Institut d Estudis Espacials de Catalunya. Annual Report provisional

Transcription

1 Institut d Estudis Espacials de Catalunya Annual Report 2012 provisional

2

3 Table of Contents Institut d Estudis Espacials de Catalunya IEEC 3

4

5 INTRODUCTION The Institute The Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) was created in February of 1996 to foster the space R & D in Catalonia. From the administrative point of view, it is a non-profit private foundation with a Board of Trustees formed by the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Barcelona University (UB), the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), the Polythecnical University of Catalonia (UPC) and the Spanish Research Council (CSIC). Since its creation, the IEEC has focused its efforts in studying the Earth as a planet (atmosphere, oceans, crust, etc) and the Cosmos (solar physics, planetology and interplanetary medium, stellar and galactic astrophysics, cosmology, fundamental physics, astroparticle physics, etc). The IEEC is composed of four research units, which constitute the core of the R & D activity. Each one of these units were created and are governed by the rules of one of the academic institutions present in the Board of Trustees. These units are: Astrofísica i Ciències de l Espai section (ACE-ICC-UB) Centre d Estudis I Recerca Espacials (CERES-UAB) Grup de Recerca en Ciències i Tecnologies de l Espai (CTE-UPC) Institut de Ciències de l Espai (ICE-CSIC) Institut d Estudis Espacials de Catalunya IEEC 5

6 INTRODUCTION Board of Trustees The maximum government body of the IEEC is the Board of Trustees, which is composed by: President of the IEEC Members Hble. Sr. Andreu Mas-Colell Minister of Economy and Knowledge Government of Catalonia Sr. Dídac Ramírez I Sarrió Chancellor University of Barcelona (UB) Secretary Sr. Josep Ma Martorell i Rodón General Research Director Government of Catalonia Sr. Ferran Sancho Pifarré Chancellor Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) Sr. Antoni Giró Roca Chancellor Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) Sr.Emilio Lora-Tamayo D Ocon President Spanish Research Council (CSIC) 6 Institut d Estudis Espacials de Catalunya IEEC

7 INTRODUCTION Tribute to José Alberto Lobo Gutiérrez José Alberto Lobo Gutiérrez ( ): Brief scientific biography José Alberto Lobo Gutierrez obtained his degree in physics from the University of Barcelona (UB) in Consequently, he received his PhD from the same university in 1980 carrying out research under the supervision of Prof. Joaquim Gomis, writing a thesis in Dynamics of Relativistic Particles. He worked at the UB for approximately 25 years, where he taught a variety of subjects, many of them theoretical, like mathematical methods of physics or General Relativity, but also experimental. In particular he contributed to set up, from scratch, a laboratory for quantum physics experiments. He also taught at graduate courses, where he enjoyed teaching data analysis techniques and in particular methods for digital signal analysis. He also enjoyed teaching gravitational wave physics. During the year as a professor of the UB he had the opportunity to interact with many students. His very personal way of teaching has left an imprint in most of his students, who like to remember these experiences. It was always difficult to walk with him across the UB campus near the Diagonal Avenue in Barcelona because many people stopped him to remember, with gratitude, the times when they were his students. As PhD advisor he supervised a number of PhD students that worked in the area of gravitational wave astronomy: José Antonio Ortega Ruiz (1997), Miquel Montero Torralbo (1998), M. Angeles Serrano Moral (1999), Miquel Nofrarias Serra (2007), Josep Sanjuan Muñoz (2009), Marc Díaz Aguiló (2011), Ignacio Mateos Martín, and Ferran Gibert Gutiérrez. His research path started in the area of theoretical physics. However, his research interests evolved towards the area of gravitational physics and gravitational wave astronomy, where he has been a pioneer scientist in the field in Spain. His contributions to this field cover a wide range of topics. On the theoretical front he carried out studies on the generation and propagation of gravitational waves. He investigated (with A. Krolak and B.J. Meers) the optimization of laser interferometers for the detection of gravitational waves from coalescing binaries and participated in early studies of the estimation of the parameters of the gravitational wave signal of such systems. He worked, with M. Montero, on the design and development of various filtering strategies for the analysis of data generated by a resonant bar gravitational wave antenna. He also studied, with P. Astone and B.F. Schutz, strategies to perform coincidence experiments between interferometric and resonant bar detectors. Later, he actively participated in the design and study of future spherical resonant detectors and other such detectors with similar topologies. In particular he studied in great detail the role of resonant transducers. Institut d Estudis Espacials de Catalunya IEEC 7

