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Walter Kennerth Max-Moerbeck Astudillo

Assistant Professor

Universidad de Chile

Las Condes, Chile

Líneas de Investigación


High-energy emission mechanisms in active galaxies. Multi-wavelength variability of blazars. Radio astronomy observations and instrumentation. High-energy astrophysics. Time domain astronomy. Applied time series analysis and statistics.

Educación

  •  Astrophysics, CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. Estados Unidos, 2013
  •  Electrical Engineering, UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE. Chile, 2004
  •  Astronomy, UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE. Chile, 2004
  •  Electrical Engineer, UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE. Chile, 2005
  •  Astrophysics, CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. Estados Unidos, 2008

Experiencia Académica

  •   Assistant Professor Full Time

    UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE

    Physical and Mathematical Sciences

    Santiago, Chile

    2018 - A la fecha

  •   Researcher Full Time

    UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE

    Physical and Mathematical Sciences

    Santiago, Chile

    2017 - 2018

  •   Postdoctoral Researcher Full Time

    MAX-PLANCK INSTITUT FUR RADIOASTRONOMIE

    Bonn, Alemania

    2015 - 2017

  •   NRAO Postdoctoral Fellow Full Time

    National Radio Astronomy Observatory

    Socorro, New Mexico, Estados Unidos

    2013 - 2015

  •   Graduate Research Assistant Full Time

    CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

    Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy

    Pasadena, California, Estados Unidos

    2006 - 2013

  •   Research Assistant Full Time

    UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE

    Physical and Mathematical Sciences

    Santiago, Chile

    2005 - 2006

  •   Research Associate Other

    SMITHSONIAN ASTROPHYSICS OBSERVATORY

    San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

    2005 - 2006

Formación de Capital Humano


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Master Students, supervisor:
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2023, Víctor Navarro, Characterization of the variability of blazars in the radio band
Magister en Ciencias, mención Astronomía, Universidad de Chile

2022, Belén Acosta, From solar wind to blazars: Analyzing time series with horizonta visibility graphs
Magister en Ciencias, mención Física, Universidad de Chile

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Master Students, committee member:
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2022, Victoria Pérez G. The impact of large scale structure on the Lyx emission and absorption of galaxies at 2.2
Magister en Ciencias, mención Astronomía, Universidad de Chile

2019, Astor Sandoval P., Electron Heating in a Collisionless Plasma
Magister en Ciencias, mención Física, Universidad de Chile

2019, Daniela Barrientos A. The evolution of the Galaxy Stellar Mass Function from z~2 to z~5
Magister en Ciencias, mención Astronomía, Universidad de Chile

2018, Matías Suazo C. The role of gas fragmentation in the formation of primordial supermassive black holes
Magister en Ciencias, mención Astronomía, Universidad de Chile

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Professional degree thesis, co-supervisor:
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2021, Maximiliano Prieto C. Diseño , implementacion y caracterización de un receptor astronómico de microondas para la detección de ráfagas rápidas de radio (FRB) en la vía láctea
Ingeniería Civil Eléctrica, Universidad de Chile

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Professional degree thesis, committee member:
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2020, Sergio Saavedra T. Detección en tiempo real de ráfagas rápidas de radio, utilizando procesamiento en paralelo en una plataforma FPGA
Ingeniería Civil Eléctrica, Universidad de Chile

2020, Sebastián Jorquera T. Diseño, implementación y pruebas de voltímetro vectorial en plataforma basada en FPGA para mediciones de holografía del telescopio CCAT-prime
Ingeniería Civil Eléctrica, Universidad de Chile


Premios y Distinciones

  •   First Place on the Third Physics Olympics

    UNIVERSIDAD DE SANTIAGO DE CHILE

    Chile, 1995

    First place, Third Physics Olympics, Universidad de Santiago de Chile. Full tuition award for two academic years at Universidad de Santiago de Chile.

