########################################## Table of Contents ########################################### 1. Conferences 1.1. Frontiers of Fundamental Physics 14, Marseille 1.2. 1st Conference of the Polish Society of General Relativity, Spala, Poland 1.3. Astro-GR@Rome 1.4. COSMO-2014, Chicago 1.5. “Growth and evolution of the Milky Way’s nuclear star cluster and its central black hole“, Alajar, Spain 1.6. 100 Years of General Relativity, Penn State 2. Jobs 2.1. Post-Doctoral Researcher or Research Associate in Experimental High Energy Physics - University of Kansas 2.2. Postdoc position in GR within Prague Relativity Group 2.3. M.Sc. and Ph.D. positions at the University of Lethbridge 2.4. Lectureship in Theoretical Cosmology at Queen Mary University of London 2.5. PhD positions in Gravitational Waves at the University of Birmingham 3. News 3.1. New book on Interferometric detectors ============================================== 1. Conferenes ============================================== 1.1. Frontiers of Fundamental Physics 14, Marseille --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2014/04/02/frontiers-of-fundamental-physics-14/ Starting: 2014-07-15 to 2014-07-18 Location: Marseille, France Additional Information: http://ffp14.cpt.univ-mrs.fr/index.php?page=home Contact: triay[AT]cpt.univ-mrs.fr FFP Symposium began in India in 1997 and it became itinerant in 2004, through Europe, Canada and Australia. It covers topics in fundamental physics with the objective to enable scholars working in related areas to meet on a single platform and exchange ideas. In addition to highlighting the progress in these areas, the symposium invites the top researchers to reflect on the educational aspects of our discipline. Moreover, the scientific concepts are also discussed through philosophical and epistemological viewpoints. Several eminent scientists, such as the laureates of prestigious awards (Nobel, Fields Medal,…), have already participated in these meetings. FP14 develops around seven main themes, which are: Astroparticle Physics — Cosmology — High Energy Physic — Quantum Gravity — Mathematical Physics — Physics Education — Epistemology and Philosophy +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.2. 1st Conference of the Polish Society of General Relativity, Spala, Poland --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/?p=9363 Starting: 2014-06-29 to 2014-07-04 Location: Spala, Poland Additional Information: http://www.spala2014.p.lodz.pl/en Contact: przan[AT]fis.cinvestav.mx The 1st Conference of the Polish Society of General Relativity will be held in Spala from the 29th of June to the 4th of July. The meeting will contain sessions on Inhomogeneous Cosmology, Twistors and Complex Methods, Gravitational Waves, Mathematical Relativity, Homogenous Cosmology, Non-Commutative Spacetimes, Loop Quantum Gravity and Quantum Cosmological Models. Spala is a small forest resort located in the centre of Poland by the Pilica river. http://www.staypoland.com/about_spala.htm The nearest international airport is in Lodz. Participants should register at the conference website http://www.spala2014.p.lodz.pl/en Invited Speakers are Bruce Allen, Giovanni Amelino-Camelia, Paolo Aschieri, Abhay Ashtekar, Michal Bejger, Marek Biesiada, Piotr Bizon, Arkadiusz Blaut, Martin Bojowald, Krzysztof Bolejko, Andrzej Borowiec, Tomasz Bulik, Salvatore Capozziello, Marie-Noelle Celerier, Adam Chudecki, Ewa Czuchry,Mariusz Dabrowski, Marek Demianski, Michal Dobrski, Maciej Dunajski, Laurent Freidel, Janusz Garecki, Gary Gibbons, Jan Gutt, Orest Hrycyna, Romuald Janik, Piotr Jaranowski,Jerzy Jurkiewicz Andrzej Krasinski, Wojciech Krynski, Izabela Kowalska-Leszczynska, Andrzej Krolak, Jerzy Kijowski, Wojciech Kaminski, Jerzy Kowalski-Glikman, Woei Chet Lim, Jerzy Lewandowski, Jerzy Lukierski, Yongge Ma, Shahn Majid, Edward Malec, Maciej Maliborski, Przemyslaw Malkiewicz, Jakub Mielczarek, Pawel Nurowski, Jan Ostrowski, Tomasz Pawlowlowski, Prim Plansangkate, Tania Regimbau, Dorota Rosinska, Boud Roukema, Andrzej Rostworowski, Hanno Sahlmann, Gerhard Schager, Jose M.M. Senovilla, Leszek Sokolowski, Adam Szereszewski, S ebastian Szybka, Marek Szydlowski, Thomas Thiemann, Paul Tod, Andrzej Woszczyna. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.3. Astro-GR@Rome --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/?p=9369 Starting: 2014-07-14 to 2014-07-18 Location: Rome, Italy Additional Information: http://members.aei.mpg.de/amaro-seoane/astro-gr-rome Contact: Pau.Amaro-Seoane[AT]aei.mpg.de Dear all, We are happy to announce: What: Astro-GR/VESF-School@Rome Where: INAF- Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Via Frascati 33, 00040 Monteporzio-Catone (Roma), Italy When: 14-18 July 2014 This year's Astro-GR workshop will be run jointly with the Virgo EGO Science Forum (VESF) in order to provide also young scientists and student from the VESF community with an opportunity to listen to the presentation and participate in the discussion. Please visit this URL to register: http://members.aei.mpg.de/amaro-seoane/astro-gr-rome-application The meeting is co-sponsored