Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center invites applications for PhD studies in astronomy and astrophysics leading to a PhD degree. The subject of research are related to the OPUS 10 projects funded by Polish National Science Centre (NCN) “Structure and evolution of ultra-luminous astrophysical X-ray sources” (PI: professor Jean-Pierre Lasota; lasota@camk.edu.pl; https://www.camk.edu.pl/en/staff/lasota/. Thesis supervisor: professor Marek Abramowicz; marek.abramowicz@physics.gu.se; https://www.camk.edu.pl/en/staff/arktur/).
Plan of reaserch:
Analytical, semi-analytical and numerical models of accretion disk at extremely high accretion rates ("hyperaccretion") around compact objects will be studied. Collimation and energetics of jets emerging from such structures, their stability, and their astrophysical origin will be particular issues of interest. Analytical models will be based on a further improvement of the most recent versions of standard "thick" and "slim" accretion disk models developed in Warsaw and Harvard. Numerical studies will be using the general relativistic radiation magnetohydrodynamical (GRRMHD) code KORAL developed at Harvard and MIT. The observational motivations for this work is explaining the Ultra- and Hyper- Luminous X-ray sources, in particular the nature of the accreting compact object.There is opportunity for international collaboration with researchers at Harvard University. Knowledge of accretion physics, numerical methods, high-energy astrophysics and plasma physics will be preferred.
Candidates should contact the grant PI's first, to discuss the details of the research topics. Applications should be prepared following guidelines in the PhD studies webpage. The positions will be fully funded by the NCN grant, including a stipend and research funds.
Applications should be sent in pdf format to phdstudies@camk.edu.pl. The deadline is 18 September.
