CAPP at UJ

CAPP at UJ Stay curious, stay informed, and stay connected with the Centre for Astro-Particle Physics!

Prof. Razzaque and his co-authors explored how giant magnetic fields in space can distort our view of extreme cosmic exp...
07/09/2026

Prof. Razzaque and his co-authors explored how giant magnetic fields in space can distort our view of extreme cosmic explosions, like gamma-ray bursts.

As high-energy particles travel from these distant explosions toward Earth, surrounding magnetic structures can deflect them, causing the resulting gamma rays to arrive late and from slightly different angles. To see if these delayed signals can actually be detected, they modeled these magnetic deflections and compared their predictions against over a year of telescope data from the brightest gamma-ray burst ever recorded (GRB 221009A).

Read More: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ae9546

Dark matter makes up most of the matter in the Universe, yet we still do not know what it is made of. In this work, we e...
26/08/2026

Dark matter makes up most of the matter in the Universe, yet we still do not know what it is made of. In this work, we explore a new way of probing this mystery using high-energy neutrinos, tiny particles that travel across vast cosmic distances and can carry information from some of the most extreme environments in the Universe.

In particular, we investigate neutrinos coming from active galaxies that host supermassive black holes, where dark matter may be highly concentrated. Using observations from the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, we study four promising cosmic neutrino sources: NGC 1068, TXS 0506+056, PKS 1424+240 and NGC 4151.

If neutrinos interact with dark matter on their journey to Earth, their observed signals could be altered. By searching for such effects and combining information from all four sources, we place some of the strongest constraints to date on possible interactions between dark matter and neutrinos.

Our results highlight the growing potential of neutrino astronomy not only to study the most energetic objects in the cosmos, but also to uncover clues about the hidden dark sector of the Universe.

Read More here: https://journals.aps.org/prd/abstract/10.1103/9zgv-fg7g

On the 29 January 2025, a powerful flash of gamma rays, named GRB 250129A, was detected from a galaxy billions of light-...
21/08/2026

On the 29 January 2025, a powerful flash of gamma rays, named GRB 250129A, was detected from a galaxy billions of light-years away. Gamma-ray bursts are among the most energetic explosions in the Universe. They are thought to occur when a massive star collapses and launches a narrow beam of matter travelling at nearly the speed of light.

An international team of astronomers followed the fading light, or afterglow, using several observatories in space and on the ground. These included NASA's Swift observatory, the global Las Cumbres Observatory network, India's 3.6-m Devasthal Optical Telescope, and South Africa's Southern African Large Telescope.

Together, the observations tracked the explosion in X-ray and visible light. About 19 hours after the burst, the team found a possible weak polarisation signal in the optical light. Polarisation describes whether light waves tend to vibrate in a preferred direction.

Although this signal remains uncertain, it may contain valuable information about the shape of the explosion and the arrangement of magnetic fields within it. Computer modelling suggests that GRB 250129A produced a narrow, structured jet with a bright central core and wider, fainter wings.

Earth appears to have viewed the jet slightly away from its central axis. The modelling also indicates that an early shock moving back through the ejected material faded within about 100 seconds, so it could not explain the much later polarisation signal. Instead, the possible signal may have arisen from the jet's structure and our viewing angle. By combining ordinary brightness measurements with polarisation, astronomers can investigate the otherwise invisible shape of some of the Universe's most powerful explosions.

🌌 CAPP Welcomes Dr Saeeda Sajjad!The Centre for Astro-Particle Physics (CAPP) is delighted to welcome Dr Saeeda Sajjad f...
21/08/2026

🌌 CAPP Welcomes Dr Saeeda Sajjad!

The Centre for Astro-Particle Physics (CAPP) is delighted to welcome Dr Saeeda Sajjad from Pakistan, who will be joining us for a research visit this August.

Dr Sajjad holds a PhD from the University of Montpellier, France, where she developed Monte Carlo simulations and data analysis tools for future Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes. Her research has since focused on gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), with particular interests in prompt emission, theoretical modelling, data analysis, and simulation-based approaches.

She previously served as an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Space Technology in Islamabad, where she founded and directed the Space and Astrophysics Research Lab. She is currently an Associate at the Theoretical Research Institute, Pakistan Academy of Sciences, and is involved in community outreach and stellar astrophysics education.

Dr Sajjad is also collaborating with CAPP on gamma-ray burst research using machine learning methods, making her upcoming visit an exciting opportunity for scientific exchange, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.

