Parallel Sessions Chairs (...preliminary list)
 
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Oscar ADRIANI Parallel Session: HE4 - Space missions of high energy particles and gamma-rays Description: The session will be devoted to an overview of currently existing and possible future space missions dedicated to the observation and detection of high energy particles and gamma-rays, including high energy charged cosmic rays and indirect search for dark matter particles in space. Talks both on the astronomy, astrophysics and physics results and expectations and on the experimental techniques will be accepted. |
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Alexey AKSENOV Parallel Session: SN2 - Numerical simulations, SN, and GRB, connecting with massive SN Description: The supernova is very old object for the study starting from the historical supernovae. This object is still very interesting for the modern experimental physics for the registration of visible photons and X-rays, neutrino luminosity, gravitational radiation. Parts of supernovae are connected with GRB. The main theoretical problem in devising supernova explosion mechanisms is producing the energy required to disperse the envelope for both types of supernovae type I and II. In theoretical models, it is necessary to solve multi-dimensional problems involving complex physics (3D gas dynamics, neutrino transport, large-scale convective instability, magneto-hydrodynamic, and other important physical processes). The numerical solutions of sophisticated physical models and new experimental data should clarify the mechanism of supernova. |
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Georgy ALEKSEEV Parallel Session: ES1 - Exact Solutions in Four and Higher Dimensions: Mathematical Aspects Description: This Parallel Session will be devoted to a variety of mathematical methods, associated mathematical structures and other mathematical aspects of the analysis of Einstein's field equations, constructing exact solutions and development of various solution generating techniques, interrelations of different approaches, classifications of solutions, studies of the structures and geometrical properties of particular solutions and classes of solutions in General Relativity as well as in various gravity, string gravity and supergravity models in four and higher dimensions. |
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Stanislav O. ALEXEYEV Parallel Session: BH2 - Black holes in binary stellar systems Description: In the last 40 years, after pioneering papers by Ya.B. Zeldovich and E.E. Salpeter in which a powerful energy release from nonspherical accretion of matter onto a black hole was predicted, a lot of observational studies of black holes in the Universe have been carried out. By the present time, masses of several dozens of stellar-mass black holes in X-ray binary systems and of several hundreds of supermassive black holes in galactic nuclei have been measured. A new field of astrophysics, black hole demography, which studies the birth and growth of black holes, as well as their evolutionary connection to other objects in the Universe - stars, galaxies, etc., is rapidly developing. The launch into orbit of the space radio interferometer Radioastron opened up the real possibility to finally prove that numerous massive and highly compact objects with properties very similar to those of black holes are real black holes in the sense of Einstein’s general relativity. Similar proofs of the existence of black holes in the Universe can be obtained by intercontinental radio interferometry at short mm wavelengths (the international program “Event Horizon Telescope”). The key idea of the session is to bring together researchers working in the theory of black holes including those in extended gravity models (to show the development of the Einstein equations during last 100 years) and colleagues from modern astrophysical experiments. Parallel Session: BH3 - Black holes in galactic nuclei Description: In the last 40 years, after pioneering papers by Ya.B. Zeldovich and E.E. Salpeter in which a powerful energy release from nonspherical accretion of matter onto a black hole was predicted, a lot of observational studies of black holes in the Universe have been carried out. By the present time, masses of several dozens of stellar-mass black holes in X-ray binary systems and of several hundreds of supermassive black holes in galactic nuclei have been measured. A new field of astrophysics, black hole demography, which studies the birth and growth of black holes, as well as their evolutionary connection to other objects in the Universe - stars, galaxies, etc., is rapidly developing. The launch into orbit of the space radio interferometer Radioastron opened up the real possibility to finally prove that numerous massive and highly compact objects with properties very similar to those of black holes are real black holes in the sense of Einstein’s general relativity. Similar proofs of the existence of black holes in the Universe can be obtained by intercontinental radio interferometry at short mm wavelengths (the international program “Event Horizon Telescope”). The key idea of the session is to bring together researchers working in the theory of black holes including those in extended gravity models (to show the development of the Einstein equations during last 100 years) and colleagues from modern astrophysical experiments. |
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Lorenzo AMATI Parallel Session: GB3 - Cosmology from GRBs Description: Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) are the biggest explosions in the universe. Using the prompt emissions and the following afterglows, we have already observed the highest redshift of z=8.3 (or 9.2 photometrically), which is comparable to the most distant galaxies. The aim of this parallel session is to focus on the application of GRBs as a "NEW" cosmological tool to probe first stars, re-ionization, metal production, star formation history, as well as dark energy and dark matter evolution, up to the early universe. |
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Giovanni AMELINO-CAMELIA Parallel Session: QG2 - Quantum Gravity Phenomenology Description: Talks presented in this session will focus on the possibility of finding experimental manifestations of effects introduced at the Planck scale, relevant for the study of the quantum-gravity problem. |
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Michele ARMANO Parallel Session: GW3 - Lisa Pathfinder and Space-Borne Gratitational Wave Detectors Description: LISA PATHFINDER, the key ESA technology demonstrator mission to enable space-borne gravitational waves observatories, is closing in to the launch pod after many years of development and preparation. Before the end of 2015, after a few weeks of cruising, we shall be in the exciting time of data taking and performance evaluation of the LISA Technology Package, to collect the best free fall estimate from residual acceleration noise. Success of the Pathfinder will pave the way to the development and launch (in a couple of decades) of a proper gravitational waves observatory in space, opening the gate to gravitational cosmology and astrophysics. This session is devoted to updates on LISA Pathfinder and its very final weeks of integration. On top we’d like to offer a venue to present and discuss new schemes or other space missions for low frequency gravitational waves observatories (like eLISA or similar). Finally, we welcome presentations of research on gravitational wave sources of interest for such observatories (0.1 mHz - 1 Hz). |
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Carlos BARCELO Parallel Session: BH6 - Regular and Analogue Black Holes Description: The discovery of black hole evaporation stemmed several new questions such as the information loss problem and the transplanckian issue for Hawking radiation. Regular black holes are a relatively recent attempt to deal with the information problem by changing the global structure of black hole spacetimes so that no event horizons are present but only trapped regions. Several models have been proposed in recent years and the parallel session hope to offer a panoramic view of proposals in this sense. The second part of the parallel session will be instead dedicated to black hole condensed matter analogues which since the seminal paper of Bill Unruh of 1981 have been more and used as a test bed for the robustness of Hawking radiation to the UV regime of gravity as well as for paving the way to reproduce it in tabletop experiments. The parallel session will also in this case offer a panoramic view of the state of the art in this field and report recent observations. |
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Massimo BASSAN Parallel Session: GW3 - Lisa Pathfinder and Space-Borne Gratitational Wave Detectors Description: LISA PATHFINDER, the key ESA technology demonstrator mission to enable space-borne gravitational waves observatories, is closing in to the launch pod after many years of development and preparation. Before the end of 2015, after a few weeks of cruising, we shall be in the exciting time of data taking and performance evaluation of the LISA Technology Package, to collect the best free fall estimate from residual acceleration noise. Success of the Pathfinder will pave the way to the development and launch (in a couple of decades) of a proper gravitational waves observatory in space, opening the gate to gravitational cosmology and astrophysics. This session is devoted to updates on LISA Pathfinder and its very final weeks of integration. On top we’d like to offer a venue to present and discuss new schemes or other space missions for low frequency gravitational waves observatories (like eLISA or similar). Finally, we welcome presentations of research on gravitational wave sources of interest for such observatories (0.1 mHz - 1 Hz). |
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Vladimir BELINSKI Parallel Session: EU2 - Quantum Fields Description: This session is dedicated to the all aspects of the theory of quantum fields. Special interest we will pay to the quantum fields in covered space-time and to any results having applications in General Relativity. |
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Pierluigi BELLI Parallel Session: DM2 - Results and Strategies in Dark Matter Detection Description: This Parallel Session is planned to be devoted to the presentation and discussion of experimental results and theoretical arguments on Dark Matter detection. Old and new detectors features can be discussed as well as experimental and theoretical uncertainties and their implications in the interpretation and comparison of different kinds of results. Various astrophysical, nuclear and particle Physics scenarios are planned to be analysed. Model independent and model dependent approaches can be addressed with attention also to new foreseen approaches and detectors. |
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Julian BERENGUT Parallel Session: PT4 - Variation of Fundamental Constants Description: Space-time variation of fundamental constants from Big Bang to atomic clocks: theory and observations. |
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David BLAIR Parallel Session: GW2 - Status of the Gravitational Wave Detectors Description: 1) Virgo: Giovanni Losurdo (Pisa) 2) LIGO: waiting for a name 3) KAGRA: waiting for a name 4) GEO600: Jim Lough (Hannover) |
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Alexey BOYARSKY Parallel Session: DM3 - Sterile neutrinos and cosmology Description: Sterile neutrino is an interesting and viable dark matter candidate. It has interesting motivations from particle physics and non-trivial consequences for cosmology. The aim of the session is to review possible models of sterile neutrino dark matter (different production mechanisms, sterile neutrinos in the early Universe), their influence on structure formation, as seen by Ly-alpha forest and, potentially, weak lensing, galaxy formation with sterile neutrino dark matter, status of the searches for sterile neutrinos via their radiative decays in galaxies and galaxy clusters. |