  •   Best national score, Physics subject test

    DEMRE - U. de Chile

    Chile, 1995

    Best national score, Physics subject test. Admission test for Chilean Universities

  •   Outstanding Academic Achievements

    Municipalidad de Santiago

    Chile, 1996

    Outstanding Academic Achievements. Honored by the Santiago City Government.

  •   Outstanding student

    Universidad de Chile, Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas

    Chile, 1997

    Best 5% of students by academic performance

  •   Outstanding student

    Universidad de Chile, Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas

    Chile, 1999

    Best 5% of students by academic performance

  •   Beca Universidad de Chile

    UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE

    Chile, 1996

    Full tuition award 1997-2002

  •   Fulbright/CONICYT Scholarship for Graduate Studies in Science and Technology

    COMISION FULBRIGHT-CHILE

    Chile, 2006

    Partial tuition and stipend for graduate studies in the US. Years 2006-2010


 

Article (97)

Optical spectroscopy of blazars for the Cherenkov Telescope Array - II
Investigating the Blazar TXS 0506+056 through Sharp Multiwavelength Eyes During 2017–2019
Multiwavelength study of the gravitationally lensed blazar QSO B0218+357 between 2016 and 2020
Multiwavelength Variability Power Spectrum Analysis of the Blazars 3C 279 and PKS 1510-089 on Multiple Timescales
New Tests of Milli-lensing in the Blazar PKS 1413+135
The hunt for extraterrestrial high-energy neutrino counterparts
The Unanticipated Phenomenology of the Blazar PKS 2131-021: A Unique Supermassive Black Hole Binary Candidate
Association of IceCube neutrinos with radio sources observed at Owens Valley and Metsahovi Radio Observatories
Optical spectroscopy of blazars for the Cherenkov Telescope Array
The Relativistic Jet Orientation and Host Galaxy of the Peculiar Blazar PKS 1413+135
VHE gamma-ray detection of FSRQ QSO B1420+326 and modeling of its enhanced broadband state in 2020
A Decade of Multiwavelength Observations of the TeV Blazar 1ES 1215+303: Extreme Shift of the Synchrotron Peak Frequency and Long-term Optical-Gamma-Ray Flux Increase
An intermittent extreme BL Lac: MWL study of 1ES 2344+514 in an enhanced state
Interstellar scintillation, ISS, and intrinsic variability of radio AGN
Patterns in the Multiwavelength Behavior of Candidate Neutrino Blazars
Testing two-component models on very high-energy gamma-ray-emitting BL Lac objects
The Great Markarian 421 Flare of 2010 February: Multiwavelength Variability and Correlation Studies
Unraveling the Complex Behavior of Mrk 421 with Simultaneous X-Ray and VHE Observations during an Extreme Flaring Activity in 2013 April*
Investigating the multiwavelength behaviour of the flat spectrum radio quasar CTA 102 during 2013-2017
MOJAVE. XVII. Jet Kinematics and Parent Population Properties of Relativistically Beamed Radio-loud Blazars
The presence of interstellar scintillation in the 15 GHz interday variability of 1158 OVRO-monitored blazars
Constraining the Limiting Brightness Temperature and Doppler Factors for the Largest Sample of Radio-bright Blazars
Detection of persistent VHE gamma-ray emission from PKS 1510-089 by the MAGIC telescopes during low states between 2012 and 2017
Extreme HBL behavior of Markarian 501 during 2012
Multi-wavelength characterization of the blazar S5 0716+714 during an unprecedented outburst phase
Multiwavelength cross-correlations and flaring activity in bright blazars
The broad-band properties of the intermediate synchrotron peaked BL Lac S2 0109+22 from radio to VHE gamma-rays