8 INTRODUCTION From 2004 he became involved in the endeavor of designing and building a space based gravitationalwave detector, the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). To that end he formed a new group, from scratch, at the Institut de Ciències de l Espai (ICE; CSIC-IEEC). With this group he led the Spanish contribution to the LISA Pathfinder mission and also research towards a future LISA mission. In 2005 he moved to the ICE as a CSIC Research Professor, where he remained. During these years, the ICE group has contributed the Data and Diagnostic Subsystem of the LISA Technology Package (LTP), the payload of LISA PathFinder. This consists of highly stable temperature sensors, magnetometers and a particle counter to monitor the experiment environment, plus heaters and magnetic coils. These instruments will monitor and characterize the experiment during flight operations. In addition, the Data Management Unit will act as the computer of the LTP experiment, processing the measurements and controlling different subsystems. This hardware package, together with the flight software, has been delivered for its final integration in the satellite. Alberto Lobo was also a member of the LISA International Science Team and the Science Team for elisa/ngo. His leadership and human qualities have been fundamental for the success of the enterprise he initiated at the ICE. Probably, one of his biggest achievements has been to transmit his passion and his joy for science to everybody around him, and to prepare a generation of scientists that will continue the efforts that he pioneered. Written by: Miquel Nofrarias and Carlos F. Sopuerta Alberto Lobo in Hamburg in July Institut d Estudis Espacials de Catalunya IEEC

9 INTRODUCTION Antoni Rius Jordan Retirement and Emeritus appointment This year the Professor de Investigación Antoni Rius Jordan turned 70 years having to retire from his scientific activities. However, the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) granted him the designation of Professor Emertius, which permits him to continue carrying out scientific activities for the next three years. The Institut de Ciències de l Espai ICE(CSIC-IEEC) was very pleased with the designation of Dr. Rius Jordan and knowing that he will be able to continue, as PI of this group, carrying out pioneering research in his field. Antoni Rius Jordan Institut d Estudis Espacials de Catalunya IEEC 9

10 PROJECTS Internally Funded Projects Title: Observatori Astronomic del Montsec - OAdM PI: Ignasi Ribas Period: Amount: Contractor: Generalitat de Catalunya Title: SQT- Super Wasp Qatar Telescope PI: Ignasi Ribas Place: Observatory of Roque de los Muchachos, La Palma, Canarias Period: Amount: Title: NINOT Noves Infraestructures Observatoris Terrestres. Espectrograf PI: Ignasi Ribas Place: Observatori Astronomic del Montsec Period: Amount: Institut d Estudis Espacials de Catalunya IEEC

11 montsec astronomical observatory - oadm Montsec Astronomical Observatory - OAdM Hardware maintenance and improvements Maintenance of the OAdM facilities is performed routinely to guarantee the quality and stability of remote operations. However, a major actuation was performed during 2012 with the renewal of the TJO primary mirror coating. The primary mirror coating was renewed through a contract with the Calar Alto observatory (CAHA) to make use of their facilities and personnel expertise. In addition, a new camera was purchased in order to substitute the current imaging camera (MEIA). The custom-made mechanical interface with the telescope was manufactured and it is now ready to be installed at the TJO. Finally, the thermal and electric stability of the TJO was improved through several actions on the telescope and dome. Apart from specific actions on the TJO, several actions were also performed to improve the security and performance of the operations at the OAdM. In particular, the electrical system was rewed providing a better stability in periods of bad weather. In addition, a safety and security system was installed and connected to a full-time alarm service. The security of the personnel working at the OAdM is now largely improved. Software development and upgrades Two major software packages were developed during The software in charge to launch and supervise all the TJO operations (called OpenROCS) was Institut d Estudis Espacials de Catalunya IEEC 11

