophysical Plasma Modelling Laboratory
The Astrophysical Plasma Modeling Team (LMPA) aims to understand astrophysical processes driven by gravity, radiative hydrodynamics, and magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), and to characterize their observable consequences. Our theoretical approach is physics-centered and leverages the most suitable numerical, analytical, and experimental tools to address the complexity of turbulence, shocks, and instabilities.
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Laboratory Dynamics of Stars, Exoplanets and their Environment
The AIM "Dynamics of Stars, Exoplanets and their Environment" (LDE3) team aims to develop cutting-edge research to understand the internal and external structure, dynamics, and evolution of the Sun, stars, and planets, as well as the atmospheres of exoplanets. Additionally, AIM-LDE3 researchers study gravitational, magnetic, and radiative interactions at different scales between these celestial bodies and their environment, as well as the orbital architecture of planetary systems. This research is based on innovative and synergistic theoretical predictions, nonlinear 3D HPC simulations, observational data analysis that constrains the models, and the development of instruments for dedicated space missions (SOHO, Solar Orbiter, JWST, PLATO, and ARIEL).
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Quality and Space Integration Laboratory
The team at the Laboratory for Quality and Spatial Integration (LQIS) supports space projects in terms of Product Assurance and Quality Assurance, as well as AIT (Assembly, Integration, and Testing) activities throughout the development and implementation phases.
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The Department of Astrophysics (DAp), UMR (Unité Mixte de Recherche) AIM (Astrophysique, Instrumentation, Modelisation Paris-Saclay), within the IRFU (Institut de Recherche sur les lois Fondamentales de l'Univers), is one of the major space laboratories in France, Europe, and internationally.
Our scientific projects
Developing instruments
Modelling the Universe
Knowledge management of data archives
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H.E.S.S. |
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H.E.S.S stands for "High Energy Stereoscopic System". This telescope system been designed and built by a large international collaboration which includes the DAPNIA as a member. This instrument is dedicated to the observation of high energy gamma ray sources with energies above a few tens of GeV. The interaction of these very high energy gamma rays with the upper atmosphere creates a faint flash of blue light called "Cherenkov emission". This very fast (a few nanosecond) flash of light can be observed from the ground. Surveying the sky in the TeV energy range, which is observed by astrophysicists only since last two decades, allows the get an insight into the origin of cosmic rays and to study the acceleration of cosmic rays in various astrophysical objects such as supernovae remnants or active galactic nuclei.
The HESS experiment is located in NAMIBIA, on the Gamsberg highlands (latitude 23° 16' south, longitude 16° 30' east), at an altitude of 1800 m above sea level. It was named after a famous austrian physicist, Victor Hess (1883-1964), who was awarded the Nobel price in physics in 1936 for discovering cosmic rays.
The HESS apparatus consists in four 12 meter telescopes at the corners of a square with 120 meter sides. Each of these telescopes has a camera at his focus.The camera are large arrays of 960 photomultipliers sensitive to blue light. These photomultipliers have a very fast response time, of the order of one nanosecond.
The sensitivity of HESS (the power to detect faint sources) is 10 times better than that of previous experiments (WHIPPLE, HEGRA, CAT) with an energy threshold of 100 GeV.
Analyse de la dynamique stellaire (rotation) par l’asteroseismologie
Stellar dymanics analysis using asteroseismology.
Pour les détails sur la mission KEPLER, voir le site Kepler-NASA
For details on the KEPLER mission, see the Kepler-NASA website
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Herschel |
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The Herschel telescope is a scientific space mission developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) dedicated to observing the Universe in the infrared and sub-millimetre ranges (wavelengths between 60 et 670 µm), a window of the electromagnetic spectrum that is still largely unexplored. It measures 9 m in length, 4 m in diameter and will weigh over 3 metric tons upon launch. Herschel arrived at ESA in January 2008 and will be launched by an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou on 31th, October 2008. It will then be, with its 3.5 m-diameter mirror, the largest telescope ever sent into space.
The main objectives of the mission are based on two approaches related to the question of Origins. Close to Earth, Herschel will probe the molecular clouds, which are true breeding grounds for young stars, with a view to understand the first stages in star formation. Further away, it will map out the heavens to discern galaxies at the time they were formed and thus enrich our attempts to explain the evolution of the Universe, from the Big Bang to the present.
Offers
Delivery of the coronagraphic masks for the ELT's METIS instrument
MoreJWST finds more hydrocarbons in discs around very low-mass stars
MoreStar birth simulated in unprecedented detail
MoreFirst scientific results and exclusive new images from the Euclid space telescope
MoreDiscovery of an exo-Earth with SPECULOOS
MoreResearchers use the James Webb to map the weather on a planet 280 light-years away
MoreTiniest “starquakes” ever detected
MoreOperations begin to de-ice Euclid’s vision
MoreThe 2024 Fritz Zwicky Prize for Astrophysics & Cosmology is awarded to Dr Catherine Cesarsky
MoreNewton and Euclid are converging towards the Furnace
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