11.05.2025
We are excited to announce that Dr. Sophie Aerdker has been appointed as a new PI at our CRC.
Sophie is a PostDoc at the chair of Plasma-Astroparticle Physics, Institute for Theoretical Physics at RUB. She completed her PhD within the project A3 of the CRC, investigating cosmic-ray transport in the transition region between Galactic and extragalactic origin.
Her research focuses on high-energy particle transport in the presence of turbulent magnetic fields and acceleration processes, in particular diffusive shock acceleration. She is one of the developers of the open-source propagation framework CRPropa that is widely used in the CRC and a world-leading expert in modeling anomalous diffusion with stochastic differential equations.
From October on, Sophie will work with Martin Lemoine at APC in Paris. She will develop advanced models of particle transport applying stochastic differential equations to describe the complex motion of particles in magnetic field turbulence.
Sophie will continue studying particle transport in turbulent plasmas and apply stochastic models to investigate particle acceleration in various astrophysical environments. In the CRC, continuing the joint work of projects A3 and F1, she will extend the diffusive description of cosmic ray transport in the software framework CRPropa and investigate particle acceleration at non-relativistic shocks where the underlying microphysics will be informed by PIC simulations.
09.05.2025
A recent study by our scientist Kevin Schoeffler, together with his colleagues Nitin Shukla (CINECA High-Performance Computing Department, Italy), and Luis Silva (Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal), has set a strong upper bound on long-range dark matter interactions through plasma physics. The research explores the intriguing possibility that dark matter could be charged under a unique “dark electromagnetism” (dark-EM), causing it to behave like a cold collisionless plasma.
Using advanced simulations, the team discovered that plasma instabilities could lead to significant slowdowns in dark matter dynamics.
Interestingly, astronomical observations of colliding galaxy clusters like the so-called „Bullet Cluster“ only fits to their findings if the interaction strength is extremely weak. As a result, they established a strong upper bound on the dark electromagnetic self-interaction constant.
This new constraint is much stronger than previous limits, suggesting that dark electromagnetic interactions are highly restricted.
This research not only advances our understanding of dark matter but also opens new avenues for further exploration and verification through observational measurements.
Read the full article here:
Can plasma physics establish a significant bound on long-range dark matter interactions?
K. Schoeffler N. Shukla and L. O. Silva, Phys. Rev. D 111, L071701
And please have a look at the popular science article here:
Intergalactic Collision Constrains Dark Electromagnetism
Physics 18, s48
Picture:
Counterstreaming slabs of dark matter plasma, shown in blue, are
slowed down while
interacting with dark magnetic fields, shown in red, which are
generated by kinetic plasma instabilities.
23.04.2025
We are pleased to invite you to the public lecture “Licht aus Dunkler Materie " (in German).
Elisa Pueschel will present exciting new results and perspectives in the search for the mysterious Dark Matter, and show how her ‘Dark100’ project is breaking new ground with innovative approaches to uncovering this elusive form of matter.
When 30.4.25 at 20:00
Where Planetarium Bochum
For registration and further information, please have a look at the Planetarium’s homepage.
Picture:
A possible sky map if Dark Matter indirectly produces radiation through rare interactions.
13.04.2025
We are excited to announce that Dr. Lukas Merten has been appointed as a new PI at our CRC.
Lukas is a postdoc currently at RUB but will move to University of Wuppertal in January 2026 and works on modelling the propagation of cosmic rays. In the CRC he is in particular interested in the transition between Galactic and extra-galactic sources.
Within the A3 project he will take a closer look at the role of super-bubbles in accelerating cosmic rays. Can they reach the energy limit to explain the highest energetic Galactic cosmic rays around the so called knee? And if so, do they produce any signatures in neutral secondaries that can be measured with current or upcoming observatories?
As one of the coordinators of the open-source simulation framework CRPropa he will work closely together with other projects to improve the numerical tools used in CIM and make them available for the broader scientific community.
09.04.2025
As part of his PhD project, Sam Taziaux spent two months at the renowned CSIRO Institute in Perth, Australia. There he worked closely with George Heald, head of the SKAO headquarters in Perth, and Alec Thomson, both internationally recognised experts in the field of radio astronomy and the analysis of magnetic fields.
Sam's research project, which is part of A2, is dedicated to analysing cosmic ray transport and magnetic fields in dwarf galaxies. At CSIRO, he was able to benefit from the exceptional expertise there and was able to significantly improve the data reduction and analysis of his observed ATCA and MeerKAT data.
The stay was not only a great professional enhancement for Sam, but also a significant milestone in his scientific career, as he was able to get to know and work with the people from the CSIRO and SKAO. He was also able to establish contacts with the scientist at Curtin University in Perth to exchange ideas and expand his network.
Such research stays are excellent opportunities enabled by the CRC to specifically promote international cooperation. The CRC has thus opened up a unique opportunity to become involved in a global scientific network at an early stage, an invaluable advantage on the path to scientific independence.
Picture: Sam Taziaux and his supervisor Ralf-Jürgen Dettmar at the SKAO regional center at CSIRO, Perth.