12 montsec astronomical observatory - oadm Optical bench of the spectrograph ARES implemented. OpenROCS authorship was officially registered and functional tests were performed. This software is currently in charge of the routine operations of the TJO. In addition, the new web application enabling the submission of proposals to the TJO (called MUR) was largely upgraded, with the inclusion of new functionalities. The most important development was the implementation of the Phase 2. With this new feature, the observers can now design their own observations without need to interact with the OAdM staff. ARES A new instrument is being installed at the TJO. The instrument (called ARES) is an optical fiber-fed spectrograph. During 2012, the main part of the spectrograph was installed in a custom-made room at the ground floor of the TJO building. The tests performed showed that the instrument (designed by Fractal, SLNE) fulfilled the requirements. In addition, the design of the link with the TJO was finished enabling the start of the integration phase during TJO Observations completeness percentage for the three proposals (involving IEEC members) that ended during 2012 was at 100% level. Apart from the science exposures, a better characterization of the flats and focusing system was also performed. XO Joan Oró Telescope During 2012, IEEC signed an agreement with the STScI for the installation of a new facility at the OAdM. The facility is one of the three nodes of the XO exoplanet detection network. The XO project has the main goal to detect exoplanets by performing continuous observations with small telescopes distributed around the world. The IEEC agreement included providing the required technical support for the installation and operations of the XO unit of the OAdM During 2012, the remote operations continued nominally. A total amount of 193 hours of science exposures were obtained along 89 nights. The mean 12 Institut d Estudis Espacials de Catalunya IEEC

13 events organization Workshops organized by IEEC Sant Cugat Forum on Astrophysics The Sant Cugat Forum on Astrophysics is a framework where to host international meetings of experts directed to analyze the most violent and energetic phenomena in the Universe, in a biannual format. The most recognizable meetings of the Forum are the Workshop sessions, focusing on an specific aspect of astrophysics, held every two years, with a typical size of 100 persons, all plenary talks, no posters, and a duration of three or four days. An edited book reflecting the status of the topic discussed is published after each Workshop. An Award to the best presentation by a young scientist is given, and an outreach event gives account in lay-person terms what the Forum session will be about. The Forum is established under the auspices of the Sant Cugat City Hall, the Institute for Space Sciences (CSIC), the Institut d Estudis Espacials de Catalunya (IEEC), and the Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA). This year the forum was held on April 16th -19th, 2012, in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, SPAIN Website Cool Stars 17 The Cambridge Workshop on Cool Stars, Stellar Systems, and the Sun (also known as Cool Stars ) have been running for 30 years since the first one, organized by Andrea Dupree, was held in Cambridge Massachusetts in Cool Stars is now a well established workshop, which gathers biennially about 400 worldwide experts in Low-Mass Stars, Solar Physics and more recently also Exoplanets, creating an stimulating cross-disciplinary exchange environment in these fields. Cool Star meetings have a long tradition of presenting cutting-edge science, as shown by outstanding results such as the discovery of the first Institut d Estudis Espacials de Catalunya IEEC 13

14 events organization Extrasolar Planet and the first confirmed Brown Dwarf, which were first announced in the Cool Stars 9 meeting celebrated in Florence, Italy in Cool Stars 17 was held at the World Trade Center in Barcelona,Spain, starting with an opening Welcome reception on the evening of Sunday, Jun 24, Science sessions ran from Monday, June 25 through Friday, June 29, 2012, with the traditional plenary sessions in the morning, splinter sessions in the afternoon focused on topics proposed by meeting attendees, and poster displays with the contributions from all conference participants. June 24th -29th, 2012, Barcelona, SPAIN Website HYP 2012 The HYP conference brings together theoreticians and experimentalists working on the physics of hadron processes and bound nuclear systems containing strangeness. This area of research covers a broad variety of topics, including the physics of hypernuclei, multistrange systems, kaonic nuclear clusters or the role of strangeness in extreme forms of matter. Over the years, the conference has always been open to including new and challenging problems, extending its frontiers to emerging subfields in nuclear and particle physics. October 1st-5th, 2012, Barcelona, SPAIN Website The workshop, with title Exploring the Non-thermal Universe with Gamma Rays, took place from the 6th to the 9th of November, in the Faculty of Physics (University of Barcelona), and covered the topics on which Prof. Aharonian has been working during his career: The Origin of Galactic and Extragalactic Cosmic Rays Radiation Processes Relativistic Outflows Cosmology with gamma-rays Future Instrumentation AHA60 This year, Prof. Felix Aharonian turned 60. To celebrate such an occasion, the organizers proposed to have a stimulating scientific meeting dedicated to this event in Barcelona, gathering his closest colleagues/collaborators and friends in Barcelona for several days of fruitful discussions Website 14 Institut d Estudis Espacials de Catalunya IEEC