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Christian BRACCO Parallel Session: HR1 - History of Relativity Description: This year's Grossmann meeting celebrates the 100th anniversary of the publication of the gravitational field equations of general relativity by Albert Einstein and its variational formulation by David Hilbert. The completion of general relativity in 1915 brought to a crowning success Einstein's long search for a general theory of relativity and its consistent mathematical formulation using advanced mathematics of Ricci's and Levi-Civita's tensor calculus to which he was introduced in his collaboration with Marcel Grossmann. In this historical session, we will look back at the history of general relativity and some of its main contributors but also discuss papers on other topics of historical interest with a particular focus on the connections between Einstein and his theories with Italy. |
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Dieter BRILL Parallel Session: ES2 - Theoretical Issues in GR Description: We will discuss a wide range of issues, focusing on the theoretical approach to relativistic problems such as gravitation, gravito-electromagnetism, hydrodynamics, alternative theories. |
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Thomas BUCHERT Parallel Session: DE2 - Inhomogeneous Cosmology Description: This session covers inhomogeneity effects in relativistic cosmology and their impact on global properties of universe models. It includes exact solutions, mathematical approaches to averaging and backreaction, the relationship to the dark energy and dark matter problems, observational signatures of backreaction and challenges to the standard model, light-cone averaging and strategies for interpreting observational data. Parallel Session: DE3 - Large Scale Structure and Statistics Description: This session is devoted to the statistical assessment of large-scale structure. This includes higher-order statistics, morphological properties, the reality and significance of large structures in the Universe, standard rulers like BAO, the comparison with mock catalogues, path finders for next-generation galaxy catalogues, non-Gaussian statistics, black swan events, mass functions and abundance statistics of collapsed objects. We also welcome contributions on general-relativistic aspects of large-scale structure formation in these contexts like the measurement of backreaction in large-scale structure data, indirect measures of metrical properties and improved redshift-distance measures in inhomogeneous cosmologies. |
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J Michael BURGESS Parallel Session: GB4 - Photospheric Emission in GRBs Description: Early models of cosmological GRBs predicted the observed spectrum to be nearly blackbody. Observations were at odds with this prediction, and different theoretical models assuming optically thin emission have been put forward. However, models of such non thermal emission appear to be inconsistent with observations of steep spectra in early phases of many GRBs. Instead models involving photospheric emission producing modifed blackbody spectra explain such observed spectra quite naturally. We plan to discuss physical aspects of photospheric emission in ultrarelativistic sources as well as observational issues related to the detection of such a photospheric component in GRBs. Special attention is expected to be given to sub-photospheric dissipation mechanisms, geometric and dynamical effects, jet content, and additional components in the observed spectrum. |
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Carlo BURIGANA Parallel Session: CM2 - Cosmology with the Cosmic Microwave Background: Implications of Planck and Other Experiments in Temperature and Polarization. Description: This parallel session will focus on the theoretical interpretation of the cosmic microwave background as seen by Planck and other experiments, in both temperature and polarization, and on the perspectives from future projects. It will include reviews of the state of the art in this area (e.g. cosmological models and parameters, constraints on fundamental physics, inflation, non-Gaussianity, Universe and cosmic structure evolution, etc.) but also astrophysical topics (e.g. diffuse emissions, sources, galaxy clusters, cosmic infrared background, etc.) relevant in the microwaves, and related data analysis aspects. The authors of both invited and contributed talks are encouraged to underline the cosmological and fundamental physics implications. |
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Antonio CAPONE Parallel Session: HE2 - High Energy Astrophysical neutrinos detection Description: The session will overview the several activities related to the High Energy and Ultra High Energy Neutrino detection: the fluxes of neutrinos expected by the several astrophysical sources, the experimental approaches to the neutrino detection, the sensitivities of the several detectors, the astrophysical neutrino fluxes measured. To fulfill this program I plan to have - a theory talk on the expected high energy neutrino fluxes from steady astrophysical sources like AGN, SNR, … - a theory talk on H.E. neutrino fluxes from transient sources (GRB, …) - a theory talk from U.H.E. neutrinos (GZK neutrinos) - Results from the experiment IceCube - Results from the experiment ANTARES - Results from the experiment BAIKAL, GVD - Status and sensitivity from the future experiment KM3NeT - Indirect search of dark matter with large mass Cherenkov neutrino detectors - Measurement of neutrino properties with large mass Cherenkov neutrino detectors (PINGU, ORCA) - Detection of U.H.E. neutrinos with radio and acoustic techniques (ANITA, ARA, SAUND, KM3NeT, ...), one or two talks |
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Salvatore CAPOZZIELLO Parallel Session: AT1 - Extended Theories of Gravity and Quantum Cosmology Description: Extended Theories of Gravity can be considered a new paradigm to cure shortcomings of General Relativity at infrared and ultraviolet scales. They are an approach that, by preserving the undoubtedly positive results of Einstein's Theory, is aimed to address conceptual and experimental problems recently emerged in Astrophysics, Cosmology and High Energy Physics. In particular, the goal is to encompass, in a self-consistent scheme, problems like Inflation, Dark Energy, Dark Matter, Large Scale Structure and, first of all, to give at least an effective description of Quantum Gravity. The basic idea of such an approach is to generalize the Hilbert-Einstein action relaxing the hypothesis that it must be linear in the Ricci scalar R. In principle, any f(R) function of R or other curvature invariants like Ricci, Riemann or Weyl tensors can be considered assuming effective theories of gravity. The general philosophy is that the true and final theory of gravity could be reconstructed, in principle, matching the phenomenology from infrared scales (astrophysics and cosmology) to ultraviolet scales (quantum field theory) going beyond a trial and error approach. Parallel Session: AT2 - Extended Theories of Gravity and Quantum Cosmology Description: Extended Theories of Gravity can be considered a new paradigm to cure shortcomings of General Relativity at infrared and ultraviolet scales. They are an approach that, by preserving the undoubtedly positive results of Einstein's Theory, is aimed to address conceptual and experimental problems recently emerged in Astrophysics, Cosmology and High Energy Physics. In particular, the goal is to encompass, in a self-consistent scheme, problems like Inflation, Dark Energy, Dark Matter, Large Scale Structure and, first of all, to give at least an effective description of Quantum Gravity. The basic idea of such an approach is to generalize the Hilbert-Einstein action relaxing the hypothesis that it must be linear in the Ricci scalar R. In principle, any f(R) function of R or other curvature invariants like Ricci, Riemann or Weyl tensors can be considered assuming effective theories of gravity. The general philosophy is that the true and final theory of gravity could be reconstructed, in principle, matching the phenomenology from infrared scales (astrophysics and cosmology) to ultraviolet scales (quantum field theory) going beyond a trial and error approach. |
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Pascal CHARDONNET Parallel Session: NS4 - Neutron stars in the context of stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis Description: This session has for main aim to explore the evolutionary scenarios leading to the formation of neutron stars and to progress in our knowledge allowing to make a link between properties of the neutron star progenitors and the neutron star properties as their mass, rotation rates, magnetic fields. This session will try to provide elements of answers to the following questions: What is the initial mass range of stars that ends their nuclear stellar life producing neutron stars? Does this mass range depends on the metallicity, rotation, interactions with a companion? What is the origin of the rotation of neutron stars in pulsars? What is the origin of the magnetic field of pulsars? What are the constraints coming from X-ray binaries? Are r-process elements formed in neutron stars merging? Did SN87A produce a neutron star? How did the planets formed around neutron stars? |
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Sandip CHAKRABARTI Parallel Session: AC1 - Accretion Processes onto Black Holes: Observation and Modeling Description: 1. Basic (model independent) Observational results of Stellar mass and Super massive black holes 2. Phenomenology: observation and data fitting with models 3. Spectral and timing properties of persistent and outbursting sources 4. Major models or solutions which address both the spectral and temporal properties simultaneously 5. Predictions of theoretical solutions/models and their tests 6. Expected results from ASTROSAT There will be both review talks as well as contributed talks, time span of which will depend on the number of speakers. We usually get two slots (Thursday and Friday). So we expect to accommodate many speakers. Please register and show your intention of participation. |
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Valeri CHECHETKIN Parallel Session: SN2 - Numerical simulations, SN, and GRB, connecting with massive SN Description: The supernova is very old object for the study starting from the historical supernovae. This object is still very interesting for the modern experimental physics for the registration of visible photons and X-rays, neutrino luminosity, gravitational radiation. Parts of supernovae are connected with GRB. The main theoretical problem in devising supernova explosion mechanisms is producing the energy required to disperse the envelope for both types of supernovae type I and II. In theoretical models, it is necessary to solve multi-dimensional problems involving complex physics (3D gas dynamics, neutrino transport, large-scale convective instability, magneto-hydrodynamic, and other important physical processes). The numerical solutions of sophisticated physical models and new experimental data should clarify the mechanism of supernova. |
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Anatoly M. CHEREPASCHUCK Parallel Session: BH2 - Black holes in binary stellar systems Description: In the last 40 years, after pioneering papers by Ya.B. Zeldovich and E.E. Salpeter in which a powerful energy release from nonspherical accretion of matter onto a black hole was predicted, a lot of observational studies of black holes in the Universe have been carried out. By the present time, masses of several dozens of stellar-mass black holes in X-ray binary systems and of several hundreds of supermassive black holes in galactic nuclei have been measured. A new field of astrophysics, black hole demography, which studies the birth and growth of black holes, as well as their evolutionary connection to other objects in the Universe - stars, galaxies, etc., is rapidly developing. The launch into orbit of the space radio interferometer Radioastron opened up the real possibility to finally prove that numerous massive and highly compact objects with properties very similar to those of black holes are real black holes in the sense of Einstein’s general relativity. Similar proofs of the existence of black holes in the Universe can be obtained by intercontinental radio interferometry at short mm wavelengths (the international program “Event Horizon Telescope”). The key idea of the session is to bring together researchers working in the theory of black holes including those in extended gravity models (to show the development of the Einstein equations during last 100 years) and colleagues from modern astrophysical experiments. Parallel Session: BH3 - Black holes in galactic nuclei Description: In the last 40 years, after pioneering papers by Ya.B. Zeldovich and E.E. Salpeter in which a powerful energy release from nonspherical accretion of matter onto a black hole was predicted, a lot of observational studies of black holes in the Universe have been carried out. By the present time, masses of several dozens of stellar-mass black holes in X-ray binary systems and of several hundreds of supermassive black holes in galactic nuclei have been measured. A new field of astrophysics, black hole demography, which studies the birth and growth of black holes, as well as their evolutionary connection to other objects in the Universe - stars, galaxies, etc., is rapidly developing. The launch into orbit of the space radio interferometer Radioastron opened up the real possibility to finally prove that numerous massive and highly compact objects with properties very similar to those of black holes are real black holes in the sense of Einstein’s general relativity. Similar proofs of the existence of black holes in the Universe can be obtained by intercontinental radio interferometry at short mm wavelengths (the international program “Event Horizon Telescope”). The key idea of the session is to bring together researchers working in the theory of black holes including those in extended gravity models (to show the development of the Einstein equations during last 100 years) and colleagues from modern astrophysical experiments. |
