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Postdoctoral Fellow
Research group |?Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics
Main supervisor |?Claudia Cicone
Co-supervisor |?-
Affiliation |?Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics
Contact |?boy.lankhaar@astro.uio.no
Short bio
I studied chemistry at Radboud University, where I specialised in theoretical chemistry. I later completed a PhD in astronomy, culminating in my dissertation Tracing Cosmic Magnetic Fields Using Molecules. After my PhD, I worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher, splitting my time between Leiden Observatory in the Netherlands, and the Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden. This position was supported by a Swedish Research Council (VR) International Postdoc Grant. Since September 2025, I have been employed at the Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics of the University of Oslo as an MSCA Fellow within the DSTrain program.
Research interests and hobbies
My research centers on understanding cosmic magnetic fields, often through the use of molecules as tracers. I combine observational work with theoretical and modeling approaches. Beyond magnetic fields, I have developed a growing interest in the fundamental physics of radiative transfer in spectral lines, exploring regimes from the interstellar medium to controlled laboratory conditions. My work has also included studies of molecular chirality in space, theoretical spectroscopy, as well as investigations of how magnetic fields influence Earth atmospheric remote-sensing measurements.
I enjoy thinking broadly about astrophysics and have never confined myself to a single process or environment. My research has spanned (massive) star formation, evolved stars, and protoplanetary disks. More recently, I have expanded my focus beyond the Milky Way; in my DSTrain project, I investigate the central, most active regions of very luminous external galaxies, exploring how gas moves in and out around the supermassive black hole and how these processes relate to their magnetic fields.
DSTrain project
PROMISES: Polarised view of the magnetIc hearts of extreme galaxies
An almost invisible force dominates many, and permeates all, astrophysical processes. The force is mediated by magnetic fields, and to estimate its exact impact, it must be measured with precision. The central aim in PROMISES is to accurately characterize magnetic fields towards ‘extreme galaxies’.
Local Luminous and Ultra Luminous Infrared Galaxies are the most spectacular examples of rapid galaxy evolution. A comprehensive understanding of these extreme galaxies is essential for any model of galaxy evolution and for mapping the history of star formation in the Universe. These galaxies are characterized by intense star formation and the presence of accreting supermassive black holes, and these extreme conditions drive powerful galactic outflows that can reshape the host on kiloparsec scales. Both processes are believed to be profoundly influenced by magnetic fields, yet precise measurements of these fields are critically lacking.
PROMISES will pioneer submillimeter line polarization as a method to perform a unique magnetokinematical imaging of unprecedented resolution towards a local extreme galaxy. Furthermore, the project will rigorously test the reliability of dust polarization as a tracer of magnetic fields in extreme galaxies. By comparing dust continuum polarization maps with molecular line polarization observations, prevailing assumptions about dust grain alignment in such conditions will either be challenged or confirmed. The objectives of PROMISES will be achieved through detailed analysis and cross-comparison of an extensive observational dataset with large numerical simulations.
Figure caption: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?(a) Representation of magnetic-field lines threading the nearby active galaxy NGC 1068. (b) Composite Hubble Space Telescope image of the starburst galaxy Messier 82, highlighting its dramatic multiphase galactic outflow. (c) ALMA imaging of the compact nuclear region from which the molecular outflow emerges. (d) Polarization observations will be used to map the magnetic-field morphology across the nuclear region of a local LIRG.
Publications
DSTrain publications
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8975-9926
Previous publications
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