I am a relativistic astrophysicist, i.e., a physicist who uses Einstein’s theory of general relativity to describe and explain high-energy astronomical observations of black holes and neutron stars. To do this I combine analytical perturbative tools with numerical nonlinear simulations in which I solve the Einstein equations together with those of relativistic hydrodynamics or magnetohydrodynamics. I do this in the endless process of comparing theoretical results and predictions with astronomical observations.
I am presently the Chair of Theoretical (Relativistic) Astrophysics and the Director at the Institute for Theoretical Physics (ITP) of the Goethe University of Frankfurt, Germany.
Starting from October 2014 a team composed by Heino Falcke, at the Radboud University Nijmegen, Michael Kramer, at the Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, and myself has been awarded a Synergy Grant from the European Research Council (ERC). These grants represent the most prestigious and substantial form of funding in Europe and for the first time they have been awarded for an astrophysics proposal. More information on BlackHoleCam can be found here.