LERMA presentation

Publié le 6 avril 2020 par Murielle Chevrier.

LERMA (Laboratory for Studies of Radiation and Matter in Astrophysics and Atmospheres) is a research entity operated by CNRS and 3 higher education institutions : Observatoire de Paris (OP), Sorbonne University (SU), and Cergy Paris University (CYU). These 3 institutions host the various research groups of LERMA.

Organisation of the laboratory and research topics
LERMA is organized in 4 Research Poles, complemented by 1 transverse structure dedicated to Technology and Research Support. Doctoral studies are principally conducted within École doctorale Astronomie et Astrophysique d’Île de France (ED 127), but about half of our PhD students belong to other doctoral schools in physics, engineering and environment (ED 129, 391, 389, Ed-PIF et 417).

"Galaxies and Cosmology" (OP)

  • Early Universe
  • Galaxy formation and dynamics
  • Clusters of galaxies
  • Dark matter
  • Active galactic nuclei, star formation and feedback in galaxies

"Dynamics of the Interstellar Medium and Stellar Plasmas" (OP, SU)

  • Observational characterization of the ISM cycle
  • Modeling ISM evolution from diffuse gas to stars and disks
  • Chemical diagnostics of ISM dynamics
  • Turbulent and radiative transport in (circum)stellar plasmas
  • Experimental studies of (circum)stellar plasmas

"Molecules in the Universe" (CYU, OP, SU)

  • Gas-surface interactions
  • Gas-phase molecular processes
  • Exotic isotopic spin ratios
  • Molecular parameters for planetary, terrestrial atmospheres and ISM

"Instrumentation Terahertz and Remote Sensing" (OP)

  • THz components and subsystems
  • THz heterodyne instruments
  • Characterization of clear, cloudy, and rainy atmospheres
  • Characterization of Earth, planets, and comets
  • Data processing, storage and diffusion

Personnel (as of April 2020)

  • 38 engineers and technicians (including 4 under contract)
  • 7 astronomers (including 1emeriti)
  • 30 teaching researchers (including 4 emeriti)
  • 20 researchers (including 5 emeriti and 1 under contract)
  • 6 post-doctoral fellows
  • 20 PhD students

Salient results

  • The earliest phase of star formation, captured through its bipolar ejection activity (Gerin et al. 2015 A&A 577, L2). La toute première étape de la formation d’une étoile, révélée par son éjection bipolaire (Gerin et al. 2015 A&A 577, L2).
  • New method for measuring the diffusion and desorption energy of atoms and (Minissale, M., Congiu, E., & Dulieu, F. 2016, A&A, 585 A146). Nouvelle méthode pour mesurer l’énergie de diffusion et de désorption des atomes et radicaux (Minissale, M., Congiu, E., & Dulieu, F. 2016, A&A, 585 A146).
  • First results on a 1200 GHz Schottky receiver prototype for JUICE-SWI (Maestrini, A., et al 2016). Les premiers résultats sur le prototype de récepteur Schottky à 1200 GHz pour JUICE-SWI (Maestrini, A., et al 2016).