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Alan COLEY Parallel Session: DE2 - Inhomogeneous Cosmology Description: This session covers inhomogeneity effects in relativistic cosmology and their impact on global properties of universe models. It includes exact solutions, mathematical approaches to averaging and backreaction, the relationship to the dark energy and dark matter problems, observational signatures of backreaction and challenges to the standard model, light-cone averaging and strategies for interpreting observational data. |
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Stefano COVINO Parallel Session: GB2 - The energy compositions and acceleration processes of GRB jets Description: This session will review and discuss the energy content and acceleration processes of gamma-ray burst (GRB) jets. Although a widely accepted model for producing GRBs is based on the dissipation of a relativistic jet, it is a long standing problem how to accelerate the jets to ultra-relativistic velocities. The composition of the jets is still highly contested with competition between a baryonic jet and a magnetized jet. Recent measurements of polarization in optical and prompt gamma-ray emission indicate that the outflow contains ordered magnetic fields at least in some events, while it is still unknown whether they are sufficiently strong to affect the dynamics. Understanding the energy content would provide insights into the acceleration process of the outflow. This session will gather observers and theorists to discuss the observational constraints on the properties of GRB jets (e.g. energy content, Lorentz factor, energetics, collimation, the environment) and the theoretical models for the acceleration and radiation processes of jets and shock physics. |
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Spiros COTSAKIS Parallel Session: EU3 - Cosmological Singularities and Asymptotics Description: We are interested in problems related to the nature of spacetime singularities and long term asymptotics, in a variety of currently popular themes such as general relativity, higher derivative and scalar-tensor theories, braneworlds and string models. The development of new mathematical methods for such issues is itself of special interest for this Parallel Session, global causality theory, topological and geometric methods, dynamical systems in finite and infinite dimensions and asymptotic analysis. |
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Gianguido DALL'AGATA Parallel Session: ST2 - Black Holes in String Theory Description: The difficulties that arise in formulating a theory of gravity according to the principles of quantum mechanics are longstanding, and manifest themselves most vividly in the conundrums related with the quantum properties of black holes. This session is devoted to the construction and study of black hole solutions and to their microscopic description within a consistent quantum theory of gravity, namely string theory. |
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Alessandro DE ANGELIS Parallel Session: HE1 - Experimental tests of fundamental physics with high energy gamma rays Description: |
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Paolo DE BERNARDIS Parallel Session: CM1 - Cosmic Microwave Background measurements Description: A new generation of precision measurements of the CMB is being carried out by means of ground-based telescopes in the best cold and dry sites, on stratospheric balloons, and on satellites. This session will focus on the latest results of Planck and other experiments on CMB anisotropy and polarization, on foregrounds, and Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect surveys. Forthcoming experiments looking for very low level signatures in the CMB (anisotropy, polarization, spectrum) will also be covered, as well as methods to exploit cross correlations with other cosmological observables; the potential of ultra-sensitive mm-wave observations in constraining cosmological parameters and scenarios will also be discussed. |
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Massimo DELLA VALLE Parallel Session: GB3 - Cosmology from GRBs Description: Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) are the biggest explosions in the universe. Using the prompt emissions and the following afterglows, we have already observed the highest redshift of z=8.3 (or 9.2 photometrically), which is comparable to the most distant galaxies. The aim of this parallel session is to focus on the application of GRBs as a "NEW" cosmological tool to probe first stars, re-ionization, metal production, star formation history, as well as dark energy and dark matter evolution, up to the early universe. |
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Angela DI VIRGILIO Parallel Session: PT3 - Experimental Gravitation Description: In the session "Experimental Gravitation" we cover all laboratory and space experiments testing gravity and the structure of space-time using classical matter, quantum matter, and light. Tests particularly using atomic interferometry will be reported in session PT1. We are first dealing with experiments exploring the structure of space-time as it is encoded in the Einstein Equivalence Principle (EEP). This includes tests of the Universality of Free Fall, the Universality of the Gravitational Redshift, and Local Lorentz Invariance. These tests fix the space-time geometry. The next group of tests will explore the field equation of gravity which in most cases is encoded in the PPN formalism; more general formalisms like Finsler geometry also needs to be included. The third group of tests deals with testing the predictions of GR. This also will include applications like positioning and geodesy. |
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Heino FALCKE Parallel Session: GN1 - Gravitational physics of the galactic center Description: The center of the Galaxy hosts the closest and best-constrained supermassive black-hole candidate in the universe, Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*). Its mass and distance have been accurately determined from stellar orbits and proper motion studies, respectively. Its high-frequency radio, and highly variable near-infrared and x-ray, emissions originate from within a few Schwarzschild radii of the event horizon. The theory of general relativity (GR) predicts the appearance of a black hole shadow, which is a lensed image of the event horizon. This shadow can be resolved by upcoming very long baseline radio interferometry experiments and allows us for the first time to test GR on an event horizon scale with imaging techniques. In this session we will review the current status of the experimental efforts towards imaging the event horizon as well our current understanding of the physical properties of Sgr A*. Further topics to be discussed are general relativistic magneto-hydrodynamic models for the emission and appearance of Sgr A*, the current constraints from stellar orbit analyses, as well as the potential for using pulsars to probe the spacetime around the Galactic Center black hole. The Galactic Center thus provides an enormous potential for experimental tests of black hole accretion and theories of gravitation in their strong limits. |
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Agnes FIENGA Parallel Session: PT5 - GR in the Solar System Description: The session deals with the recent advances in testing general relativity and alternative theories of gravitation in the Solar System. This includes space tests around Earth with laser ranged satellites as well as with dedicated missions, and in deep space with interplanetary probes. Also of interest are the connections with geodesy and reference frames issues, now well known with the use of GNSS, and more in general the relativistic metrology issues, including relativistic astrometry. Contributions on these topics are welcome, as well as on dedicated ground or space tests of the foundations (e.g., of the Equivalence Principle). With the advance of experimental techniques, the issues related to the accuracy of models are becoming more and more pervasive: specific contributions on them are also welcome. |
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Victor FLAMBAUM Parallel Session: PT4 - Variation of Fundamental Constants Description: Space-time variation of fundamental constants from Big Bang to atomic clocks: theory and observations. |
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Paulo FREIRE Parallel Session: BN1 - Compact Binaries and Strong-Field Tests of Gravity Description: This session will review, discuss and present methods and latest results on the experimental tests of theories of gravity under strong-field conditions using binary systems. There will be an update on and new results of known and new binary pulsars but we also plan to discuss gravity tests using other binary systems observed at different astronomical windows. Experimental as well as theory talks addressing this and related issues are welcome. |
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Filippo FRONTERA Parallel Session: HE3 - Future prospects in high energy astrophysics Description: The session will be devoted to overview open issues in high energy astrophysics and experimental activity under way to settle them. Thus, in addition to the open issues, it will deal with an overview of the X-/gamma-ray instruments now under development for future missions, scientific payloads submitted or intended to be submitted to national or international space agencies, missions already approved or on the way for their evaluation by national or international space agencies. |
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Chris L. FRYER Parallel Session: GB5 - GRBs and the Afterglow Description: |
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Dmitry GALTSOV Parallel Session: AT4 - Localized self-gravitating field systems in the Einstein and alternatives theories of gravity Description: This section will focus on the analysis of field-theory solutions describing localized non-perturbative soliton-type objects made of gravitating non-linear matter fields. These can be of various types: magnetic monopoles, instantons, vortices and cosmic strings, vortons, knots, Q-balls, oscillons, etc. Such objects can have a non-trivial spacetime topology, as for example hairy black holes, some of them can be cosmologically large, and they can also be made of pure gravity, especially in the context of alternative theories of gravity, such as the braneworld models, the Gauss-Bonnet gravity, the Horndeski theories, the massive gravity and bigravity, the F(R) gravity, etc. The analysis of such solutions may help to clarify the structure of the hidden matter sector in the universe, and it may also be useful in the holography context. |
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Enrique GARCIA-BERRO Parallel Session: WD1 - The Status of Magnetic White Dwarfs Description: This Parallel Session will provide an extensive account of the current status of magnetic white dwarfs, both from the observational perspective, and the theoretical one. Detailed accounts will be given of the observational techniques used to measure the magnetic fields of white dwarfs, making emphasis on the current uncertainties and limitations, of the possible theoretical evolutionary channels leading to the formation of magnetic white dwarfs, of the analysis of the population of magnetic white dwarfs including an evaluation of the observational selection effects and biases, and of the intriguing origin of high-field magnetic white dwarfs. The effects of magnetic fields on the cooling process will be also presented. Finally, the connection of high-field magnetic white dwarfs with other interesting classes of magnetic stars will be analyzed as well. |
