Nuclear Activity and the Conditions of Star-formation at the Galactic Center

The Galactic Center is the closest galactic nucleus that can be studied with unprecedented angular resolution and sensitivity. We summarize recent basic observational results on Sagittarius A* and the conditions for star formation in the central stellar cluster. We cover results from the radio, infrared, and X-ray domain and include results from simulation as well. From (sub-)mm and near-infrared variability and near-infrared polarization data we find that the SgrA* system (supermassive black hole spin, a potential temporary accretion disk and/or outflow) is well ordered in its geometrical orientation and in its emission process that we assume to reflect the accretion process onto the supermassive black hole (SMBH).Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, 1 table; published in PoS-SISSA Proceedings of the: Frontier Research in Astrophysics - II, 23-28 May 2016, Mondello (Palermo), Ital

Experimental Indicators of Accretion Processes in Active Galactic Nuclei

Bright Active Galactic Nuclei are powered by accretion of mass onto the super massive black holes at the centers of the host galaxies. For fainter objects star formation may significantly contribute to the luminosity. We summarize experimental indicators of the accretion processes in Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), i.e., observable activity indicators that allow us to conclude on the nature of accretion. The Galactic Center is the closest galactic nucleus that can be studied with unprecedented angular resolution and sensitivity. Therefore, here we also include the presentation of recent observational results on Sagittarius A* and the conditions for star formation in the central stellar cluster. We cover results across the electromagnetic spectrum and find that the Sagittarius A* (SgrA*) system is well ordered with respect to its geometrical orientation and its emission processes of which we assume to reflect the accretion process onto the super massive black hole.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures, conference proceeding: Accretion Processes in Cosmic Sources - APCS2016 - 5-10 September 2016, Saint Petersburg, Russi

An optical biomarker of hypoxic-ischaemic injury severity in the neonatal brain

We present a new optical platform that combines broadband near-infrared spectroscopy and diffuse correlation spectroscopy for identification of brain injury severity in a preclinical model of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy of the neonatal brain

An optical biomarker of hypoxic-ischaemic injury severity in the neonatal brain

We present a new optical platform that combines broadband near-infrared spectroscopy and diffuse correlation spectroscopy for identification of brain injury severity in a preclinical model of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy of the neonatal brain