Research topics
- Physics of the Solar Photosphere, Chromosphere, and Corona
- Solar Magnetic and Activity Cycle
- Solar Magnetic Fields
- Active Region Dynamics
- Evolution and Decay of Sunspots
- Solar Differential Rotation
- Physics of Solar Eruptive Events (Flares and Coronal Mass Ejections)
- Coronal Shock Waves
- Space Weather Forecast and Prediction
- 1.5-Meter GREGOR Solar Telescope
- GREGOR Fabry-Pérot Interferometer
- Solar Orbiter Mission
- LOFAR Radiointerferometer
- Combined LOFAR / Parker Solar Probe / Solar Orbiter Observations
- Plasma Kinetics
- Numerical Radiative Transfer
- Image Processing and Analysis
- Image Restoration
- Spectropolarimetry
Solar research in Germany started in 1874 when the Astrophysical Observatory Potsdam (AOP) was established. Half a century later the Einstein Tower was inaugurated in 1924 as the first tower telescope in Europe. Since that time Potsdam astrophysicists have at their disposal a powerful solar research facility, including an efficient spectrograph which was one of the greatest equipments of that time. Nowadays, solar research is carried out with the German solar telescopes at Observatorio del Teide, Tenerife, Spain. A second focus is on space-based observations. Here, the AIP is currently making significant contributions to ESA's Solar Orbiter mission. Furthermore, the AIP has many years of experience in solar radio observations and is currently involved in the LOFAR consortium.