Apl. Prof. Dr. Hans-Thomas Janka
Academic Career and Research Areas
Hans-Thomas Janka’s (*1960) field of research is the theory of stellar explosions and neutron stars as well as nuclear and neutrino astrophysics. This implies the development of numerical methods for the time integration of the equations of hydrodynamics and radiative transfer. He works as group leader at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics with a team that is mainly funded by soft money grants. The transfer of astronomical knowledge to the general public is also a subject very close to his heart.
Prof. Janka studied General Physics at TUM with a Diploma degree in 1987. He then conducted research for his dissertation at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics (with Prof. Wolfgang Hillebrandt) and obtained his PhD degree at TUM in 1991. After a postdoc at MPA and a research stay as Visiting Scholar and Otto-Hahn-Fellow at the University of Chicago (1994‒1995) he became scientific staff at MPA. He did his habilitation at TUM in 2002 and became Privatdozent in 2003. In 2016 Prof. Janka was appointed as Adjunct Professor at TUM.
Awards
- ERC Advanced Grant (2013)
- Max Planck Award - Hidden Treasures? (2013)
- Hanno and Ruth Roelin Prize for Scientific Publishing (2011)
- Heinz Billing Prize for Scientific Computing (1993)
- Otto Hahn Medal of the Max Planck Society (1991)
Key Publications (all publications)
Bauswein A, Just O, Janka HT, Stergioulas N: "Neutron-star Radius Constraints from GW170817 and Future Detections". The Astrophysical Journal Letters. 2017; 850(2): article id. L34.
AbstractSukhbold T, Ertl T, Woosley SE, Brown JM, Janka HT: "Core-collapse Supernovae from 9 to 120 Solar Masses Based on Neutrino-powered Explosions". The Astrophysical Journal. 2016; 821(1): article id. 38.
AbstractMirizzi A, Tamborra I, Janka HT, Saviano N, Scholberg K, Bollig R, Hüdepohl L, Chakraborty S: "Supernova Neutrinos: Production, Oscillations and Detection". La Rivista del Nuovo Cimento. 2016; 39(1-2): 1-112.
AbstractJanka HT, Melson T, Summa A: "Physics of Core-Collapse Supernovae in Three Dimensions: A Sneak Preview". Annual Review of Nuclear and Particle Science. 2016; 66(1): 341-375.
AbstractJanka HT: "Explosion Mechanisms of Core-Collapse Supernovae". Annual Review of Nuclear and Particle Science. 2012; 62(1): 407-451.
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