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Paolo GIOMMI Parallel Session: GN2 - New developments in Blazars research Description: Blazars have long been considered a niche research topic limited to a small community of specialists. However, the interest in this type of peculiar and rare sources is rapidly growing as they are being found in increasing large numbers in microwave and gamma-ray surveys. Blazars also represent the most abundant population of extragalactic sources at very high (> TeV) energies. Being extremely efficient particle accelerators, these sources have even been tentatively associated to some neutrino events reported by the IceCube collaboration, and possibly linked to Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECR). In this session we will discuss some of the most recent developments in the field, including population studies, lepto-hadronic models, disk-jet connection, neutrino emission, with a link also towards multi-messenger and high-energy physics issues. |
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Gabriele GIONTI Parallel Session: AT1 - Extended Theories of Gravity and Quantum Cosmology Description: Extended Theories of Gravity can be considered a new paradigm to cure shortcomings of General Relativity at infrared and ultraviolet scales. They are an approach that, by preserving the undoubtedly positive results of Einstein's Theory, is aimed to address conceptual and experimental problems recently emerged in Astrophysics, Cosmology and High Energy Physics. In particular, the goal is to encompass, in a self-consistent scheme, problems like Inflation, Dark Energy, Dark Matter, Large Scale Structure and, first of all, to give at least an effective description of Quantum Gravity. The basic idea of such an approach is to generalize the Hilbert-Einstein action relaxing the hypothesis that it must be linear in the Ricci scalar R. In principle, any f(R) function of R or other curvature invariants like Ricci, Riemann or Weyl tensors can be considered assuming effective theories of gravity. The general philosophy is that the true and final theory of gravity could be reconstructed, in principle, matching the phenomenology from infrared scales (astrophysics and cosmology) to ultraviolet scales (quantum field theory) going beyond a trial and error approach. Parallel Session: AT2 - Extended Theories of Gravity and Quantum Cosmology Description: Extended Theories of Gravity can be considered a new paradigm to cure shortcomings of General Relativity at infrared and ultraviolet scales. They are an approach that, by preserving the undoubtedly positive results of Einstein's Theory, is aimed to address conceptual and experimental problems recently emerged in Astrophysics, Cosmology and High Energy Physics. In particular, the goal is to encompass, in a self-consistent scheme, problems like Inflation, Dark Energy, Dark Matter, Large Scale Structure and, first of all, to give at least an effective description of Quantum Gravity. The basic idea of such an approach is to generalize the Hilbert-Einstein action relaxing the hypothesis that it must be linear in the Ricci scalar R. In principle, any f(R) function of R or other curvature invariants like Ricci, Riemann or Weyl tensors can be considered assuming effective theories of gravity. The general philosophy is that the true and final theory of gravity could be reconstructed, in principle, matching the phenomenology from infrared scales (astrophysics and cosmology) to ultraviolet scales (quantum field theory) going beyond a trial and error approach. |
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Eva HACKMANN Parallel Session: PT6 - Dynamics of extended test objects -- equations of motion and their solution Description: In PT6 "Dynamics of extended test objects" we cover relativistic approximation schemes for extended test bodies in given gravitational (background) fields. One part of this session will focus on the structure of multipolar approximation schemes and their application. In this context the coupling between matter currents and new geometrical features of spacetime shall be explored, in particular w.r.t. to possible tests of alternative gravitational theories by means of extended deformable test bodies. Another focus will be on the analytical treatment of equations of motions in special cases and their application to precision test of General Relativity and alternative theories of gravity. |
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Ian HINDER Parallel Session: BN7 - Interfacing analytical and numerical relativity Description: The two-body problem in General Relativity can be solved by approximate analytical techniques valid in the weak field regime, and by numerical methods in the strong field regime. Both methods are required to obtain a complete picture, and this session will cover recent developments relating them to each other. |
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Philippe JETZER Parallel Session: GL1 - Observational Gravitational Lensing [Microlensing] Description: Topics of the session will be both observational and theoretical works on various aspects and applications of microlensing and strong lensing: from dark matter detection to search for extrasolar planets. |
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S. O. KEPLER Parallel Session: WD1 - The Status of Magnetic White Dwarfs Description: This Parallel Session will provide an extensive account of the current status of magnetic white dwarfs, both from the observational perspective, and the theoretical one. Detailed accounts will be given of the observational techniques used to measure the magnetic fields of white dwarfs, making emphasis on the current uncertainties and limitations, of the possible theoretical evolutionary channels leading to the formation of magnetic white dwarfs, of the analysis of the population of magnetic white dwarfs including an evaluation of the observational selection effects and biases, and of the intriguing origin of high-field magnetic white dwarfs. The effects of magnetic fields on the cooling process will be also presented. Finally, the connection of high-field magnetic white dwarfs with other interesting classes of magnetic stars will be analyzed as well. |
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Sang Pyo KIM Parallel Session: SF1 - Strong (EM) Fields Physics and Astrophysics Description: This session is dedicated to the all theoretical aspects of high energetic phenomena due to strong electromagnetic fields in ground laboratories and astrophysical environments, for example, electron-positron pair creation and oscillation, charged particle acceleration, and non linearity of strong electromagnetic fields, as well as strong electromagnetic radiation fields. Parallel Session: SF2 - Ground experiments and astrophysical observations in Strong Field Physics Description: Physics of strong electromagnetic and gravitational fields is one of the essential ingradients in astrophysics and cosmology. Strong field physics involves strong electromagnetic fields and/or gravitational fields, dense matters, and particles or ions acceleration. This session is dedicated to experimental and theoretical aspects of laboratory astrophysics and astrophysical observations related to strong field physics such as intense lasers, interaction of plasma with strong electromagnetic fields, ions acceleration, radiation from accelerating charges, dense matter, simulation of strong gravitty effects etc. |
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Mukremin KILIC Parallel Session: WD3 - White Dwarfs in Binaries and the Role of Gravitational Waves Description: Ultra-compact binary systems containing white dwarfs dominate the gravitational wave foreground in the mHz frequency range. This parallel session will focus on the physical characteristics of the known double white dwarf systems, their prior and future evolution (including the connections with R Cor Bor, AM CVn stars and supernova Ia and .Ia), and the observed rate of orbital decay. We will also discuss the future prospects for increasing the sample of short period binary white dwarfs. |
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Burkhard KLEIHAUS Parallel Session: BH7 - Hairy Black Holes Description: The no-hair theorem states that vacuum black holes in Einstein gravity are uniquely given by the Kerr solutions. This simple picture changes, if gauge and matter fields are coupled to gravity. The aim of this parallel session is to present and discuss the newest developments and results on hairy black holes in the context of various theories. |
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Hagen KLEINERT Parallel Session: QG4 - Multivalued Fields for Defects in Spacetime and Gravity Description: Session QG4 will be devoted to multivalued fields. These appear in geometric theories of defects and can be used as a mathematical basis of for the Riemann-Cartan theory of gravity with torsion. See the textbook http://klnrt.de/b11. Defects in elastic media are the origin of the plastic properties of solids with all fatal consequences of material fatigue. Their theoretical description is of great importance for material science. If defects are present, the basic field variables of elasticity theory measuring the local displacement and rotational angle become multivalued. Certain higher derivatives of these fields, however, remain single-valued. These define a Riemann-Cartan geometry that accommodates naturally a theory of gravity with torsion, in which curvature and torsion are built from rotational and translational defects. Since these two defects are dependent of each other, physical phenomena which initially look quite different possess equivalent descriptions, the most famous example being Einstein's teleparallel theory of gravity. Parallel Session: DE3 - Large Scale Structure and Statistics Description: This session is devoted to the statistical assessment of large-scale structure. This includes higher-order statistics, morphological properties, the reality and significance of large structures in the Universe, standard rulers like BAO, the comparison with mock catalogues, path finders for next-generation galaxy catalogues, non-Gaussian statistics, black swan events, mass functions and abundance statistics of collapsed objects. We also welcome contributions on general-relativistic aspects of large-scale structure formation in these contexts like the measurement of backreaction in large-scale structure data, indirect measures of metrical properties and improved redshift-distance measures in inhomogeneous cosmologies. |
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Shiho KOBAYASHI Parallel Session: GB2 - The energy compositions and acceleration processes of GRB jets Description: This session will review and discuss the energy content and acceleration processes of gamma-ray burst (GRB) jets. Although a widely accepted model for producing GRBs is based on the dissipation of a relativistic jet, it is a long standing problem how to accelerate the jets to ultra-relativistic velocities. The composition of the jets is still highly contested with competition between a baryonic jet and a magnetized jet. Recent measurements of polarization in optical and prompt gamma-ray emission indicate that the outflow contains ordered magnetic fields at least in some events, while it is still unknown whether they are sufficiently strong to affect the dynamics. Understanding the energy content would provide insights into the acceleration process of the outflow. This session will gather observers and theorists to discuss the observational constraints on the properties of GRB jets (e.g. energy content, Lorentz factor, energetics, collimation, the environment) and the theoretical models for the acceleration and radiation processes of jets and shock physics. |
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Michael KRAMER Parallel Session: BN1 - Compact Binaries and Strong-Field Tests of Gravity Description: This session will review, discuss and present methods and latest results on the experimental tests of theories of gravity under strong-field conditions using binary systems. There will be an update on and new results of known and new binary pulsars but we also plan to discuss gravity tests using other binary systems observed at different astronomical windows. Experimental as well as theory talks addressing this and related issues are welcome. |
