Alpine Cosmology

This is an annual workshop organized since 2009. The conference is supported by the University of Helsinki and the University of Innsbruck. 

Cosmology on Safari

The past decade has seen a significant growth in cosmological observations that have placed increasingly tighter constraints on the cosmological model and the basic parameters that describe it. While we have an excellent phenomenological model a more fundamental picture is largely missing, considering both the very earliest times where high-energy processes are relevant and in the late-time universe, where we are in the curious position of living in a universe that is 95% dark.

Galaxies and Cosmology in Light of Strong Lensing

The purpose of the workshop is to share the recent advances in strong lensing and discuss the future directions with current/upcoming facilities and wide-field surveys. Topics at the workshop include dark matter substructures, galaxy evolution, time-delay cosmology, galaxy clusters, high-z galaxies, simulations, and strong lens searches.

Cosmology with Galaxy Clusters in the XXI century

Cosmology with galaxy clusters is now entering the precision era. We plan a conference with ample discussion time and with an eye to the future.

The Life and Times of Galaxies

In celebration of Alan Dressler’s illustrious career, Carnegie Observatories is pleased to be holding a four day workshop covering current topics in galaxy evolution. The workshop will be held in Springdale, Utah at the gateway to Zion National Park. The workshop schedule will provide ample opportunities for discussion and for participants to explore the park.

Cosmology after Planck

The Planck Satellite has transformed the accuracy of cosmological observations, which allows to constrain cosmological models with unprecedented precision. The Planck observations have far reaching impact on the possible cosmological models and interpretations. This MIAPP workshop “Cosmology after Planck” will bring together observers and theorists to provide a platform for presenting and discussing the Planck Satellite results in the context of cosmological models. In particular we will discuss the polarization measurements, constraints on primordial Non-Gaussianity, the effect and exploitation of CMB lensing, constraints on inflationary models, probes of the reionization history of the Universe, Sunyaev-Zel’dovich galaxy cluster observations and the future of CMB observations.

Alpine Cosmology Workshop 2014

The concept of the workshop is to combine a scientific part, in which each participant delivers a review on their topic with a group activity in which every participant is engaged. To this end we have selected to conduct the workshop at several huts located in the Alps, connected by hiking trails. Each day has approximately 6 hours of the workshop and 6 hours of hiking, during which the participants usually continue the discussion of the scientific topics and establish new collaborations. The no escape principle, and no contact to outside, possible during the workshop, are unique attributes of the conference and allow participants to concentrate entirely on the subject of the conference, which includes:

• Theoretical and observational cosmology
• Physics of galaxy clusters
• Coevolution of galaxies and black holes
• Environmental effects in galaxy formation

Future Directions in Galaxy Cluster Surveys

The stage is set for an exciting future driven by a host of new galaxy cluster surveys. The aim of this conference is to offer a moment of exchange, where simulators, modelers and observers can efficiently define key research directions to fully exploit the rich datasets of present and future galaxy cluster surveys.

Simulating the first realistic cosmic web

Un gruppo di ricercatori guidati da Mark Vogelsberger dell’Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, in collaborazione con l’Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies in Germania, hanno realizzato la prima mappa virtuale, alquanto realistica, dell’Universo utilizzando una simulazione numerica denominata “Illustris“. Il modello ha permesso di ricreare uno spazio cubico di lato pari a 350 milioni di anni-luce in un intervallo di tempo di circa 13 miliardi di anni e con una  risoluzione senza precedenti.

Tribes of the deep sky

The distribution of galaxies populating the largest scale structures in the Universe today are visible different than the population in lower density environments.  From massive brightest cluster galaxies existing in the cores of groups and clusters to the increasing number of dwarf galaxies with density, multi-wavelength studies of clusters shed light on how these different populations have formed and currently evolving.   In order to understand the evolution of galaxies in these high density environments, it is critical to construct a coherent picture of the different populations between today and the high redshift Universe.

This conference will focus on comparing multi-wavelength observations of populations in clusters and groups to state of the art theoretical predictions. Topics for the conference will include:

• Brightest Cluster Galaxies
• Quiescent Populations
• Star forming galaxies
• Active Galactic Nuclei
• Dwarf galaxies

We hope to explore both the interplay between these different types as well as looking at how these populations evolve from clusters seen today to high redshift proto-clusters.