15 scientific activities Scientific Activities The IEEC s research activities are accounted for through different progress indicators, which indicate the grwoth of the institute with respect to previous years. The indicators used for this analysis are displayed below: Publications ISI: all publications in refereed journals found in the Journal Citation Report (Insiitute for Scientific Information). in the Journal Citation Report.Contributions to Conferences: a summary of the different types of contributions made in conferences, workshops and meetings (invited reviews, oral contributions, posters). Visiting Scientists Finished PhD Theses Publications non-isi: all journals that do not appear Publications ISI Institute Amount ICE 136 ACE 66 CTE 34 CERES 0 ICE-ACE 24 ICE-CTE 10 ACE-CTE 8 Total 278 Publications non ISI Institute Amount ICE 65 ACE 27 CTE 5 CERES 3 ICE-ACE 0 ICE-CTE 12 ACE-CTE 1 Total 113 Institut d Estudis Espacials de Catalunya IEEC 15

16 scientific activities Contributions to Conferences Institute Amount ICE 124 ACE 107 CTE 51 CERES 3 Total 285 Visiting Scientists Institute Amount ICE 40 ACE 40 CTE 5 CERES 1 Total 285 Finished PhD Theses Institute Amount ICE 1 ACE 7 CTE 1 CERES 1 ICE-CTE 2 ICE-ACE 2 Total Institut d Estudis Espacials de Catalunya IEEC

17 outreach activities Outreach IEEC Talks and Workshops Type: school title: Viajes a Marte: El porvenir de la exploración espacial. Las nuevas naves del futuro event_date: speaker: Hirschmann, A. place: Colegio Nazaret Esplugues city: Esplugues de Llobregat description: Temas de la charla: Formacion y evolucion del Sistema Solar Planetas rocosos Futuro del Sistema Solar Zona de habitabilidad Marte Viajes interplanetarios Type: school title: Las consecuencias de la exploración del espacio: basura espacial event_date: speaker: Hirschmann, A. place: Colegio Nazaret Esplugues city: Esplugues de Llobregat description: Audiencia: Alumnos de 1ro y 2do de Bachillerato Exploracion Espacial Viajes tripulados de Apollo a la luna Contaminacion Lunar Orbitas url: Main Image: 0 Historia de lanzamientos al espacio. Escola Font d en Fargas Type: school title: Se puede ver, desde la Tierra, la bandera americana sobre la Luna? event_date: speaker: Hirschmann, A. place: Escola Amor de Deu city: Escola Amor de Deu, Turó de la Peira description: Alumnos de 5to de Primaria Type: school title: Explorando nuestro Sistema Solar event_date: speaker: Hirschmann, A. place: Escola Amor de Deu city: Escola Amor de Deu, Turó de la Peira, Barcelona description: Alumnos de 6to de Primaria Comienzo Type: school title: Tres, Dos, Uno y Arriba! Como volar un cohete de agua event_date: speaker: Hirschmann, A. place: Escola Font d en Fargas city: Barcelona description: Audiencia: 5to de Primaria Como volar un cohete que solo contiene agua y aire. Cuales son los principios fisicos que se emplean. Institut d Estudis Espacials de Catalunya IEEC 17

