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Home page of Dr. Sambaran Banerjee
My research interests

 

My current research activities are based on the physics of dense stellar systems and its various applications. Stellar dynamics is a rich topic involving realistic computer-simulations of closely packed and gravitationally bound systems like globular and open clusters, young star clusters and galactic nuclei. Such systems constitute building blocks of the Universe. Being the study of such a fundamental and diverse class of systems, the dynamics of dense stellar systems can address a wide range of physical phenomena. Below are some of the topics that I am currently pursuing or have worked in the recent past.

  • Direct N-body simulation of star clusters in GPU-based computers
  • Stellar mass black holes in globular clusters and their observational consequences
  • Star clusters as sources of gravitational waves
  • Formation and destruction of X-ray sources in globular clusters
  • Birth conditions of young massive star clusters and open clusters
  • Binaries (and multiples) in star clusters and their manifestations
  • Runaway massive stars
  • Stellar mass function and its evolution
  • Stellar merger products and "blue stragglers" in star clusters

 

Apart from these areas, I am also highly interested and have practical knowledge on the following topics.

  • Stellar evolution
  • Stellar winds
  • Star formation in hydrodynamical simulations (of molecular clouds)
  • Mass transfer in compact stellar binaries (e.g., X-ray binaries, CVs)
  • Modelling of accretion disks around black holes and neutron stars
  • General relativity and the post-Newtonian approximation
  • Gravitational waves from compact binary systems
  • Electrodynamics in the vicinity of black holes
  • Active galactic nuclei

 

Publications

 

A nearly complete list of publications can be found in my CV.

 

Here is a copy of my doctoral dissertation.

 

New! Book chapter "Formation of very young massive clusters and implications for globular clusters", Banerjee, S. and Kroupa, P., in S. W. Stahler eds. "The birth of star clusters", Springer-Verlag. (preprint, under editorial review)

 

Research grants

 

  • "Stellar aggregates over mass and spatial scales"
    Type: Grant for organizing an international conference from the Wilhelm und Else Heraeus-Stiftung
    Role: PI, primary scientific contributor and author
  • "The dance of stars: dense stellar systems from infant to old (MODEST 14)" (BA 4281/3-1)
    Type: Grant for organizing international conferences from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG; German Research Foundation)
    Role: PI, primary scientific contributor and author
  • "Compact binaries in dense stellar systems"
    Type: Postdoctoral research fellowship of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH)
    Role: PI, primary scientific contributor and author

 

Academic awards

 

  • Grant for organizing an international conference from the Wilhelm und Else Heraeus-Stiftung: year 2016
  • Travel grant from International Astronomical Union (IAU): year 2015 (for attending 29th IAU general assembly 2015, Honolulu, Hawaii)
  • Travel grant from International Astronomical Union (IAU): year 2014 (for attending IAU Symposium 312; offered)
  • DFG grant for organizing international conferences: year 2013
  • Summer visitor program at the Aspen Center for Physics (partly supported by the NSF): year 2012
  • Alexander von Humboldt (AvH) fellowship for young researchers: year 2008
  • IAU grant (for attending IAU Symposium 246): year 2007