by the Virgo EGO Science Forum (VESF), the Italian National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF) and the Albert Einstein Institute (AEI). This workshop will bring together experts from the astrophysical community (in particular scientists working in the field of multiwavelength observations, evolution and dynamics of stellar systems and astrometry) and experts in gravitational wave (GW) research (both from the experiments and theory). The goal is to stimulate the interest and foster the collaboration across the GW and astrophysical communities in one of the most challenging and exciting scientific enterprises of the 2010's. Outstanding scientific issues will be outlighted which can only be addressed through the collaboration of these communities. The program that we are presently finalizing comprises reviews by a number of leading experts. The format and venue for Astro-GR/VESF-school@Rome will limit the number of attendees, to some 50-60. Please register soon to avoid disappointment. In keeping with the spirit of an informal workshop, the registration fee will be kept to a minimum of 150 that will include lunch and the social dinner. Looking forward to seeing you in Rome, Pau, Raffaella and Luigi +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.4. COSMO-2014, Chicago --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2014/04/23/cosmo-2014/ Starting: 2014-08-25 to 2014-08-29 Location: Chicago, IL, USA Additional Information: http://cosmo2014.uchicago.edu/index.php Contact: cosmo2014[AT]cosmo.uchicago.edu Dear Colleagues, The 18th annual International Conference on Particle Physics and Cosmology -- COSMO 2014 -- will be held in Chicago on August 25--29, 2014. The meeting is being hosted by the Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics (KICP) at the University of Chicago, and will be held at the University of Chicago's Gleacher Center in downtown Chicago. The COSMO series is one of the major venues of interaction between cosmologists and particle physicists. Topics to be discussed include: Dark Matter Dark Energy Results from the Planck satellite, BICEP2, and other CMB experiments Results from the Large Hadron Collider The large-scale structure of the Universe Primordial cosmology Numerical cosmology String cosmology Particle astrophysics Plenary speakers include: Laura Baudis (University of Zurich) Ryan Foley (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) Wendy Freedman (Carnegie Observatories) Daniel Green (Stanford University) Catherine Heymans (University of Edinburgh) Justin Khoury (University of Pennsylvania) Lloyd Knox (University of California, Davis) Nikhil Padmanabhan (Yale University) Hiranya Peiris (University College London) Antonio Riotto (University of Geneva) Sarah Shandera (Pennsylvania State University) Eva Silverstein (Stanford University ) Tracy Slatyer (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Mark Trodden (University of Pennsylvania) More information can found at the meeting's website: http://cosmo2014.uchicago.edu/index.php The early registration deadline is May 31, 2014. On behalf of the COSMO-2014 LOC, we look forward to welcoming you to Chicago in August! Daniel Holz and Liantao Wang +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.5. “Growth and evolution of the Milky Way’s nuclear star cluster and its central black hole“, Alajar, Spain --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/?p=9390 Starting: 2014-09-20 to 2014-09-28 Location: Alajar, Spain Additional Information: http://members.aei.mpg.de/amaro-seoane/alm14 Contact: Pau.Amaro-Seoane[AT]aei.mpg.de The goal of the workshop is to review the current theoretical and observational state-of-the-art related to stellar kinematic and dynamics in the nuclear star cluster around the massive black hole at the centre of our Galaxy and to discuss in detail the open key questions and future observational possibilities. The workshop will serve to build new collaborative relationships and strengthening existing ones. We will focus on topics such as the growth history of the nuclear cluster and black hole, the apparently missing cusp of old stars around the central black hole, upcoming tests of general relativity, star formation in the nuclear cluster, and the Galactic centre as a source of gravitational radiation. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.6. 