18 outreach activities de las exploraciones espaciales, exploracion de la Luna, Misiones Apollo, Misiones rusas de la década de los 60, misiones actuales a la luna, porque no se puede ver la bandera de USA sobre la superficie lunar, etc. Type: school title: Tres, dos, uno y arriba: como volar cohetes de agua event_date: speaker: Hirschmann, A. place: Escoles Freta del Maresme city: Calella description: Dos talleres con alumnos de 1ro de ESO (linea A y B) Type: school title: Las estrellas, el Sol y los componentes del Sistema Solar. event_date: speaker: Hirschmann, A. place: Escola Montclar, Llorba, Igualada city: Escola Montclar, Llorba, Igualada description: Audiencia: Alumnos de P4 y P5 de Parvulario Sistema Solar Cuerpos del Sistema Solar Identificar los planetas Identificar un meteorito Type: school title: Las consecuencias de la exploración espacial: la contaminación event_date: speaker: Hirschmann, A. place: Escola Montclar, Llorba, Igualada city: Llorba, Igualada description: Alumnas de 4to de Eso, 1ro y 2do de Bachillerato. Type: school title: Las consecuencias de la exploración espacial: event_date: speaker: Hirschmann, A. place: Escola Patronat Domenech city: Escola Patronat Domenech, Barcelona description: Teresa Montenegro, alumnos de 6to de primaria Type: school title: la contaminación. Conociendo a Sergei Odintsov y el Sistema Solar event_date: speaker: Hirschmann, A. place: Escola Publica Sant Marti city: Barcelona description: Los alumnos de P4 de la Escola encontraron el recorte de diario de Sergei Odintsov en el diario Avui y viendo que era uno de los cientificos mas influenciables de su pais, decidieron buscarlo y ver si los vendria a visiitar. Su profesora, Esther Manchon, organizo todo el proyecto en base a los interesees de los alumnos, quienes escribieron una carta con preguntas del Universo, mandandola por correo y solicitandole a Sergei que viniera a su colegio a visitarlos. La visita la realizo Alina Hirschmann y entre varias de las actividades que realizaron, hicieron una conexion por Skype con Sergei. Ademas de la excitacion de conocerlo y verlo hablarle a ellos, los niños estaban deslumbrados con las pequeñas actividades que les habiamos ofrecido. La experiencia fue unica. En breve, colgaremos fotos de la actividad y un resumen en video de la conexion en skype. Type: school title: Contaminación Espacial: las consecuencias de la exploración al espacio event_date: speaker: Hirschmann, A. place: Escola Patronat Domenech city: Barcelona Type: school title: Las estrellas, el Sol y nuestro Sistema Solar event_date: speaker: Hirschmann, A. place: Escola Elisenda de Montcada city: Ciudad Meridiana, Barcelona description: Charla y taller con niños de P4 Type: school title: El Sistema Solar, la Luna, los planetas y las estrellas event_date: speaker: Hirschmann, A. place: Escola Povill, Olesa de Montserrat city: Olesa de Montserrat description: Dos charlas a niños de 2do de primaria (7-8 años). Temas: El universo, el origen del sistema 18 Institut d Estudis Espacials de Catalunya IEEC

