DESY is a German national lab for research into the structure of matter, which includes Astroparticle Physics. In gamma-ray astronomy, DESY is involved in all three current-generation Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope systems, H.E.S.S., MAGIC, and VERITAS, and has a strong involvement in the upcoming Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory, CTAO . In particular, DESY’s expertise spans a wide range of areas, from hardware development of small- and mid-sized telescopes and cameras for CTAO (MSTs, SSTs) to advanced computational tools (array control and data acquisition; ACADA & simulations for CTAO). The Gamma group is also actively engaged in exploiting gamma-ray observatories on different scientific topics, from compact objects and jets, to extragalactic powerful accelerators such AGNs, GRBs or SN explosions. This research leverages a transversal, multi-messenger/multi-wavelength scientific approach.
Main contact: Iftach Sadeh
Involved scientists and expertise
Lea Marcotulli
Scientific topics: Blazars, AGN, high-redshift quasars, high-energy missions (X-rays, MeV gamma-rays), SED modeling, population studies, catalogs, variability studies
Expertise:
- X-ray data reduction and source analysis (Chandra, XMM/Newton, Swift/XRT, NuSTAR); spectra extraction and interpretation, image simulations; XSPEC/BXA/SIXTE software
- Gamma-ray data analysis (Fermi-LAT): steady source analysis, all-sky source detections, all-sky simulation and calculation of detection efficiencies; fermipy software
- MeV data analysis (Fermi-LAT, COSI): simulations and source detection; fermipy and cosipy software
- Optical-UV: data reduction and extraction of XMM/OM and Swift/UVOT
- Modeling: single zone leptonic models (e.g. JeTSET)
Emma de Oña Wilhelmi
Scientific topics: Galactic Physics at high and very high energies, Compact objects and jets, SNRs, stellar clusters, and cosmic rays
Expertise:
- Multi-wavelength data analysis
- Timing analysis
Dmitriy Kostunin
Scientific topics: Cosmic rays (UHE), gamma astronomy (VHE), air-showers, FRB
Expertise:
- IACT, radio
- data analysis (ROOT, gammapy, etc),
- simulations (CORSIKA)
- software engineering
- agentic AI
Iftach Sadeh
Scientific topics: Transient search/study with ground based telescopes, Gamma-Ray Bursts & AGN.
Expertise:
- Multi-wavelength and multi-messenger data analysis
- Machine learning & anomaly detection; time-series & real-time analysis
Tim Lukas Holch
Scientific topics: Galactic science, clouds.
Expertise:
- Gamma data analysis
- radio lines analysis
- MST software control
Dan Parsons
Scientific topics: gamma-ray astronomy, cosmic rays, air shower physics
Expertise:
- gamma-ray data analysis
- air shower simulations
- hadronic interaction models
Gernot Maier
Scientific topics: Gamma-ray astronomy, high-energy emission from compact binaries
Expertise:
- reconstruction and simulation methods
- FAIR data management
Maria Krause
Scientific topics: Gamma-rays, cosmic rays, air shower physics
Expertise:
- Project management and coordination
- resource planning
- budget
Gianluca Giavitto
Scientific topics: Observational and experimental techniques in gamma-ray astronomy, high-energy gamma-ray emission from pulsars
Expertise:
- Development of telescopes and detectors for gamma and cosmic ray physics
- instrument integration
- gamma-ray data calibration and low-level analysis
- telescope control software, observation planning
- detector and camera system engineering
Thomas Murach
Scientific topics: Gamma-ray binaries, galactic science.
Expertise:
- Data analysis
- telescope control software development
- telescope calibration.
