UMR Astrophysics Instrumentation Modelisation
Laboratory Star Formation and Interstellar Medium
Understanding the physics of star formation and the production of dust in the outer space from observations of the far-infrared to sub-millimeter.
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Cosmology and Statistics Laboratory - CosmoStat
Cosmologists and computer scientists working together to develop new methods of statistics, signal processing, and apply them to the analysis of data for cosmology and other areas.
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Astrophysical Plasma Modelling Laboratory
Understand the physical mechanisms governing the dynamics of astrophysical plasmas at every scale using numerical, analytical and experimental methods.
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Laboratory Dynamics of Stars, (Exo)-planets and their Environment
Study the internal and external dynamics of the Sun , stars and their interactions with orbiting planets for a dynamic view of the stars and planets in their space environment.
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Study and development of space eletronic systems
Concepting and developping electronic equipment using analog and digital electronic systems architectures
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Cosmology and Galaxy Evolution group (LCEG)
Reconstruct galactic evolutions based on observations from large spatial instruments and telescops as well as high-resolution computer simulations.
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High Energy Cosmic Phenomena Research Laboratory
Observe and study the extreme sources and the most violent phenomena in the Universe. The sources are often revealed by their high energy radiation.
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Spectral-imaging laboratory for space science
R&D in detectors from far infrared to gamma ray using bolometers, microcalocalorimeters or semiconductors.
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Space Systems and Architectures laboratory
Engineers and scientists working together to define the technical aspects to take into account while making space intruments.
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Quality and space integration laboratory
Supporting space projetcs in terms of management, supervision of conception, study, development and making.
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Science and space instrument interface laboratory
Connecting astrophysics and instrumentation from conception to flying steps. Defining instruments and make sure they tie in scientific objects.
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A major space astrophysics laboratory
The Astrophysics Division (DAp - UMR AIM) is among the major space laboratories in France, in Europe and internationally. In direct collaboration with CNES, which is responsible for the space activities of French laboratories, DAp is strongly involved in space missions for ESA's Cosmic Vision scientific program and on bilateral missions supported by CNES. The development of astrophysics at the CEA began in partnership with CNES since its creation in the early 1960s. Astrophysics has since been a growing science with high potential for discoveries. Instruments, ever more numerous and more powerful, whether from the ground or on board satellites, make it possible to probe the universe with increased angular resolution and sensitivity across the full range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Meanwhile, modeling, particularly using computational simulations, is of increasing importance in astrophysics; astrophysical problems are mostly complex problems that involve other disciplines of physics. Astrophysics and other fields of physics enrich each other.
The Astrophysics division
The DAp-UMR AIM includes nearly 200 people, including 130 permanent staff mainly UMR AIM, a joint research unit CNRS-CEA-University Paris Cité and also of the Astroparticle and Cosmology UMR APC, CEA-CNRS -University Paris Cité-Paris Observatory -PSL-CNES . The Astrophysics Service brings together researchers, engineers and technicians from the Astrophysics Division at CEA Irfu as well as research engineers at Dedip Irfu, University Paris Cité and CNRS.
Our scientific projects
Developing instruments
Modelling the Universe
Knowledge management of data archives
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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
The Fermi telescope's third catalog of gamma-ray pulsars
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