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Kostas KOKKOTAS Parallel Session: SN1 - Supernova Explosions and Neutron Stars Dynamics Description: This session will cover both numerical and analytical work related to stellar core collapse as well as oscillations and instabilities of neutron stars. Emphasis will be placed on work that is related to the emission of gravitational waves either during a collapse, the post-merging phase of binary neutron star systems or via other transient mechanisms such as glitches, magnetar flares, LMXBs, etc. |
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Jutta KUNZ Parallel Session: BH8 - Black Holes in Higher Dimensions (Black Rings and Black Strings) Description: The focus of this session will be the presentation of various types of higher dimensional black hole solutions and the discussion of their properties, including stability, thermodynamics and geodesics. |
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Pablo LAGUNA Parallel Session: BH1 - Binary Black Holes as Sources of Multi-messenger Astronomy Description: This session will examine recent numerical relativity developments on simulations of binary systems in astrophysical environments that lead to multi-messenger observations, including binary black holes in circumbinary disks, magnetic fields and plasma environments. |
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Claus LÄMMERZAHL Parallel Session: PT3 - Experimental Gravitation Description: In the session "Experimental Gravitation" we cover all laboratory and space experiments testing gravity and the structure of space-time using classical matter, quantum matter, and light. Tests particularly using atomic interferometry will be reported in session PT1. We are first dealing with experiments exploring the structure of space-time as it is encoded in the Einstein Equivalence Principle (EEP). This includes tests of the Universality of Free Fall, the Universality of the Gravitational Redshift, and Local Lorentz Invariance. These tests fix the space-time geometry. The next group of tests will explore the field equation of gravity which in most cases is encoded in the PPN formalism; more general formalisms like Finsler geometry also needs to be included. The third group of tests deals with testing the predictions of GR. This also will include applications like positioning and geodesy. |
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Alexandre LE TIEC Parallel Session: BN6 - Post-Newtonian and Analytic Approximations Description: This session will cover all analytic approximations to General Relativity, including (i) post-Newtonian approximations for equations of motion and radiation field, (ii) analytic approaches to gravitational self-force problems, (iii) black hole perturbations with applications to compact binaries, (iv) strong-field tests of General Relativity using gravitational waves, and (v) analytic approximations in alternative gravity theories. |
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Gandalf LECHNER Parallel Session: QF3 - Operator Algebras and Quantum Field Theory Description: This session is dedicated to recent developments in mathematical quantum field theory, with an emphasis on results obtained by operator-algebraic techniques. This includes investigations of structural / conceptual nature (like mathematical formulations of quantum field theories and their algebraic structure), but also model building (for example, in conformal field theory) and the discussion of physical effects such as the Unruh effect. |
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José P. S. LEMOS Parallel Session: BH4 - Gravitational fields with sources: From compact objects to black holes Description: In its 100-year-long history general relativity has passed many stringent tests, and is now accepted as the standard theory of gravity and one of mankind's greatest achievements. Nevertheless, most experiments can only probe the weak-field regime, while the strong-curvature regime remains essentially unexplored. In this regime the structure and dynamics of compact objects and black holes can differ from general relativity with dramatic and potentially observable effects. This session will be devoted to recent theoretical developments on the physics of compact objects in Einstein's gravity and in modified theories of gravity. Topics will include: compact objects as probes of fundamental physics, regular black holes, quasiblack holes, wormholes, tests of gravity with black holes and neutron stars, exact solutions, black holes with hair, and strong-gravity effects in neutron stars beyond general relativity. http://centra.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/network/grit/mg14/ |
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Alberto LERDA Parallel Session: ST1 - Branes and Instantons in String Theory Description: Recently there has been tremendous progress in describing gauge theories engineered with systems of branes in string theory and in uncovering their non-perturbative duality structure. Various approaches have been pursued including the exact calculation of instanton effects using localization techniques. This section will be devoted to discuss these recent developments and their numerous interplays and implications for string theory. |
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Jerzy LEWANDOWSKI Parallel Session: QG1 - Loop Quantum Gravity, Quantum Geometry, Spin Foams Description: Loop Quantum Gravity (LQG), a framework suited to quantize general relativity, has seen rapid progress in the last three years. The results achieved strongly suggest that the goal of finding a working and predictive quantum theory of gravity is within reach. For specific kinds of matter couplings, a way to drastically simplify the dynamics and its physical interpretation has been discovered. It gives rise to a set of examples of theories of gravity coupled to the fields in which the canonical quantization scheme can be completed. Independently, there have been important breakthroughs in the path integral formulation of the theory related to the so called Spin Foam Models. The session will review the results of canonical Loop Quantum Gravity and Spin Foam Models with the emphasis on the models admitting local degrees of freedom without the symmetry (or any other) reduction. Related approaches to quantum gravity will be also welcome. The common theme is the background independent quantization of Einstein's gravity and the occurrence of quantum geometry. |
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Stefano LIBERATI Parallel Session: BH6 - Regular and Analogue Black Holes Description: The discovery of black hole evaporation stemmed several new questions such as the information loss problem and the transplanckian issue for Hawking radiation. Regular black holes are a relatively recent attempt to deal with the information problem by changing the global structure of black hole spacetimes so that no event horizons are present but only trapped regions. Several models have been proposed in recent years and the parallel session hope to offer a panoramic view of proposals in this sense. The second part of the parallel session will be instead dedicated to black hole condensed matter analogues which since the seminal paper of Bill Unruh of 1981 have been more and used as a test bed for the robustness of Hawking radiation to the UV regime of gravity as well as for paving the way to reproduce it in tabletop experiments. The parallel session will also in this case offer a panoramic view of the state of the art in this field and report recent observations. |
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Meike LIST Parallel Session: BS1 - Black Hole foils, Boson stars Description: In this parallel session we will consider recent work concerning the analysis of boson star properties as well as boson star representations in specific spacetimes. This will include e.g. all issues related to the global structure and the physical interpretation of these objects. Furthermore, presentations of work within the framework of black hole mimickers (e.g. wormholes and gravastars) are explicitly invited. |
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Duncan LORIMER Parallel Session: GB1 - Fast radio bursts: observations, ideas and prospects Description: Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are short, dispersed radio bursts discovered recently. Their physical nature is unknown. This session gathers observers and theorists who are working in this emerging, exciting new field, to discuss the most updated observational status and various ideas and model constraints to understand the physical origin of these mysterious events. |
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Francisco LOBO Parallel Session: AT3 - Wormholes, Energy Conditions and Time Machines Description: The General Theory of Relativity has been an extremely successful theory, with a well established experimental footing, at least for weak gravitational fields. Its predictions range from the existence of black holes, gravitational radiation to the cosmological models, predicting a primordial beginning, namely the big-bang. All these solutions have been obtained by first considering a plausible distribution of matter, and through the Einstein field equation, the spacetime metric of the geometry is determined. However, one may solve the Einstein field equation in the reverse direction, namely, one first considers an interesting and exotic spacetime metric, then finds the matter source responsible for the respective geometry. In this manner, it was found that some of these solutions possess a peculiar property, namely 'exotic matter,' involving a stress-energy tensor that violates the null energy condition. These geometries also allow closed timelike curves, with the respective causality violations. These solutions are primarily useful as 'gedanken-experiments' and as a theoretician's probe of the foundations of general relativity, and include traversable wormholes and superluminal 'warp drive' spacetimes. In this parallel session, in addition to extensively exploring interesting features, in particular, the physical properties and characteristics of these 'exotic spacetimes,' we also explore other non-trivial general relativistic geometries that generate closed timelike curves. |
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Alfredo MACIAS Parallel Session: BS2 - Scalar fields in cosmology Description: Since the days that the Jordan--Brans--Dicke scalar--tensor theory of gravity was proposed, the scalar fields appear in the formulation of many phenomena in gravitational theories. Scalar fields occur throughout physics, as spin--zero quantum fields. Nevertheless, they remain until now as exotic matter, which have not yet been measured. The particle nature of a scalar field remains elusive, therefore the search of the matter nature of it results to be compulsory. A scalar field is always present in the context of Dirac's large number hypothesis and also in all unified field theories; they appear as dilatons and as inflatons or dark matter in cosmology. Since the dynamics of a scalar field is governed by a Klein--Gordon--like field equation, it seems to be a bosonic particle. The purpose of this session is to discuss different bosonic systems appearing in cosmology. |
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Keiichi MAEDA Parallel Session: BN4 - End of white dwarfs and type Ia Supernova Description: Type Ia supernovae (SN Ia) are key objects for the present cosmology as the most mature standard candles. One of the main systematic errors in measuring the distances (or fluxes) of the objects come from uncertainties in theoretical models of SN Ia explorations. Very recently, a SN Ia occurred at very near galaxy (i.e., SN 2014J in M82 at 3.8 Mpc), and high energy observations were performed to verify explosion models. The session will focus on 1) the theoretical studies for SN Ia explorations, and 2) high-energy observational results on SN Ia, as well as 3) observational and/or theoretical studies of heavy white dwarfs near the Chandrasekhar limit, and 4) SN Ia progenitor evolution and observational counterparts. |