19 outreach activities solar, el sol, los planetas, los asteroides y cometas, meteors vs meteoritos, lanzamientos al espacio, transbordador espacial, etc Type: school title: Conociendo a Sergei Odintsov Lanzamientos de Cohetes al Espacio event_date: speaker: Hirschmann, A., Odintsov, S. place: Escola Sant Marti city: Sant Marti, Barcelona description: Entrevista con Antonio Madridejos, Skype con Sergei Odintsov a alumnos de P4 charla + taller de lanzamiento de cohetes. Type: school title: Tres, dos, uno, arriba - Como volar un cohete de agua event_date: speaker: Hirschmann, A. place: Escola Font d en Fargas city: Barcelona (Horta) description: Charla + taller a 50 estudiantes de 6to de primaria. Type: school title: Contaminación Espacial: las consecuencias de la exploración al espacio. organization: Fundació Catalana per la Recerca i la Innovació event_date: speaker: Hirschmann, A. place: Institut Baix Penedès city: El Vendrell description: Alumnos de Bachillerato 1ro y 2do. Parte del programa de la Fundación Catalana per la Recerca como actividad de la Semana de la Ciencia Type: school title: Explorando el Sistema Solar - Viajes interplanetarios event_date: author: Hirschmann, A. place: IES Font del Ferro city: Palafolls, Maresme, Barcelona description: Alumnos de 4to de ESO, 1ro y 2do de Bachillerato Profesora de Contacto: Ivon Cardenas Type: general talk title: Contaminación Espacial, las consecuencias de la exploración al espacio event_date: speaker: Hirschmann, A. place: Escolas IES de Caldes de Montbui city: Caldes de Montbui description: Alumnos de 1ro y 2do de Bachillerato de 3 Escolas diferentes de la zona. A raiz de la charla, surgio una entrevista de radio para la radio local de la zona y una entrevista para un portal de medio ambiente Type: school title: Descubriendo nuestro sistema solar - próximos viajes a Marte event_date: speaker: Hirschmann, A. place: Escola CEIP Colonia Güell city: Colonia Güell, Stª Coloma de Cervelló description: Alumnos de 5to y 6to de primaria Type: school title: Descubriendo el Sistema Solar event_date: speaker: Hirschmann, A. place: IES Gallecs city: Mollet del Vallés description: Charla 1ro y 2do de ESO del INS Gallecs de Mollet del Valles Type: school title: Viajes interplanetarios a Marte event_date: speaker: Hirschmann, A. place: Escola IES Pau Vila city: Sabadell, Barcelona description: Alumnos de 1ro y 2do de Bachillerato Sistema Solar, Vehiculos espaciales, Exploracion de Marte, condiciones para la posibilidad de vida, vehiculos espaciales futuros para viajes interplanetarios, colonización. Total: 21 Institut d Estudis Espacials de Catalunya IEEC 19

20 outreach activities pub_date: Radio and Television Type: tv speaker: Hirschmann, A. station: TV Catala program: Amida Producciones - Xerrades Inesperades broadcast_date: subject: Astronomia y Ciencias del Espacio Total: 1 Press Releases Type: pressnote Author: Hirschmann, A., Hadasch, D., Torres, D. F. Title: Descubren un nuevo sistema binario de rayosgamma pub_date: Type: pressnote Author: Hirschmann, A., Girart, J. M., Frau, P. Title: Descubren un embrión estelar fallido: científicos del csic caracterizan la evolución química de los estadios previos a la formación estelar pub_date: Type: pressnote Author: Hirschmann, A., Elizalde, E. Title: Investigadors del CESIC-IEEC i la UPC solucionen el problema de la temperatura de reescalfament de l univers primitiu Type: pressnote Author: Hirschmann, A., Castander, F. J., Serrano, S., Madrid, F. Title: La Agencia Espacial Europea aprueba la mision Euclid para estudiar la energia oscura del universe pub_date: Type: pressnote Author: Hirschmann, A., Rodler, F., López- Morales, M., Ribas, I. Title: Científicos logran pesar un planeta extrasolar pub_date: Type: pressnote Author: Hirschmann, A., Rea, N. Title: L estrella SWIFT J , un magnetar anòmal a l univers pub_date: Publication: CSIC gabinete de Prensa Type: pressnote Author: Herrero, E., Hirschmann, A. Title: Designan Planes de Son a un Asteroide pub_date: Type: pressnote Author: Hirschmann, A., Ribas, I. Title: Ignasi Ribas, científic de l IEEC-CSIC, nou president de la Divisió G de la IAU pub_date: Type: pressnote Author: Hirschmann, A., Tolos, L. Title: Un experiment a l accelerador de partícules GSI ajuda a precisar el límit màxim de la massa de 20 Institut d Estudis Espacials de Catalunya IEEC

21 outreach activities les estrelles de neutrons pub_date: url: Type: pressnote Author: Ribas, I., Hirschmann, A. Title: L Institut del Telescopi Espacial Hubble dels EUA instal la un telescopi a l Observatori Astronòmic del Montsec pub_date: Type: pressnote Author: Hirschmann, A., Hernanz, M., Gloria Sala (UPC Title: L estrany cas del forat negre a Andròmeda pub_date: Total: 12 Type: pressnote Author: Hirschmann, A., Torres, D. F. Title: El Prof. ICREA Diego F. Torres ha estat guardonat amb el premi Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award pub_date: Institut d Estudis Espacials de Catalunya IEEC 21

