Title: From the Steam Engine to the Arrow(s) of Time. The development of a fully relational dynamics: the Shape Dynamics
Elenco dei seminari passati
Prova Tesi Magistrale: Gabriele Sano (UniPa)
Date: Monday 09 Mar 2026
Title:
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC SIMULATIONS OF CORONAL RAIN IN SOLAR CORONAL LOOPS
Abstract: Coronal rain constitutes one of the most compelling phenomena in the solar atmosphere, wherein cold, dense plasma condensations form within the hot corona and subsequently precipitate toward the chromosphere along magnetic field lines. In this thesis, we present magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) numerical simulations of coronal rain formation and dynamics using the PLUTO code.
Beginning with 1D simulations that reproduce catastrophic cooling and thermal inversion at the loop apex, we extend our analysis to 2D configurations with rectilinear loops and subsequently to complete 2.5D MHD simulations in arcade geometry. The primary objective is to investigate the formation dynamics of condensed blobs under randomized turbulent heating and to analyze the deformation of magnetic field lines induced by the weight of condensed plasma.
Our results demonstrate that impulsive heating localized at the footpoints successfully triggers Thermal Non-Equilibrium (TNE) cycles, leading to the formation of coronal condensations with densities and temperatures consistent with observational constraints. In the 2.5D simulations, we observe the formation of complex structures and blob deformation during descent. Furthermore, the analysis of field lines reveals that the pressure exerted by condensed plasma is capable of locally deforming the magnetic structure, thereby influencing the falling dynamics and demonstrating non-negligible coupling between plasma thermodynamics and magnetic topology.
Our results demonstrate that impulsive heating localized at the footpoints successfully triggers Thermal Non-Equilibrium (TNE) cycles, leading to the formation of coronal condensations with densities and temperatures consistent with observational constraints. In the 2.5D simulations, we observe the formation of complex structures and blob deformation during descent. Furthermore, the analysis of field lines reveals that the pressure exerted by condensed plasma is capable of locally deforming the magnetic structure, thereby influencing the falling dynamics and demonstrating non-negligible coupling between plasma thermodynamics and magnetic topology.
Seminario: Stefano Sandrelli (IAU, INAF)
Date: Tuesday 10 Feb 2026
Titolo: L’Office of Astronomy for Education Center Italy: che cosa è, che cosa fa e perché lo fa in quel modo.
Abstract: Fondato nel marzo 2021, l’Office of Astronomy for Education Center Italy (I-OAE) è un ufficio internazionale della IAU, coordinato e finanziato da INAF. I-OAE promuove e sostiene pratiche di insegnamento innovativo, centrato sulla persona, e di corsi di formazione docenti.
Nei suoi primi anni di esistenza, I-OAE ha sviluppato processi collaborativi, a cui hanno partecipato rappresentanti di Albania, Cipro, Croazia, Egitto, Francia, Grecia, Israele, Italia, Marocco, Montenegro, Palestina, Portogallo, Slovenia, Siria, Spagna e Turchia. Non solo il network è costante crescita, ma si sta dimostrando anche di attrarre fondi europei.
I-OAE coordina anche l’edizione internazionale di astroEDU, la piattaforma di attività didattiche peer-reviewed della IAU.
I-OAE è un ufficio aperto alla collaborazione di volontari che ne condividano valori e metodi.
Progetto Vie dei Tesori Education febbraio ref. Daricello
Date: Friday 06 Feb 2026
il 6 febbraio 22 + 2
il 27 febbraio 37 + 2
Seminario: Ileana Chinnici (INAF-OAPa)
Date: Thursday 05 Feb 2026
Title: La complessa vicenda della scoperta di Cerere
Abstract: In questo seminario saranno illustrati i complessi intrecci che si accompagnarono alla scoperta del primo asteroide (ora pianeta nano), Cerere, avvenuta nel 1801 presso l’Osservatorio di Palermo ad opera di Giuseppe Piazzi e dei suoi collaboratori. L’intricata vicenda vide coinvolta l’intera comunità astronomica internazionale ed ebbe risvolti importanti dal punto di vista scientifico, come vedremo. Da questa storia si possono trarre numerose conclusioni di grande attualità: ci soffermeremo su quelle più significative.
Seminario: Alberto Traina (INAF-OAS Bologna)
Date: Thursday 18 Dec 2025
Speaker: Alberto Traina (INAF-OAS Bologna)
Title: SMBHs growth in overdense environments: AGN enhancement in protoclusters with enormous Ly⍺ nebulae
Abstract: SMBHs are almost ubiquitous in galaxies’ nuclei in the local and in the high-redshift Universe. However, the formation and growth processes that lead to such massive objects in relatively short timescales are still unclear. A crucial role in accelerating their evolution may be played by the surrounding environment: large quantities of gas and higher merger rates are key to understand how their growth occurs. Protoclusters of galaxies, the precursors of today’s galaxy clusters, represent the perfect laboratories to investigate this effect at high redshift. The hunt for the SMBHs population in protoclusters and its characterization requires a multi-wavelength effort to obtain a complete census: in this perspective the X-rays represent the best channel to investigate the AGN activity, even in the most obscured conditions. In this talk, I will present recent deep (>200ks) Chandra observations targeting three protoclusters at z ~ 2-3, that host enormous Ly⍺ nebulae. I will discuss the spectral properties of the detected AGN as well as the effects of overdense environment on the growth of SMBHs. In particular, I will show the fraction of AGN and the X-ray luminosity functions of the protoclusters, which are significantly larger (1 – 2 dex!) than those of their local counterparts. I will present new results on how the enhancement of SMBHs in overdense environments (x10 larger than SMGs) suggests that protoclusters are indeed optimal sites for promoting their growth. Finally, I will show preliminary results on the growth of SMBHs in hydrodynamical cosmological simulations.
Seminario: Marco Tarantino (UniPa)
Date: Wednesday 17 Dec 2025
Titolo: Using a Neural Network approach and Starspots dependent models to predict Effective Temperatures and Ages of young stars
Abstract:
This study presents a statistical approach to accurately predict the effective temper-
atures of pre-main sequence stars, which are necessary for determining stellar ages
using the isochrone methodology and cutting-age starspots-dependent models. By
training a Neural Network model on high-quality spectroscopic temperatures from
the Gaia-ESO Survey as the response variable, and using photometric data from
Gaia DR3 and 2MASS catalogs as explanatory variables, we implemented a method-
ology to accurately derive the effective temperatures of much larger populations of
stars for which only photometric data are available. The model demonstrated robust
performance for low-mass stars with temperatures below 7 000 K, including young
stars, the primary focus of this work. Predicted temperatures were employed to con-
struct Hertzsprung-Russell diagrams and to predict stellar ages of different young
clusters and star forming regions through isochrone interpolation, achieving excellent
agreement with spectroscopic-based ages and literature values derived from model-
independent methods like lithium equivalent widths. The inclusion of starspot evolu-
tionary models improved the age predictions, providing a more accurate description
of stellar properties. Additionally, by applying this temperature–age framework to
a large, spatially complete sample of young stars in the solar neighbourhood, we in-
vestigate the recent star formation and how it relates to the structure of the Local
Bubble, thereby describing its role in influencing the local star-formation history.