37 GHz observations of narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies
Bimodal radio variability in OVRO-40 m-monitored blazars
Multiband variability studies and novel broadband SED modeling of Mrk 501 in 2009
Symmetric Achromatic Variability in Active Galaxies: A Powerful New Gravitational Lensing Probe?
The Peculiar Light Curve of J1415+1320: A Case Study in Extreme Scattering Events
A SEARCH FOR SUB-SECOND RADIO VARIABILITY PREDICTED TO ARISE TOWARD 3C 84 FROM INTERGALACTIC DISPERSION
Insights into the emission of the blazar 1ES 1011+496 through unprecedented broadband observations during 2011 and 2012
Investigating the peculiar emission from the new VHE gamma-ray source H1722+119
MULTIWAVELENGTH STUDY OF QUIESCENT STATES OF Mrk 421 WITH UNPRECEDENTED HARD X-RAY COVERAGE PROVIDED BY NuSTAR IN 2013
Optical and radio variability of the northern VHE gamma-ray emitting BL Lacertae objects
Planck intermediate results XLV. Radio spectra of northern extragalactic radio sources
Radio follow-up of the gamma-ray flaring gravitational lens JVAS B0218+357
The awakening of the gamma-ray narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy PKS 1502+036
The F-GAMMA programme: multi-frequency study of active galactic nuclei in the Fermi era Programme description and the first 2.5 years of monitoring
A combined radio and GeV gamma-ray view of the 2012 and 2013 flares of Mrk 421
GAMMA-RAYS FROM THE QUASAR PKS 1441+25: STORY OF AN ESCAPE
MAGIC detection of short-term variability of the high-peaked BL Lac object lES 0806+524
MULTIWAVELENGTH EVIDENCE FOR QUASI-PERIODIC MODULATION IN THE GAMMA-RAY BLAZAR PG 1553+113
Near Real-Time Astrometry for Spacecraft Navigation with the VLBA: A Demonstration with the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and Odyssey
Probing the very high energy gamma-ray spectral curvature in the blazar PG 1553+113 with the MAGIC telescopes
The 2009 multiwavelength campaign on Mrk 421: Variability and correlation studies
The most powerful flaring activity from the NLSyl PMN J0948+0022
Unprecedented study of the broadband emission of Mrk 421 during flaring activity in March 2010
WHY HAVE MANY OF THE BRIGHTEST RADIO-LOUD BLAZARS NOT BEEN DETECTED IN GAMMA-RAYS BY FERMI ?
A method for the estimation of the significance of cross-correlations in unevenly sampled red-noise time series
Connecting radio variability to the characteristics of gamma-ray blazars
Connection between optical and gamma-ray variability in blazars
Detection of significant cm to sub-mm band radio and gamma-ray correlated variability in Fermi bright blazars
First broadband characterization and redshift determination of the VHE blazar MAGIC J2001+439
MAGIC gamma-ray and multi-frequency observations of flat spectrum radio quasar PKS 1510-089 in early 2012
MAGIC long-term study of the distant TeV blazar PKS 1424+240 in a multiwavelength context
MAGIC observations and multifrequency properties of the flat spectrum radio quasar 3C 279 in 2011
Multiwavelength observations of the gamma-ray-emitting narrow-line Seyfert 1 PMN J0948+0022 in 2011
THE COSMIC EVOLUTION OF FERMI BL LACERTAE OBJECTS
Time correlation between the radio and gamma-ray activity in blazars and the production site of the gamma-ray emission
Two active states of the narrow-line gamma-ray-loud AGN GB 1310+487
A quasi-periodic oscillation in the blazar J1359+4011
Multifrequency studies of the narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy SBS 0846+513
Radio and gamma-ray follow-up of the exceptionally high-activity state of PKS 1510-089 in 2011
Radio to gamma-ray variability study of blazar S5 0716+714
