Research lines

 

  • The group "Galaxy Clustering and Physics of the Dark Universe" of the IAA pursues the measurement of the fundamental parameters of the universe to verify empirically the theories explaining its structure and evolution. The work of our group in recent years has focused on the technical improvement of the observational method known as photometric redshift and their practical implementation in large scale surveys. In particular we have participated in a key way in the gestation and scientific development of ALHAMBRA, CLASH and J-PAS projects.

  • The group "High Energy and Robotics Astrophysics" of the IAA makes multifrequency observations of high-energy phenomena and synthesis models of stellar population, while developing astronomical instruments such as the automation of small and medium observatories. This group leads opportunity programs at all observatories in our country and is member of various international collaborations. It also participates in space projects as the INTEGRAL satellite of the European Space Agency or UFFO-p experiment aboard the Lomonosov mission.

  • The group "Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Planets" of the IAA is an expert in the analysis of IR emission in medium and high areas of planetary atmospheres using non-LTE radiative transfer techniques, obtaining thermal structure, chemical structure and general circulation models (GCMs) of these regions. Experts in plasmas and atmospheric electrical discharges of the group study the influence of TLEs (Transient Luminous Events) in the Earth's mesosphere. These studies are based on data from space missions as TIMED/SABER, ETGO/NOMAD, Envisat/MIPAS, ASIM, TARANIS and COBRAT in which they have actively participated.

  • The group "Relativistic Jets and Blazars" of the IAA study highly collimated jets of relativistic particles generated by the accretion of material onto compact objects such as neutron stars or black holes, found in galactic active nuclei, microquasars or sources of gamma ray bursts (GRBs). To this end, it performs monitoring multifrequency of these phenomena which are then compared with numerical simulations and theoretical models developed by the same group.

  • The group "Evolution of Galaxies" of the IAA studies the structure and evolution of galaxies and cosmology, including observational studies of the physics of star formation, diffuse medium in stellar and galaxy clusters, nuclear activity in galaxies, structure and evolution of galaxies depending on their environment and large-scale structure of the universe and cosmology. This research is complemented by active participation in instrumental and technological development activities, supervision of doctoral theses, teaching Master courses, science outreach activities and eScience projects.

  • The group "High Energy Transient phenomena and their Hosts" (HETH) of the IAA is focused on the study of stellar explosions and the environment in which they occur (gamma ray bursts -GRBs- and their host galaxies, supernovas, magnetars and X-ray binaries) by multifrequency observations from radio to gamma rays, with special emphasis on optical and infrared spectroscopy.

  • The group "Physics of Low Mass Stars, Exoplanets and Associated Instrumentation" of the IAA studies the internal structure and evolution of stars of low and very low mass (star M dwarfs) and the planets that orbit around them, with the ultimate goal the discovery of habitable exo-earths. For this, the group leads the international consortium that developed CARMENES (3.5m CAHA), a specifically designed instrument to look for this type of exoplanets, and that will become the first of its kind in the world.

  • The group "Physics of the Interstellar Medium" of the IAA investigates all those physical processes that relate to formation and final stages of the life of the stars when accretion phenomena, stellar winds and collimated flows that produce strong interactions with the interstellar medium occur (https://spfe.es). The group specializes in the acquisition of information with the best possible spatial resolution and the use of multifrequency observations from radio to X-rays.

  • The Solar Physics Group (SPG) of the IAA is mainly devoted to the study and characterization of the solar magnetism and to investigate the evolution of the solar cycle. To that aim, solar spectropolarimetry techniques are used. Specifically, the inversion of the radiative transfer equation for polarized light in the presence of magnetic field is employed to determine the structure and physical nature of magnetic fields in the photosphere and the chromosphere. The SPG is heavily involved in the design, development and construction of state-of-the-art, space-borne and ground-based solar instrumentation.

  • The group "Galaxies and Cosmology" of the IAA studies the two revolutionary theories that in the twentieth century changed the way we understand the world, general relativity and quantum mechanics, but that are mutually inconsistent. This group investigates situations whose understanding requires both theories, such as the formation and evolution of black holes and the origin and evolution of the universe as a whole, the goal of Cosmology.

  • The group "The Milky Way and the Local Group" of the IAA focuses his study on the analysis of the formation, evolution and structure of the Milky Way and galaxies that populate the local volume, spatial scale within which we can apply techniques developed to study the different components of a galaxy. The group is a benchmark in the study of star clusters, massive stars and the Galactic center and star formation processes and their connection with the spatial and kinematic structure of stellar systems at different scales.

  • The main objective of the group "Planets and Minor Bodies" of the IAA is to obtain an integrated view of the solar system, for which it makes use of observational data with ground-based observatories and space missions and develops models of planetary and cometary atmospheres for proper interpretation. The group also participates in the instrumental development and scientific utilization of space missions and includes laboratories of cosmic dust scattering.

  • The group "Stellar Variability" of the IAA focuses its research on the study of stellar structure and evolution mainly through stellar variability (astroseismology). The Group maintains lines of theoretical and observational research and instrumental and technological development. He has participated in the design and operation of space missions CoRoT and Kepler and is involved in PLATO. Also it developed the first virtual observatory tool for asteroseismic models (VOTA) under the technical direction of the Spanish Virtual Observatory.