100 Years of General Relativity, Penn State --------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2014/05/01/100-years-of-general-relativity/ Starting: 2015-06-08 to 2015-06-12 Location: Penn State, University Park, PA, USA Additional Information: http://igc.psu.edu/ Contact: rxh1[AT]psu.edu 100 Years of General Relativity First Announcement An international conference to celebrate 100 years of general relativity will be held at the University Park campus of Penn State from June 8th to 12th, 2015 under the auspices of the International Society on General Relativity and Gravitation (ISGRG) and the Topical Group on Gravitation (GGR) of the American Physical Society. Please mark these dates in your calenders. The goal of the scientific program will be two-fold: To assess the current status of our field in broad terms, and discuss future directions. The plenary part of the conference will feature invited talks as well as "perspectives sessions". The plenary talks will review the current status of various areas. In the "perspective sessions" 3-4 experts will be invited to present their vision on a single theme (such as "the third generation gravitational wave detectors", or "the next decade of cosmology", or "when gravity meets the quantum", or, ....). Parallel sessions will be divided into four themes used traditionally in the ISGRG tri-annual conferences: i) Mathematical and numerical GR; ii) Relativistic Astrophysics and Cosmology; iii) Experimental and observational gravity; and iv) Quantum aspects of gravity. They will feature contributed talks, as well as a few invited talks, providing introductions to broad sub-areas. ISGRG has commissioned a volume to celebrate the centennial, to be published by the Cambridge University Press. This volume will be released at the conference. The conference will offer several opportunities for informal discussions through social gatherings and a banquet. Every effort will be made to keep the registration fee low, especially for younger researchers. The local airport at Penn State is University Park/State College (SCE), served by Delta, United, and US Airways with flights from Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, and Washington DC. More detailed information will be provided in the subsequent announcements. Abhay Ashtekar Beverly Berger James Isenberg Malcolm Maccallum +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ============================================== 2. Jobs ============================================== 2.1. Post-Doctoral Researcher or Research Associate in Experimental High Energy Physics - University of Kansas ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/?p=9359 Deadline: 2014-05-19 Location: CERN, Switzerland Additional Information: http://employment.ku.edu/staff/408BR Contact: gwwilson@ku.edu Applications are invited for a post-doctoral or research associate position in experimental high energy physics with the University of Kansas beginning as early as July 1, 2014. Post-doctoral researcher candidates are required to have a Ph.D. in physics by date of appointment and research experience in experimental high energy physics or a related experimental field. Candidates with three or more years of post doctoral experience may be eligible for initial appointment as research associate. The person would work with the University of Kansas group on physics data analysis and detector operation and development for the CMS experiment and would be located at CERN. Candidates with relevant interests and experience are sought. For more information and to apply go to http://employment.ku.edu/staff/408BR. Initial review of applications will begin May 19, 2014 and will continue until a qualified pool of applicants has been identified. Inquiries can be made by email to gwwilson@ku.edu. KU is an EO/AAE. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected Veteran status. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.2. Postdoc position in GR within Prague Relativity Group ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2014/04/16/postdoc-position-in-gr-within-prague... Deadline: 2014-05-30 Location: Prague, Czech Republic Additional Information: http://utf.mff.cuni.cz Contact: oldrich.semerak[AT]mff.cuni.cz Institute of Theoretical Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University in Prague, invites applications for a one-year postdoctoral position within the Prague Relativity Group to a motivated person working in the field of general relativity and/or its astrophysical applications. Priority will be given to candidates whose doctoral expertise and research plan focus primarily on the geometry and physics of compact objects. Specific topics include behaviour of particles and fields in black-hole space-times, relativistic models of discs as strong-field sources, black holes surrounded by massive discs or rings described by stationary axisymmetric metrics, physics of neutron stars, black-hole perturbations, or self-consistent many-particle dynamical systems in post-Newtonian and post-Minkowskian approximations. For more information please e-mail Dr. Oldrich Semerak (Oldrich.Semerak[AT]mff.cuni.cz). +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.3. M.Sc. and Ph.D. positions at the University of Lethbridge ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/?p=9385 Deadline: 2014-07-31 Location: Lethbridge, AB, Canada Additional Information: http://directory.uleth.ca/users/saurya.das Contact: saurya.das[AT]uleth.ca Applications are invited from students interested in doing M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics at the Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, under the supervision of Dr. Saurya Das, to work on Quantum Gravity, Cosmology and related areas, starting January 2015. Applicants must have B.Sc., M.Sc. or equivalent in Physics/Theoretical Physics, and have an excellent