RAPID TeV GAMMA-RAY FLARING OF BL LACERTAE
SPECTROSCOPY OF THE LARGEST EVER gamma-RAY-SELECTED BL LAC SAMPLE
The ordinary life of the gamma-ray emitting narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy PKS 1502+036
The simultaneous low state spectral energy distribution of 1ES 2344+514 from radio to very high energies
VLBA observations of a rare multiple quasar imaging event caused by refraction in the interstellar medium
A giant radio flare from Cygnus X-3 with associated ?-ray emission
ASSESSING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF APPARENT CORRELATIONS BETWEEN RADIO AND GAMMA-RAY BLAZAR FLUXES
GAMMA-RAY EMISSION FROM TWO BLAZARS BEHIND THE GALACTIC PLANE: B2013+370 AND B2023+336
LONG-TERM MONITORING OF THE HIGH-ENERGY gamma-RAY EMISSION FROM LS I+61 degrees 303 AND LS 5039
Radio-to-gamma-ray monitoring of the narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy PMN J0948+0022 from 2008 to 2011
SBS 0846+513: a new gamma-ray-emitting narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy
Simultaneous Planck, Swift, and Fermi observations of X-ray and gamma-ray selected blazars
SPECTROSCOPY OF BROAD-LINE BLAZARS FROM 1LAC
THE LUMINOSITY FUNCTION OF FERMI-DETECTED FLAT-SPECTRUM RADIO QUASARS
The structure and emission model of the relativistic jet in the quasar 3C279 inferred from radio to high-energy ?-ray observations in 2008-2010
Birth of a relativistic outflow in the unusual gamma-ray transient Swift J164449.3+573451
BLAZARS IN THE FERMI ERA: THE OVRO 40 m TELESCOPE MONITORING PROGRAM
FERMI LARGE AREA TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS OF MARKARIAN 421: THE MISSING PIECE OF ITS SPECTRAL ENERGY DISTRIBUTION
Identification of gamma-ray emission from 3C 345 and NRAO 512
INSIGHTS INTO THE HIGH-ENERGY gamma-RAY EMISSION OF MARKARIAN 501 FROM EXTENSIVE MULTIFREQUENCY OBSERVATIONS IN THE FERMI ERA
Planck early results. XV. Spectral energy distributions and radio continuum spectra of northern extragalactic radio sources
The first gamma-ray outburst of a narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy: the case of PMN J0948+0022 in 2010 July
THE RADIO/GAMMA-RAY CONNECTION IN ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI IN THE ERA OF THE FERMI LARGE AREA TELESCOPE
A change in the optical polarization associated with a gamma-ray flare in the blazar 3C 279
MAGIC CONSTRAINTS ON gamma-RAY EMISSION FROM CYGNUS X-3
PKS 1502+106: A NEW AND DISTANT GAMMA-RAY BLAZAR IN OUTBURST DISCOVERED BY THE FERMI LARGE AREA TELESCOPE
THE SPECTRAL ENERGY DISTRIBUTION OF FERMI BRIGHT BLAZARS
FERMI/LARGE AREA TELESCOPE DISCOVERY OF GAMMA-RAY EMISSION FROM A RELATIVISTIC JET IN THE NARROW-LINE QUASAR PMN J0948+0022
Modulated High-Energy Gamma-Ray Emission from the Microquasar Cygnus X-3
MULTIWAVELENGTH MONITORING OF THE ENIGMATIC NARROW-LINE SEYFERT 1 PMN J0948+0022 IN 2009 MARCH-JULY

Proyecto (6)

Centro de Astrofísica y Tecnologías Afines, CATA
Instrumentation for the Astronomical Radio Transients Experiment (ARTE)
High performance receiver for multi-line observations of dense gas tracers in Galactic GMCs
Concentrating Solar Power Plants as Radio Telescopes: Characterization and Feasibility Study
Blazar Variability Studies in Preparation for CTA
Astrofísica e instrumentación astronómica
102
Walter Max-Moerbeck

Assistant Professor

Astronomy

Universidad de Chile

Las Condes, Chile

15
Rodrigo Reeves

Profesor Asociado

Astronomía

Universidad de Concepcion

Concepcion, Chile

1
Ricardo Bustos

Profesor Asociado

Ingeniería Eléctrica

Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción

Concepción, Chile