High-Energy Astrophysics (Prof. Funk)

The research focus of the Funk group is in the area of high-energy astrophysics and technology transfer, e.g. into medical physics. The Funk group handbook can be found here. Our research focus is on:

• Developing instrumentation for ground-based instruments such as H.E.S.S., SWGO and CTA
• Investigating high-energy astrophysical environments in the universe using gamma rays and other messengers
• Performing astro-quantum optics experiments such as intensity interferometry with arrays of optical telescopes
• Using high-power lasers (NIF, PHELIX) to study in the laboratory astrophysical processes relevant for high-energy astrophysics
• Transferring techniques from astroparticle physics to other areas such as medical physics or non-destructive testing, in particular in the areas of X-ray phase contrast imaging and in dosimetry for ultra-high dose rates.

We are embedded in international collaborations for instruments such as the Fermi-LAT (Fermi Large Area Telescope) onboard NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope satellite, and the Cherenkov telescopes H.E.S.S. (High Energy Stereoscopic System) and CTA (Cherenkov Telescope Array).

A rendering of the Medium-Size Telescope (MST) of the CTA Observatory