Welcome to the Institute for Solar Physics (KIS)

The Institute for Solar Physics (KIS), conducts basic research in astronomy and astrophysics with a particular focus on solar physics. The institute's structure and operation are based on three strategic pillars: 1) fundamental research, 2) operation of the German solar telescope infrastructure on Tenerife, and 3) research in data science and operation of the Science Data Center. The institute's professors and docents, who qualify as lecturers and who have been appointed by Freiburg University, offer lectures at various degree levels and train young scientists.

The vision of KIS is to extend its leadership in solar physics and solar-stellar connections in Europe and worldwide by deepening the understanding of the Sun and developing new astrophysical applications and instruments.

In line with the KIS mission, work at the Institute will advance scientific knowledge of the Sun, stars, and their space environments by developing state-of-the-art theories and instrumentation for the largest ground-based solar telescopes at the frontier of what is scientifically and technically feasible, and by providing access to these developments to the European and global solar physics community. A wealth of science-ready data will be generated and interpreted through observations performed on ground-based solar telescopes and their instruments together with advanced data analysis methods and pipelines developed at KIS or opened up for scientific use. The research field worked on at KIS, which is important for the understanding of the effect of solar activity on space weather and thus on Earth, is to be brought closer to the young generation of researchers as well as to the interested public.

News

The VTF frame in the otics laboratory at the DKIST telescope.

VTF integration started at DKIST on Maui/Hawaii (early January 2024)

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At the beginning of 2024, the VTF team was able to fly to Maui/Hawaii and start integrating the VTF into the…

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The complete VTF in the laboratory in Freiburg.

VTF arrives in Maui/Hawaii - a long journey comes to an end....

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The largest project at our institute has entered its final phase. The KIS has developed and built a…

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E. Lilienthal at the GREGOR telescope

Eckart Lilienthal visits German Solar Observatory on Tenerife

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The head of Department 711 (Universe and Matter) of the BMBF, which is responsible for KIS, visited the…

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