grasp of its fundamental areas. Knowledge of advanced topics, such as general relativity and quantum field theory, and familiarity with computation and computational softwares such as Mathematica, Matlab, GRTensor etc will be an asset. Please send your Statement, CV, Transcripts (scanned/electronic copies are fine), and arrange to send at least three letters of reference directly to saurya.das[AT]uleth.ca . Complete applications will be reviewed as and when they are received, until the positions are filled. Graduate students are supported by a combination of teaching and research assistantships, which is generally sufficient to cover tuition and living expenses. Information about Lethbridge, the department, research areas and its graduate program and can be found in: http://www.uleth.ca/artsci/physics-astronomy http://www.uleth.ca/artsci/physics-astronomy/physics-grad-students http://www.uleth.ca/graduatestudies/ For more information, please send an email to saurya.das[AT]uleth.ca Dr. Saurya Das Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Lethbridge 4401 University Drive Lethbridge, AB, CANADA T1K 3M4 Contact: Saurya Das Email: saurya.das[AT]uleth.ca http://directory.uleth.ca/users/saurya.das Letters of Reference should be sent to: saurya.das[AT]uleth.ca +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.4. Lectureship in Theoretical Cosmology at Queen Mary University of London ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/?p=9395 Deadline: 2014-05-31 Location: London, UK Additional Information: https://ig24.i-grasp.com/fe/tpl_QMUL01.asp?newms=rf&ID=QMUL3631 Contact: Pau.Amaro-Seoane[AT]aei.mpg.de Queen Mary, University of London is a leading university in the UK, with a breadth of excellence across Science and Engineering, Medicine, and Humanities and Social Sciences. The School of Physics and Astronomy maintains a tradition of outstanding research in ground-breaking fields. Research in the School is internationally excellent, with academic and research staff and students working in dedicated Research Centres in Astronomy, Condensed Matter Physics, Experimental Particle Physics and Theoretical Physics. The School is seeking to appoint a Lecturer in the area of Theoretical Cosmology within the Astronomy Unit (AU). The Astronomy Unit’s current major activities cover cosmology, planetary formation and dynamics, space and solar plasma physics, helio/asteroseismology and survey astronomy. The AU has access to high quality computing resources in the form of local HPC facilities. The successful candidate will already have shown outstanding research achievements or potential, consistent with their current career point, and have an outstanding proven record of research in an area of Theoretical Cosmology that strengthens, complements and enhances existing research strengths within the Astronomy Unit. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the delivery of high-quality teaching, in the form of tutorials, and research within the School. The lectureship is full-time and permanent, subject to satisfactory 36-month probationary period. Starting salary will be in the range £38,579 - £44,225 per annum, depending on experience, inclusive of London Allowance. Benefits include 30 days annual leave, defined benefit pension scheme and interest-free season ticket loan. Candidates must be able to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006. Where required this may include entry clearance or continued leave to remain under the Points Based Immigration Scheme. Informal enquiries should be addressed to Prof Richard Nelson at r.p.nelson[AT]qmul.ac.uk or on +44 20 7882 3460. General information about the School can be found at http://www.ph.qmul.ac.uk and about the Astronomy Unit at http://www.astro.qmul.ac.uk. Further details and an application form can be found at https://ig24.i-grasp.com/fe/tpl_QMUL01.asp?newms=rf&ID=QMUL3631 The closing date for applications is 31 May 2014. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.5. PhD positions in Gravitational Waves at the University of Birmingham ------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/2014/04/30/phd-positions-in-gravitational-waves... Deadline: 2014-05-23 Location: Birmingham, UK Additional Information: http://www.sr.bham.ac.uk/gwgroup/ Contact: imandel[AT]star.sr.bham.ac.uk Applications are invited for two PhD positions in gravitational-wave related projects. The positions are funded by the European Marie Curie Initial Training Network GraWIToN (http://www.grawiton-gw.eu/) and provide very attractive salary and mobility opportunities. Only non-UK candidates are eligible, no previous experience with gravitation-wave projects is required. The closing date for applications is 23.05.2014. Informal enquiries may be addressed to Andreas Freise (a.freise[AT]bham.ac.uk) and Ilya Mandel (imandel[AT]star.sr.bham.ac.uk). For information about our group, see http://www.sr.bham.ac.uk/gwgroup/. To download the details and submit an electronic application online, please go to www.hr.bham.ac.uk/jobs and quote the Job References 52271 or 52272. