The multi-messenger group lead by Prof. Anna Franckowiak aims for the identification of the sources of high-energy neutrinos detected by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. The first detection of a diffuse flux of high-energy neutrinos of cosmic origin opens a new window to the high-energy Universe. However, no significant cluster of neutrinos in space or time could be identified and the most pressing question in the young field of neutrino astronomy is: What are the sources of the observed neutrinos and what are the astrophysical processes within the sources that produce these neutrinos? We are aiming to probe transient neutrino source classes, including supernovae and tidal disruption events, in dedicated multi-messenger campaigns. We work with the optical survey instruments ASAS-SN and the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) as well as the gamma-ray space telescope Fermi-LAT. The group leads the development of an optical large field-of-view polarimeter following the design of the Large Array Survey Telescope (LAST).

The group played a leading role in the discovery of the first compelling neutrino source candidate, the blazar TXS 0506+056. Furthermore we identified AT2019dsg and AT2019dfr, two tidal disruption events in spatial coincidence with high-energy neutrinos.

The group started as a Helmholtz Young Investigator Group at DESY in 2017 and continues as the group for Multi-Wavelength Astronomy at the University of Bochum in close collaboration with DESY.

We are part of the DFG funded collaborative research center CRC1491 led by Prof. Julia Tjus at RUB.