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Manuel MALHEIRO Parallel Session: WD2 - Origin and physics of Soft Gamma-ray Repeaters and Anomalous X-ray Pulsars Description: Soft Gamma-ray Repeaters (SGRs) and Anomalous X-ray Pulsars (AXPs) have been thought to be magnetars, neutron stars powered by the decay of ultrastrong magnetic fields. However, up to now there has been no observational evidence of the presence of such ultrastrong fields, leaving ample room for alternative explanations. Failed predictions in the magnetar model are additional challenges faced today. Fast rotating magnetized white dwarfs, and neutron stars or strange stars surrounded by disks, have acquired relevance as alternatives to magnetars. This session is devoted to comprehensively understand SGRs/AXPs with open minds, and to compare and contrast the magnetars model and alternatives for the explanation and all observational properties such as the observed quiescent luminosity and spectrum in X, radio, and optical bands, glitches, anti-glitches, flares, connection to supernova remnants, etc. |
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Domenico MARINUCCI Parallel Session: GL2 - Statistics and Geometry of Weak Lensing Data Description: The aim of this session will be to present recent methodological advances in the analysis of weak lensing data by means of statistical, probabilistic and geometric tools. Talks may cover both weak lensing of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation and estimation of the shear and/or lensing potential from galaxy surveys; while the focus will primarily be on methodological aspects, some presentation may also illustrate observational results from ongoing experiments. |
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Silvia MASI Parallel Session: CM1 - Cosmic Microwave Background measurements Description: A new generation of precision measurements of the CMB is being carried out by means of ground-based telescopes in the best cold and dry sites, on stratospheric balloons, and on satellites. This session will focus on the latest results of Planck and other experiments on CMB anisotropy and polarization, on foregrounds, and Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect surveys. Forthcoming experiments looking for very low level signatures in the CMB (anisotropy, polarization, spectrum) will also be covered, as well as methods to exploit cross correlations with other cosmological observables; the potential of ultra-sensitive mm-wave observations in constraining cosmological parameters and scenarios will also be discussed. |
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Grant J. MATHEWS Parallel Session: GB5 - GRBs and the Afterglow Description: |
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Nikolaos MAVROMATOS Parallel Session: DM1 - Interacting Dark Matter Description: This parallel session will be devoted to theoretical models and phenomenological tests/observational constraints/detection techniques of dark matter models that involve self-interactions among the dark matter particle(s) in addition to their (weak) interactions with ordinary matter. Emphasis will also be given on astrophysical consequences of such dark matter self-interactions on the galactic structure, both halo and core. Possible connections with warm dark matter (such as sterile keV neutrino) approaches that exist in extensions of the standard model will also be briefly touched upon, from the point of view of the associated constraints on the allowed range of masses that are compatible with a non-trivial role of the self-interacting dark matter on the galactic structure. |
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Andrew MELATOS Parallel Session: GW1 - Sources of Gravitational Waves Description: The main aims of the session are: (1) to review recent progress in source modelling; (2) to discuss how GW detections can help solve problems in astrophysics and cosmology, e.g. binary star evolution; and (3) to explore ways in which GW signals can be combined with source models to answer fundamental questions in physics that cannot be probed easily in terrestrial laboratories, e.g. neutrino transport in ultradense environments, nuclear equation of state, origin of superstrong magnetic fields, et cetera. |
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Marco MERAFINA Parallel Session: DM4 - Self Gravitating Systems and Dark Matter Description: This session is devoted to the presentation and discussion of new theoretical results regarding the application of thermodynamics to the gravitational equilibrium of globular clusters, as well the presentation of new developments regarding nuclear clusters in galaxies and N-body simulations. Part of the session is also devoted to the analysis of the properties of the galactic halos from the gravitational point of view, in connection with the dark matter particle mass problem. |
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Razmik MIRZOYAN Parallel Session: HE1 - Experimental tests of fundamental physics with high energy gamma rays Description: |
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Sergey MOISEENKO Parallel Session: AC2 - MHD processes near compact objects Description: The topic of the parallel session includes different processes in strong gravitational fields, where a magnetic field and plasma properties play an important, and even decisive role. It includes magneto-rotational processes in supernova and supernova remnants, gamma-ray bursts and jets; processes which take place near pulsars, magnetorotational instability; structure and dynamics of accretion disks inside the ergosphere, and close to the last stable orbit of the Kerr black hole, gravitation lensing in plasma, etc. |
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Paulo Vargas MONIZ Parallel Session: EU1 - Theoretical and Mathematical Cosmology Description: In this session all matters related to Quantum Cosmology, i.e. a quantum mechanical description to attempt a description of the creation, very early stages, including pre-inflationary or trans-Planckian, of the universe, including contributions from frameworks such as GR, Loop formalisms, String theories, supergravity models, as well as relevant aspects of Quantum Fields in Curved Spaces. |
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Gerardo MORSELLA Parallel Session: QF2 - Quantum Field Theory on Curved Spacetime Description: The session will focus on mathematically rigorous methods and results about structural and conceptual aspects of Quantum Field Theory on curved background spacetimes (such as renormalizability, locality, general covariance, local gauge symmetries, existence, classification and interpretation of Hadamard states…), and on their applications to semiclassical backreaction and related problems. |
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Aldo MORSELLI Parallel Session: HE3 - Future prospects in high energy astrophysics Description: The session will be devoted to overview open issues in high energy astrophysics and experimental activity under way to settle them. Thus, in addition to the open issues, it will deal with an overview of the X-/gamma-ray instruments now under development for future missions, scientific payloads submitted or intended to be submitted to national or international space agencies, missions already approved or on the way for their evaluation by national or international space agencies. |
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Rodrigo NEGREIROS Parallel Session: NS1 - Observational Constraints on the Micro and Macroscopic Properties of Compact Stars Description: This session is devoted to the advances on the observational data regarding compact stars, and on how such data may be used to constrain the micro and macroscopic properties of such objects. The aim of this session is to present and discuss recent state of the art observational data from astrophysical phenomena and systems such as cooling-down neutron stars, X-ray bursters, low-mass X-ray binaries, QPOs, relativistic binaries, and similar. Particular focus is given to the astrophysical data leading to estimates of the mass, radius, moment of inertia, quadrupole moment, and magnetic field of neutron stars, hybrid stars, and strange quark stars. The consequences of the observational constraints on the interior equation of state of these objects constitute also a target of this session. |
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Hans Ulrik NØRGAARD-NIELSEN Parallel Session: CM2 - Cosmology with the Cosmic Microwave Background: Implications of Planck and Other Experiments in Temperature and Polarization. Description: This parallel session will focus on the theoretical interpretation of the cosmic microwave background as seen by Planck and other experiments, in both temperature and polarization, and on the perspectives from future projects. It will include reviews of the state of the art in this area (e.g. cosmological models and parameters, constraints on fundamental physics, inflation, non-Gaussianity, Universe and cosmic structure evolution, etc.) but also astrophysical topics (e.g. diffuse emissions, sources, galaxy clusters, cosmic infrared background, etc.) relevant in the microwaves, and related data analysis aspects. The authors of both invited and contributed talks are encouraged to underline the cosmological and fundamental physics implications. |
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Paolo PADOVANI Parallel Session: GN2 - New developments in Blazars research Description: Blazars have long been considered a niche research topic limited to a small community of specialists. However, the interest in this type of peculiar and rare sources is rapidly growing as they are being found in increasing large numbers in microwave and gamma-ray surveys. Blazars also represent the most abundant population of extragalactic sources at very high (> TeV) energies. Being extremely efficient particle accelerators, these sources have even been tentatively associated to some neutrino events reported by the IceCube collaboration, and possibly linked to Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECR). In this session we will discuss some of the most recent developments in the field, including population studies, lepto-hadronic models, disk-jet connection, neutrino emission, with a link also towards multi-messenger and high-energy physics issues. |
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Paolo PANI Parallel Session: BH4 - Gravitational fields with sources: From compact objects to black holes Description: In its 100-year-long history general relativity has passed many stringent tests, and is now accepted as the standard theory of gravity and one of mankind's greatest achievements. Nevertheless, most experiments can only probe the weak-field regime, while the strong-curvature regime remains essentially unexplored. In this regime the structure and dynamics of compact objects and black holes can differ from general relativity with dramatic and potentially observable effects. This session will be devoted to recent theoretical developments on the physics of compact objects in Einstein's gravity and in modified theories of gravity. Topics will include: compact objects as probes of fundamental physics, regular black holes, quasiblack holes, wormholes, tests of gravity with black holes and neutron stars, exact solutions, black holes with hair, and strong-gravity effects in neutron stars beyond general relativity. http://centra.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/network/grit/mg14/ |
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Debora Peres MENEZES Parallel Session: NS3 - QCD phase diagram: from nuclear astrophysics to heavy ion collisons Description: This parallel session is devoted to review and discuss various aspects of the QCD phase diagram, ranging from matter at low temperatures and high densities as the one present in compact objects to matter at high temperatures and low densities, as the one obtained in heavy ion collisions. Special emphasis can be given to the case of neutron stars and future low energy experiments. Different aspects of the phase transition, as the possible existence of a critical end point, the onset of deconfinement and the effects of strong magnetic fields on the phase diagram are also of interest. |
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Aurora PEREZ MARTINEZ Parallel Session: NS2 - New States of Matter and Strong Electromagnetico Fields in the Universe Description: The parallel session will focus on the following topics: new phenomena and new states of matter in the Universe; tests of general relativity, gravitation and cosmology models; heavy ion collisions and the formation of the quark-gluon plasma; evolution of compact stars: white dwarfs, neutron stars, pulsars and black holes; strange matter and strange stars; antimatter in the Universe; strong magnetic fields in the Universe; strong magnetic fields in compact stars and in galaxies; ultra-strong magnetic fields in neutron star mergers, quark stars and magnetars; strong magnetic fields and the cosmic microwave background; and topics related to these. |