Outside of her research, she enjoys hiking, rock climbing, crafting, drawing, and spending time in nature. 🥾🎨🌿

We are excited to host Dr Sajjad at CAPP this August and look forward to an enriching and collaborative visit! 🔭✨

🌌 CAPP at the Astronomical Society of Southern AfricaOn 12 August 2026, Dr Lutendo Nyadzani from the Centre for Astro-Pa...
20/08/2026

🌌 CAPP at the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa

On 12 August 2026, Dr Lutendo Nyadzani from the Centre for Astro-Particle Physics (CAPP) presented an engaging talk on compact objects to the Johannesburg Branch of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa (ASSA).

The talk explored some of the most fascinating and extreme objects in the Universe, with a particular focus on black holes and gravitational waves. Dr Nyadzani discussed how these elusive objects are identified, the methods astronomers use to detect them, and how gravitational-wave observations are providing a new way of studying some of the most energetic events in the cosmos.

The session offered an accessible look into the science behind gravitational-wave astronomy while highlighting how observations of compact objects can help us better understand the evolution and behaviour of our Universe.

CAPP is proud to support opportunities that encourage scientific engagement, knowledge sharing, and collaboration beyond the university community, and we thank ASSA Johannesburg for the opportunity to share in this fascinating field of research. 🔭🌌

On 16 July, the Centre for Astro-Particle Physics (CAPP) participated in a Physics Department outreach workshop welcomin...
06/08/2026

On 16 July, the Centre for Astro-Particle Physics (CAPP) participated in a Physics Department outreach workshop welcoming Matamela Ramaphosa Secondary School Raeleng and Full-Service Secondary School learners from Limpopo to the University of Johannesburg.

The workshop aimed to encourage learners to consider UJ for their future studies while inspiring them to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Learners took part in fun, interactive experiments and engaging discussions that encouraged them to ask questions, explore scientific concepts, and discover the exciting possibilities within the world of science.

CAPP was represented by Dr Tamador Khalil, Dr Lutendo Nyadzani, Mr Mfuphi Ntshatsha, and Mr Luyanda Mazwi, who shared their knowledge and experiences with the learners.

We are proud to support initiatives that inspire young people to explore science and pursue their academic ambitions. CAPP looks forward to participating in more outreach initiatives and helping inspire the next generation of scientists!

The Centre for Astro-Particle Physics (CAPP) has launched a new astrophysics workshop programme designed to inspire unde...
06/08/2026

The Centre for Astro-Particle Physics (CAPP) has launched a new astrophysics workshop programme designed to inspire undergraduate students to pursue further studies and future careers in astrophysics.

Held every two weeks in the Physics Seminar Room, the workshops provide students with an engaging space to explore astrophysics beyond the classroom. Through discussions, interactive activities, fun experiments, and opportunities to ask questions, students are encouraged to deepen their understanding of the field and discover the exciting research opportunities available to them.

The programme is facilitated by Dr Lutendo Nyadzani and Mr Luyanda Mazwi, who are passionate about encouraging the next generation of scientists and researchers.

CAPP is excited to continue growing this initiative and hopes to inspire many more students to pursue postgraduate studies and build careers in astrophysics and astro-particle physics. 🔭✨

🌌 CAPP at the International Pulsar Timing Array (IPTA) Meeting 2026From 22–26 June 2026, Dr. Lutendo Nyadzani from the C...
15/07/2026

🌌 CAPP at the International Pulsar Timing Array (IPTA) Meeting 2026

From 22–26 June 2026, Dr. Lutendo Nyadzani from the Centre for Astro-Particle Physics (CAPP) participated in the International Pulsar Timing Array (IPTA) Meeting, held in the Drakensberg, South Africa.

The meeting brought together the global pulsar research community to share the latest scientific developments as researchers prepare for the exciting era of nanohertz gravitational-wave detection. The programme also highlighted a broad range of pulsar science, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange within the field.

During the conference, Dr. Nyadzani presented a contributed talk titled, "Testing VLBI-Identified Supermassive Black Hole Binaries Against Pulsar Timing Array Constraints." His research explored how observations of supermassive black hole binary candidates can be tested against pulsar timing data, contributing to the growing effort to detect low-frequency gravitational waves.

Congratulations to Dr. Nyadzani on representing CAPP and sharing his research with the international astrophysics community.

The Latest CAPP Newsletter is out!!! Read the latest CAPP news! 🗞️ ⭐️🔗Linked In Bio On The CAPP Page
23/06/2026

The Latest CAPP Newsletter is out!!! Read the latest CAPP news! 🗞️ ⭐️

🔗Linked In Bio On The CAPP Page

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