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Project 52271 Title: Computational modelling of advanced laser-interferometric gravitational wave detectors Our research group at the University of Birmingham specialises in precision measurements with laser interferometers. We have leading roles in the optical design of large international projects and do tests of new optical technologies in our own laboratory experiments with small prototype laser interferometers. The largest and most precise laser interferometers today are ground-based gravitational wave detectors. The most advanced of these machines, Advanced LIGO, will start operation in 2015. Our group is involved with the installation of the instrument, using numerical simulations to understand unexpected problems with the optics. At the same time we are investigating new optical technologies for future detectors such as the Einstein Telescope. Our group investigates new optical designs to mitigate the effects of beam shape changes, and the quantum optical coupling between the light and the optics. We develop and provide one of the main simulation packages for the internati onal science community http://www.gwoptics.org/finesse. The specific objective of this project is to perform a new implementation of an optical simulation code that will enable accurate prediction of mirror surface effects as well as photon quantum effects. The model shall be implemented using GPU-based libraries making the software accessible to experimentalists and designers for rapid prototyping work patterns. In collaboration with Trii Technologies we will provide the student with the necessary knowledge and support to leverage the latest GPU-based technology. The student will work closely with experimentalists in Hannover, Glasgow and Pisa to develop and execute test plans for suspended, quantum-limited interferometers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Project 52272 Title: Studying neutron-star and black-hole binaries with gravitational waves Gravitational waves will provide a unique way to explore the Universe --- to observe in detail a variety of astrophysical and relativistic phenomena. Advanced ground-based gravitational-wave detectors will go beyond just making the first detections of these elusive signals. They will allow us to expand our reach in space and time, and provide answers to deep questions about astrophysics and strong-field general relativity. Our group at the University of Birmingham leads the preparations for source analysis, data analysis, and astrophysical interpretation that will enable us to take full advantage of the wealth of information that will be available. Gravitational waves from mergers of compact binaries composed of neutron stars and black holes encode the parameters of the source: binary component masses and spins, as well as the binary's sky location, inclination, and the distance to the binary. Accessing this information is critical for enabling astrophysical inference, but is very challenging because of the multi-modal, multi-dimensional nature of the parameter space. Our group led the successful effort to enable parameter estimation for the initial generation of ground-based gravitational-wave detectors using sophisticated Bayesian techniques. However, parameter inference on signals from advanced and third-generation detectors will bring a new set of challenges. The in-band duration of gravitational sources will increase significantly, from tens of seconds for binary neutron stars in initial detectors to tens of minutes in advanced detectors to days in third-generation detectors. Analyzing such long data streams will b e prohibitively computationally expensive without innovative techniques. Methods will need to be developed to deal with potential data drop-outs, changes in noise properties, calibration changes, or glitches over the course of the long signals. The motion of the detectors on the sky as a result of the rotation of the Earth will need to be considered for the first time. The high signal-to-noise ratio that some sources are likely to have in advanced detectors will mean that proper handling of systematic biases from imperfect waveform models is critical. This project will address these challenges while providing an opportunity to explore binary astrophysics and learn sophisticated Bayesian data analysis techniques such as Markov-chain Monte Carlo and nested sampling. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ============================================== 3. News ============================================== 3.1. New book on Interferometric detectors ------------------------------------------------------------ Announcement on Hyperspace@AEI: http://hyperspace.aei.mpg.de/?p=9352 Additional Information: http://www.springer.com/physics/theoretical%2C+mathematical+%26+computationa... Springer has just published the book: "Advanced Interferometers and the Search for Gravitational Waves" Lectures from the First VESF School on Advanced Detectors for Gravitational Waves Series: Astrophysics and Space Science Library, Vol. 404 Bassan, Massimo (Ed.) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++