This page provides information for the 21^st Heidelberg Summer School,  topic is

                  Cosmic Multiplicity: Evolution and Fate of Binary Stars

 

The 21^th Heidelberg Summer School will take place September 14-18, 2026,  in the "Mathematikon", more specifically in the Institute for Computer Science,  IWR,  address "Im Neuenheimer Feld 205" (or "INF 205"), seminar rooms A-C (ground floor).

 

Application deadline is June 30, 2026, 23:59 CET.

 

Organization:

IMPRS for Astronomy and Cosmic Physics at the University of Heidelberg (IMPRS-HD):

Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA); Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics (MPIK); Center for Astronomy of Heidelberg University, ZAH (Astronomisches Rechen-Institut, ARI; Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, ITA;  Landessternwarte Koenigstuhl, LSW); and the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS).
 

Scientific organizing committee:   

   Michela Mapelli (ITA),  Friedrich Roepke (HITS),  Fabian Schneider (HITS)

 

Scope of the School:

We are pleased to announce the IMPRS summer school Cosmic Multiplicity: Evolution and Fate of Binary Stars, to be held at Heidelberg University.

Binary and multiple stellar systems are fundamental drivers of modern astrophysics. Their evolution shapes a broad range of astrophysical phenomena, including supernovae, X-ray binaries, compact-object mergers, chemically peculiar stars, and gravitational-wave sources. Understanding the complex interplay between stellar evolution, dynamical interactions, and hydrodynamics in these systems is therefore essential for interpreting observations across the electromagnetic and gravitational-wave spectrum.

This summer school will bring together students and early-career researchers with leading experts in the field to explore the current frontiers of binary and multiple star astrophysics. Particular emphasis will be placed on the connection between observations, theoretical modelling, and numerical simulations, including high-performance computing approaches that are increasingly central to the field.

The school will cover topics including:

* Observations of binary and multiple stars
* Binary and multiple star evolution
* Dynamical phases of binary stars such as stellar mergers and common-envelope events
* Population synthesis of binary and multiple stars
* Gravitational-wave astronomy with binary and multiple stars

The programme will feature dedicated lecture series by leading experts, hands-on sessions introducing modern computational and analysis techniques, and additional topical talks highlighting recent developments in the field. Participants will gain practical experience with numerical tools and computational workflows commonly used in stellar astrophysics and computational astrophysics.

The scientific programme will address key open questions in the field, including:

* How do binary interactions shape the evolution and final fate of stars?
* What physical processes govern common-envelope evolution and stellar mergers?
* How are compact binaries formed and driven to merger?
* What are the progenitors of gravitational-wave events observed by current and future detectors?
* How can large-scale simulations and population synthesis connect theoretical models to observed stellar populations and transient events?

The school aims to provide participants with both a broad overview and practical insight into the theoretical, computational, and observational aspects of stellar multiplicity and its astrophysical consequences.

 

School format  

   The school has four main components spread throughout the week

        1. A series of structured lectures given by the five lecturers.

        2. Problem-solving sessions based on the topics given in the lectures.

        3. Presentations by local experts to open specific scientific problems.

        4. A social program to enable and encourage scientific interaction between students, lecturers and speakers.

 

 

Further information / registration

- Here you can find more information about directions & accomodation (coming soon)

- Here is a link to the program (coming soon)

- Here is a link to the list of participants (coming soon)

- Please download and distribute the school poster as A2 pdf, or A3 pdf, or A2 jpg, or A3 jpg (coming soon)