Who I am
Profile
I am a staff scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) in Garching, and a researcher and lecturer in high energy astrophysics at Heidelberg University, Germany.
I love discovering beauty and expanding knowledge.
My prime focus is on the physics of relativistic compact objects (e.g., neutron stars and black holes), their relativistic outflows (jets) and radiative signatures (e.g., energetic particle acceleration and non-thermal radiation processes).
I enjoy working at the interface between theory and observations.
CREATING NEW KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Research
Current Working Areas and Frontiers
Relativistic Jets
Exploring non-thermal particle acceleration and emission in the relativistic jets from Active Galactic Nuclei, in particular by developing the idea of shear particle acceleration.
Black Hole Jet Physics
Exploring the characteristics of magnetospheric gaps close to the black hole horizon, and their role in plasma generation and jet formation.
Time Domain Astronomy
Understanding the variability characteristiscs of AGN at gamma-ray energies using advanced analysis methods.
Teaching
I am regularly teaching and lecturing at Heidelberg University.
Past activities included lecture courses and seminars on Theoretical High Energy Astrophysics, Cosmic Particle Accelerators and Astroparticle Physics.
For my current activities, please follow the link below:
ACCESS MY WORK
PUBLICATIONS
Read some of my latest results
Shear Acceleration
The latest review paper summarizing progress and new developments in particle acceleration in shearing flows
Large-scale AGN jets
A new look at the origin of the X-ray emission in AGN jets and the potential of electron acceleration to extreme energies.
Black Hole Physics
This new analysis shows that the supermassive black hole in the center of our Galaxy, Sgr A*, could be an efficient cosmic-ray accelerator to PeV energies
LATEST
News & Events
Get in touch with recent developments
ISSS-15 & IPELS-16
This is the first time that we are hosting the ISSS & IPELS Series at our IPP in Garching.
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HEPRO 2023
Together with colleagues, I am involved in the organisation of the 2023 Paris conference on High Energy Phenomena in Relativistic Outflows.
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CDY Initiative
I am supporting the ‚Extreme Non-thermal Universe‘ CDY initiative that explores the Physics and Astrophysics of Very High Energy Sources in the Cosmos.
Read moreContact me
Get in touch
Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP), Boltzmannstr. 2, 85748 Garching, Germany
frank.rieger(at)ipp.mpg.de
f.rieger(at)uni-heidelberg.de