22

23 Astrofísica i Ciències de l Espai ACE-ICC-UB

24 24 Astrofísica i Ciències de l Espai (ACE-ICC-UB)

25 INTRODUCTION The ACE ACE is the Astrophysics and Space Science Section of the Institute of Sciences of the Cosmos of the University of Barcelona (ICCUB). The ICCUB is an institute of the University of Barcelona devoted to cosmos sciences, from astrophysics and space sciences (macrocosmos) to nuclear and particle physics (microcosmos) and cosmology (at the interface between the micro and the macrocosmos). It is in fact one of a handful of institutes in the world fully devoted to Physical Cosmology and one of the only two institutes equally invested in both astrophysics and high energy physics. It was created in 2006 as the instrument of the UB for the active support of research in these fields, paying special attention to their synergies, as well as to promote experimental and instrumental activity, enabling a significant participation of the University of Barcelona in large international collaborations, and to attract highly qualified scientific personnel. Institute of Sciences of the Cosmos C. Martí i Franquès, Barcelona Tel: secretaria@icc.ub.edu Research Research at ICCUB is largely driven by the following fundamental questions: What are the origin and fate of the Universe? An early phase of accelerated expansion of the Universe (inflation), not unlike the one currently taking place due to dark energy, seems a strong possibility. Are these two phenomena related? Can they be derived from a fundamental theory? Which are the ultimate constituents of the Universe? Dark matter apparently accounts for most of the matter density of the Universe, but it cannot be accommodated within the currently accepted Standard Model of particle physics. What is dark matter, and how does it affect/ modify the Standard Model? Map of the early universe Measurements of anisotropies in the relic radiation from the Big Bang made by WMAP (NASA). These measurements have helped to secure rigorous constraints on the origin, content, age, and geometry of the Universe, transforming our current paradigm of structure formation from appealing scenario into precise science. Charles Bennett and the WMAP team, including Licia Verde of ACE-ICCUB, got the Gruber Foundation 2012 Cosmology Prize for those measurements. Astrofísica i Ciències de l Espai (ACE-ICC-UB) 25

26 introduction Why does the Universe have its present appearance? The accelerated flat cold Dark Matter universe model is in good agreement with the large-scale properties of the Universe, but its associated hierarchical galaxy formation scenario seems to be in contradiction with various galaxy properties. Is there something wrong with the models of galaxy formation? Is dark matter warm instead of cold? These questions evidence the profound connection between particle physics and astrophysics and therefore demand a multidisciplinary approach. Research at ICCUB seeks to tackle them from the theoretical, observational and experimental viewpoints. The Astrophysics and Space Science Section of the Institute of Sciences of the Cosmos gathers researchers from the departments of Astronomy and Meteorology, Applied Mathematics, Organic Chemistry and Electronics of the University of Barcelona, as well as ICREA researchers. This section of the ICCUB constitutes the ACE unit (Astrofísica i Ciencies de l Espai) of the IEEC (Institut d Estudis Espacials de Catalunya). It currently has 88 members from 8 different countries, including researchers, students, engineers and administrative staff. Scientists of this section carry out their research in different areas related to astrophysics and space sciences. Their research can be classified into the following fields: Organization The ICCUB gathers researchers from 6 departments of the University of Barcelona and from ICREA (Institució Catalana per a la Recerca i Estudis Avançats). It currently has 171 members from 20 different countries, including researchers, students, engineers and administrative staff. The ICCUB is split into two main sections, Astrophysics and Space Science (ACE) and Nuclear and Particle Physics and Gravitation. Each of these sections branches out into different areas of research approaching common fundamental questions from a different perspective. Observational cosmology Galaxy structure and evolution High Energy Astrophysics Stellar Physics Space science and technology, including: Instrumentation for ground and space telescopes, Heliospheric physics and space weather, Microgravity, Chirality and prebiotic chemistry, Astrodynamics, Image reconstruction ACE ICCUB STAFF - 45 UB professors - 10 ICREA professors - 7 Ramon y Cajal Fellows - 32 postdocs - 64 PhD Students - 16 engineers-technicians - 2 administrative personnel 26 Astrofísica i Ciències de l Espai (ACE-ICC-UB)