BlackJET M2 internship

Title: "Magnetic dissipation in gamma-ray burst relativistic jets"

Supervisor: Matteo Bugli (IAP, soon at AIM)
Starting date: 1 March 2026
Duration: 3-5 months
Status: Closed

Deadline for applications: end of October 2025
Selection: early November 2025

Description

Relativistic jets are amongst the most spectacular phenomena in astrophysics, associated with the most energetic and violent events occurring in the universe (such as gamma-ray bursts or active galactic nuclei). They are generally produced by the accretion of highly magnetized matter onto compact objects such as black holes and neutron stars, and are an ideal site for particle acceleration and the production of non-thermal radiation. In the specific case of gamma-ray bursts, these jets are the result of extreme events such as the gravitational collapse of a massive star at the end of its life or the coalescence of two neutron stars.

The objective of this internship is the numerical modeling of strongly magnetized relativistic jets [1], taking into account, for the first time, a description of magnetic energy dissipation that is consistent with kinetic plasma theory [2]. Using the astrophysical code gPLUTO, the candidate will perform multidimensional numerical simulations of jets within the framework of relativistic magnetohydrodynamics. By analyzing these results, they will characterize the dynamics of magnetic reconnection [3] in jets and quantify the impact of a more realistic description of magnetic dissipation. Understanding this process will therefore be crucial to explaining the origin of the electromagnetic emission associated with gamma-ray bursts.

The internship is meant for students enrolled in the last year of a Master program and will serve as topic for a Master thesis project. It will take place at the UMR AIM, in the Astrophysics Department of CEA-Saclay, within the “LMPA” group, which specializes in modeling supernova explosions and is very active in the fields of multi-messenger astronomy, neutron star formation, and the dynamics of magnetized astrophysical fluids.
Depending on the success of the project, after the end of the internship (thus after receiving the Master degree) it will also be possible to continue studying relativistic jets as part of a Ph.D. thesis funded by the ERC “BlackJET” project, again within the AIM research unit, starting in Fall 2026.

If you are interested, feel free to send me an application!
No strict format is required, you can send me any documentation you deem useful (e.g. CV, academic grades, letter of motivation, etc.).

References