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Volker PERLICK Parallel Session: PT2 - Theory of light propagation in gravitational fields Description: This session is devoted to theoretical aspects of light propagation in the presence of gravitational fields. Emphasis is expected to be on analytical and numerical studies of lensing by black holes and other compact objects (higher-order images, shadow, influence of matter, ...) but talks on other aspects of light propagation are welcome as well. |
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Roberto PERON Parallel Session: PT5 - GR in the Solar System Description: The session deals with the recent advances in testing general relativity and alternative theories of gravitation in the Solar System. This includes space tests around Earth with laser ranged satellites as well as with dedicated missions, and in deep space with interplanetary probes. Also of interest are the connections with geodesy and reference frames issues, now well known with the use of GNSS, and more in general the relativistic metrology issues, including relativistic astrometry. Contributions on these topics are welcome, as well as on dedicated ground or space tests of the foundations (e.g., of the Equivalence Principle). With the advance of experimental techniques, the issues related to the accuracy of models are becoming more and more pervasive: specific contributions on them are also welcome. |
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Gherardo PIACITELLI Parallel Session: QF1 - Quantum Spacetime Description: Quantum aspects of the geometry of Space-Time in the small are expected to play a significant role in the understanding of Quantum Gravity. "Quantum Space-Time" is an attempt to derive the appropriate noncommutative structure from operationally meaningful physical ansaetze translated into uncertainty relations of Heisenberg type. In this session we shall discuss achievements, open problems and perspectives in the field, initiated by the seminal paper of Doplicher Fredenhagen and Roberts. In particular, we shall address QFT on QST, quantum geometry, first investigations in the direction of curved spacetimes, and cosmological aspects. Though the emphasis will be mainly on approaches, motivated by first principles, to QFT on Quantum Minkowski space, other aspects of QFT on noncommutative spaces will be also discussed. |
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Rubik POGHOSSIAN Parallel Session: ST3 - Gauge/gravity and related correspondences Description: Many of current impressive developments in theoretical high energy physics have their roots in already seventeen years old Maldacena’s selebrated discovery of AdS/CFT duality between the quantum gravity (string theory) in d+1 dimensional anti-de Sitter space and a certain gauge theory living on its d dimensional boundary. Since then many other instances of such correspondences between quantum theories living in different space-time dimensions have been studied a noticable example of which being the recent exciting discovery by Alday, Gaiotto and Tachikawa relating 4d, N=2 Super Yang Mills theory to the 2d Conformal Field Theory. This parallel session is devoted to the review and recent achievements in this area. |
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David POLARSKI Parallel Session: DE1 - Dark Energy and the Accelerating Universe Description: This parallel session will be devoted to the study of the nature and the physical properties of Dark Energy producing the observed accelerated expansion of the present Universe. It will cover the phenomenological reconstruction of dark energy properties from observations, as well as consideration of a wide variety of theoretical models aimed to explain existing observational data, including modified gravity models and those with interplay between dark energy and dark matter. |
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Adam POUND Parallel Session: BN5 - Self-forces and small-mass-ratio binaries Description: This session is dedicated to the problem of motion in curved spacetimes, with a focus on self-forces and compact binaries with small mass-ratios. Topics will include (i) fundamentals of the problem of motion, (ii) black hole perturbation theory with a small or point-like material source, (iii) modelling of gravitational waves from astrophysical binaries with extreme or intermediate mass-ratios, (iv) the physics of such binaries, and (v) synergies between various binary models based on black hole perturbation theory, post-Newtonian theory, numerical relativity, and effective-one-body theory. |
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Gianfranco PRADISI Parallel Session: ST4 - String Pheno & Cosmo Description: (Super)String Theory is expected to be a consistent quantum description of all the fundamental interactions, including gravity. In this Session, we will discuss the state of the art and the recent progresses related to what (Super)String Theory can predict about scenarios beyond the Standard Cosmological Model and the Standard Model of Particle Physics. |
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Dirk PUETZFELD Parallel Session: PT6 - Dynamics of extended test objects -- equations of motion and their solution Description: In PT6 "Dynamics of extended test objects" we cover relativistic approximation schemes for extended test bodies in given gravitational (background) fields. One part of this session will focus on the structure of multipolar approximation schemes and their application. In this context the coupling between matter currents and new geometrical features of spacetime shall be explored, in particular w.r.t. to possible tests of alternative gravitational theories by means of extended deformable test bodies. Another focus will be on the analytical treatment of equations of motions in special cases and their application to precision test of General Relativity and alternative theories of gravity. |
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Jorge PULLIN Parallel Session: QG3 - Loop quantum gravity: cosmology and black holes Description: The session is devoted to the applications of loop quantum gravity to cosmological and black hole spacetimes. These will include various models studied in symmetry reduced spacetimes, such as in loop quantum cosmology, spin foam cosmology and physical implications of black hole entropy calculations. It will cover analytical and numerical methods, phenomenological applications and observational signatures in the above broad area of research. |
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Hernando QUEVEDO Parallel Session: BH5 - Geometric approaches to the thermodynamics of black holes Description: This parallel session will be devoted to the applications of information geometry, thermodynamic geometry, geometrothermodynamics and other approaches to the study of the physics of black holes in different gravity theories. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, definition of thermodynamic variables and phase transitions, ensemble dependence and heat capacities, stability properties, phase transition structures, and critical coefficients of black holes. |
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Nanda REA Parallel Session: NS5 - Highly magnetized neutron stars: theories, observations and connection with gamma-ray bursts Description: Magnetars are one of the most intriguing objects in relativistic astrophysics. Observational efforts in the past decade have advanced enormously our understanding of these objects. However, many questions still await for an answer, in particular concerning their formation, their connection with gamma-ray bursts, as well as the possibility of some of them being instead rapidly rotating white dwarfs, quark stars, or typical neutron stars accreting via a fossil disk. This session is especially devoted to establish a dialog between the different theoretical interpretations and give them observational support. Furthermore, special emphasis will be given to their formation, progenitors, and connection with gamma-ray bursts. |
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Piero ROSATI Parallel Session: CM3 - Galaxy Clusters as probes for Cosmology and Dark Matter Description: In recent years, significant progress has been made in building new galaxy clusters samples, at low and high redshifts, from wide-area surveys, particularly exploiting the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect. A large effort is underway to identify and characterise these new systems with optical/NIR and X-ray facilities, thus opening new avenues to constraint cosmological models using structure growth and geometrical tests. Representative samples of massive clusters are also being studied in detail with multi-wavelength facilities, including HST and extensive spectroscopy, thus enabling a reconstruction of their inner mass distribution and density profiles with unprecendeted accuracy, using lensing and dynamical techniques. Taking advantage of gravitational lensing magnification, dedicated HST surveys have also unveiled a population of primordial galaxies back to ~500 million after the big bang. A census of these early galaxies set constraints on reionization mechanisms and epochs, which need to be reconciled with recent limits on the reionization optical depth from CMB experiments. These recent advancements will be reviewed in this session with targeted and contributed talks. |
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Oleg RUCHAYSKIY Parallel Session: DM3 - Sterile neutrinos and cosmology Description: Sterile neutrino is an interesting and viable dark matter candidate. It has interesting motivations from particle physics and non-trivial consequences for cosmology. The aim of the session is to review possible models of sterile neutrino dark matter (different production mechanisms, sterile neutrinos in the early Universe), their influence on structure formation, as seen by Ly-alpha forest and, potentially, weak lensing, galaxy formation with sterile neutrino dark matter, status of the searches for sterile neutrinos via their radiative decays in galaxies and galaxy clusters. |
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Jorge RUEDA Parallel Session: NS1 - Observational Constraints on the Micro and Macroscopic Properties of Compact Stars Description: This session is devoted to the advances on the observational data regarding compact stars, and on how such data may be used to constrain the micro and macroscopic properties of such objects. The aim of this session is to present and discuss recent state of the art observational data from astrophysical phenomena and systems such as cooling-down neutron stars, X-ray bursters, low-mass X-ray binaries, QPOs, relativistic binaries, and similar. Particular focus is given to the astrophysical data leading to estimates of the mass, radius, moment of inertia, quadrupole moment, and magnetic field of neutron stars, hybrid stars, and strange quark stars. The consequences of the observational constraints on the interior equation of state of these objects constitute also a target of this session. |
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Giuseppe RUZZI Parallel Session: QF3 - Operator Algebras and Quantum Field Theory Description: This session is dedicated to recent developments in mathematical quantum field theory, with an emphasis on results obtained by operator-algebraic techniques. This includes investigations of structural / conceptual nature (like mathematical formulations of quantum field theories and their algebraic structure), but also model building (for example, in conformal field theory) and the discussion of physical effects such as the Unruh effect. |
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Tilman SAUER Parallel Session: HR1 - History of Relativity Description: Description: This year's Grossmann meeting celebrates the 100th anniversary of the publication of the gravitational field equations of general relativity by Albert Einstein and its variational formulation by David Hilbert. The completion of general relativity in 1915 brought to a crowning success Einstein's long search for a general theory of relativity and its consistent mathematical formulation using advanced mathematics of Ricci's and Levi-Civita's tensor calculus to which he was introduced in his collaboration with Marcel Grossmann. In this historical session, we will look back at the history of general relativity and some of its main contributors but also discuss papers on other topics of historical interest with a particular focus on the connections between Einstein and his theories with Italy. |
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Susan SCOTT Parallel Session: ES3 - Exact Solutions (Physical Aspects) Description: In this session we will consider physical aspects of exact solutions of Einstein's equation and higher dimensional theories. This will include all issues related to the global structure of these solutions, the physical interpretation of the solutions and the analysis of their physical properties including symmetries and singularity structure. |
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Mikhail SHAPOSHNIKOV Parallel Session: DM3 - Sterile neutrinos and cosmology Description: Sterile neutrino is an interesting and viable dark matter candidate. It has interesting motivations from particle physics and non-trivial consequences for cosmology. The aim of the session is to review possible models of sterile neutrino dark matter (different production mechanisms, sterile neutrinos in the early Universe), their influence on structure formation, as seen by Ly-alpha forest and, potentially, weak lensing, galaxy formation with sterile neutrino dark matter, status of the searches for sterile neutrinos via their radiative decays in galaxies and galaxy clusters. |
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Masaru SHIBATA Parallel Session: BN2 - Numerical Analysis of Coalescing Binaries Description: In this parallel session, we will discuss the latest progress in the numerical-relativity simulations for binary neutron stars and black hole-neutron star binaries paying special attention to gravitational waves, electromagnetic counter parts and r-process nucleosynthesis. |
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Parampreet SINGH Parallel Session: QG3 - Loop quantum gravity: cosmology and black holes Description: The session is devoted to the applications of loop quantum gravity to cosmological and black hole spacetimes. These will include various models studied in symmetry reduced spacetimes, such as in loop quantum cosmology, spin foam cosmology and physical implications of black hole entropy calculations. It will cover analytical and numerical methods, phenomenological applications and observational signatures in the above broad area of research. |
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Alexei STAROBINSKY Parallel Session: DE1 - Dark Energy and the Accelerating Universe Description: This parallel session will be devoted to the study of the nature and the physical properties of Dark Energy producing the observed accelerated expansion of the present Universe. It will cover the phenomenological reconstruction of dark energy properties from observations, as well as consideration of a wide variety of theoretical models aimed to explain existing observational data, including modified gravity models and those with interplay between dark energy and dark matter. |
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Thomas TAURIS Parallel Session: BN3 - Double Neutron Stars and Neutron Star-White Dwarf Binaries Description: This Parallel Session will be devoted to the formation and evolution of double neutron stars and neutron star-white dwarf binaries. Possible topics include stellar evolution and binary interactions in X-ray binaries, common-envelope evolution, supernovae in close binaries, accretion-induced collapse of massive white dwarfs, radio pulsars in binaries, neutron star masses and spin periods, mergers and LIGO/VIRGO detection rates. https://astro.uni-bonn.de/~tauris/MG14DNS |
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Yukikatsu TERADA Parallel Session: BN4 - End of white dwarfs and type Ia Supernova Description: Type Ia supernovae (SN Ia) are key objects for the present cosmology as the most mature standard candles. One of the main systematic errors in measuring the distances (or fluxes) of the objects come from uncertainties in theoretical models of SN Ia explorations. Very recently, a SN Ia occurred at very near galaxy (i.e., SN 2014J in M82 at 3.8 Mpc), and high energy observations were performed to verify explosion models. The session will focus on 1) the theoretical studies for SN Ia explorations, and 2) high-energy observational results on SN Ia, as well as 3) observational and/or theoretical studies of heavy white dwarfs near the Chandrasekhar limit, and 4) SN Ia progenitor evolution and observational counterparts. |
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Guglielmo TINO Parallel Session: PT1 - Tests of gravity with atom interferometers and clocks Description: With the impressive current development in the performances of atom interferometers and atomic clocks, precision measurements and new tests in gravitational physics can be performed using these quantum sensors. In this session recent results and future prospects for experiments in earth laboratories and in space will be reported. |
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Oleg TSUPKO Parallel Session: GL3 - Gravitational lensing: theory and numerical modeling Description: This session is devoted to theoretical studies of gravitational lensing and numerical modelling. In particular, it will cover mathematical aspects of gravitational lensing, gravitational lensing in presence of plasma, relativistic images due to black hole lensing, modelling of strong lens systems, progress in weak lensing mass reconstruction. |
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Gregory VERESHCHAGIN Parallel Session: GB4 - Photospheric Emission in GRBs Description: Early models of cosmological GRBs predicted the observed spectrum to be nearly blackbody. Observations were at odds with this prediction, and different theoretical models assuming optically thin emission have been put forward. However, models of such non thermal emission appear to be inconsistent with observations of steep spectra in early phases of many GRBs. Instead models involving photospheric emission producing modifed blackbody spectra explain such observed spectra quite naturally. We plan to discuss physical aspects of photospheric emission in ultrarelativistic sources as well as observational issues related to the detection of such a photospheric component in GRBs. Special attention is expected to be given to sub-photospheric dissipation mechanisms, geometric and dynamical effects, jet content, and additional components in the observed spectrum. |
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Jean-Yves VINET Parallel Session: GW2 - Status of the Gravitational Wave Detectors Description: 1) Virgo: Giovanni Losurdo (Pisa) 2) LIGO: waiting for a name 3) KAGRA: waiting for a name 4) GEO600: Jim Lough (Hannover) |
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Michael VOLKOV Parallel Session: AT4 - Localized self-gravitating field systems in the Einstein and alternatives theories of gravity Description: This section will focus on the analysis of field-theory solutions describing localized non-perturbative soliton-type objects made of gravitating non-linear matter fields. These can be of various types: magnetic monopoles, instantons, vortices and cosmic strings, vortons, knots, Q-balls, oscillons, etc. Such objects can have a non-trivial spacetime topology, as for example hairy black holes, some of them can be cosmologically large, and they can also be made of pure gravity, especially in the context of alternative theories of gravity, such as the braneworld models, the Gauss-Bonnet gravity, the Horndeski theories, the massive gravity and bigravity, the F(R) gravity, etc. The analysis of such solutions may help to clarify the structure of the hidden matter sector in the universe, and it may also be useful in the holography context. |
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David WILTSHIRE Parallel Session: DE2 - Inhomogeneous Cosmology Description: This session covers inhomogeneity effects in relativistic cosmology and their impact on global properties of universe models. It includes exact solutions, mathematical approaches to averaging and backreaction, the relationship to the dark energy and dark matter problems, observational signatures of backreaction and challenges to the standard model, light-cone averaging and strategies for interpreting observational data. |
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Renxin XU Parallel Session: WD2 - Origin and physics of Soft Gamma-ray Repeaters and Anomalous X-ray Pulsars Description: Soft Gamma-ray Repeaters (SGRs) and Anomalous X-ray Pulsars (AXPs) have been thought to be magnetars, neutron stars powered by the decay of ultrastrong magnetic fields. However, up to now there has been no observational evidence of the presence of such ultrastrong fields, leaving ample room for alternative explanations. Failed predictions in the magnetar model are additional challenges faced today. Fast rotating magnetized white dwarfs, and neutron stars or strange stars surrounded by disks, have acquired relevance as alternatives to magnetars. This session is devoted to comprehensively understand SGRs/AXPs with open minds, and to compare and contrast the magnetars model and alternatives for the explanation and all observational properties such as the observed quiescent luminosity and spectrum in X, radio, and optical bands, glitches, anti-glitches, flares, connection to supernova remnants, etc. |
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She-Sheng XUE Parallel Session: SF1 - Strong (EM) Fields Physics and Astrophysics Description: This session is dedicated to the all theoretical aspects of high energetic phenomena due to strong electromagnetic fields in ground laboratories and astrophysical environments, for example, electron-positron pair creation and oscillation, charged particle acceleration, and non linearity of strong electromagnetic fields, as well as strong electromagnetic radiation fields. Parallel Session: SF2 - Ground experiments and astrophysical observations in Strong Field Physics Description: Physics of strong electromagnetic and gravitational fields is one of the essential ingradients in astrophysics and cosmology. Strong field physics involves strong electromagnetic fields and/or gravitational fields, dense matters, and particles or ions acceleration. This session is dedicated to experimental and theoretical aspects of laboratory astrophysics and astrophysical observations related to strong field physics such as intense lasers, interaction of plasma with strong electromagnetic fields, ions acceleration, radiation from accelerating charges, dense matter, simulation of strong gravitty effects etc. |
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Cesar Augusto VASCONCELLOS ZEN Parallel Session: NS2 - New States of Matter and Strong Electromagnetico Fields in the Universe Description: The parallel session will focus on the following topics: new phenomena and new states of matter in the Universe; tests of general relativity, gravitation and cosmology models; heavy ion collisions and the formation of the quark-gluon plasma; evolution of compact stars: white dwarfs, neutron stars, pulsars and black holes; strange matter and strange stars; antimatter in the Universe; strong magnetic fields in the Universe; strong magnetic fields in compact stars and in galaxies; ultra-strong magnetic fields in neutron star mergers, quark stars and magnetars; strong magnetic fields and the cosmic microwave background; and topics related to these. |
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Bing ZHANG Parallel Session: GB1 - Fast radio bursts: observations, ideas and prospects Description: Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are short, dispersed radio bursts discovered recently. Their physical nature is unknown. This session gathers observers and theorists who are working in this emerging, exciting new field, to discuss the most updated observational status and various ideas and model constraints to understand the physical origin of these mysterious events. |
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Shuang-Nan ZHANG Parallel Session: HE4 - Space missions of high energy particles and gamma-rays Description: The session will be devoted to an overview of currently existing and possible future space missions dedicated to the observation and detection of high energy particles and gamma-rays, including high energy charged cosmic rays and indirect search for dark matter particles in space. Talks both on the astronomy, astrophysics and physics results and expectations and on the experimental techniques will be accepted. |