Michiel B.M. van der Klis

Michiel B.M. van der Klis
Born	9 June 1953 The Hague, Netherlands
Residence	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Citizenship	Dutch
Nationality	Dutch
Fields	Astronomy, Astrophysics
Institutions	Astronomical Institute Anton Pannekoek, University of Amsterdam
Alma mater	University of Amsterdam
Known for	X-ray binaries, Quasi-periodic oscillations
Notable awards	Bruno Rossi Prize (1987), Spinozapremie (2004), KNAW Academy Professorship (2010)

Michiel van der Klis is a Dutch astronomer best known for his work on extreme 'pairings' of stars called X-ray binaries, more particularly his explanation of the occurrence of quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) in these systems and his discovery of the first millisecond X-ray pulsar. In the 1980s he gained world-wide fame with his investigation of QPOs. His revolutionary discoveries have had an enormous impact in his field of research; in effect, they have made it what it is today. Van der Klis pioneered special mathematical analysis techniques that are now regarded as the “gold standard” within his discipline.

Research

Van der Klis's research focuses on X-ray binaries, pairs of stars orbiting each other that emit X-ray radiation. Some binary star systems contain a compact object like a neutron star or a black hole. By studying the dynamics of materials in the vicinity of such objects one can learn about their mass, radius and rotational speed. Moreover, this kind of research provides a testing ground for cosmology and general relativity.

Van der Klis made a number of breakthrough discoveries. In 1984 he discovered the first type of QPOs (quasi-periodic oscillations of the X-ray emission) of compact stars while he was working with ESA’s EXOSAT satellite to study the strongest X-ray sources near the centre of the Milky Way. One of his achievements is the explanation in 1985 why X-rays emitted from binary systems do not come in steady pulses (like the radiowaves emitted by pulsars), but in short irregular bursts. His studies in the years 1984-1987 clarified the principles for classifying the several hundreds of strong X-ray sources known to exist in our Galaxy. In the 1990s, he and his research group discovered the first millisecond X-ray pulsar in a binary system, a neutron star spinning around its axis more than 400 times per second. The discovery of this superfast spinning neutron star attracted great international attention.

Academic career

Van der Klis obtained his PhD at University of Amsterdam in 1983 working on observations of X-ray binaries. For a while he worked at the ESA lab ESTEC in Noordwijk. In 1989 he returned to the University of Amsterdam as an associate professor and was made full professor of Astronomy in 1993. Since 2002 he is an elected member of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen (KNAW) and since 2003 also of the Koninklijke Hollandsche Maatschappij der Wetenschappen (KHMW). Since 2005 he is Director of the Astronomical Institute Anton Pannekoek of the University of Amsterdam and Chair of the Netherlands Research School for Astronomy (NOVA).

Van der Klis received a number of awards for his pioneering research, including the Bruno Rossi Prize (1987), the most important international distinction awarded in high-energy astrophysics, and the Spinoza Prize (2004). On April 27, 2010 the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) awarded an Academy Professorship to him. The international review committee noted: "He is a world leader in the X-ray radiation of compact objects and has formulated an intriguing connection between black holes and neutron stars, the two most extreme objects in the universe. He and his research group also discovered the first X-ray pulsar with a rotation speed of four hundred revolutions per second." He will hold the title of Academy Professor until 2015.

Awards

• 1987 Bruno Rossi Prize
• 1990 COSPAR Zel'dovich Medal
• 1991 NWO Pionier grant
• 2004 Spinozapremie
• 2010 KNAW Academy Professorship

References

• "Jury report Van der Klis". NWO. http://www.nwo.nl/files.nsf/pages/NWOP_5ZMC5A/$file/Laudatio%202004%20Klis%20eng.htm. Retrieved 30 June 2009.  Jury report for his 2004 Spinozapremie.
• "prof.dr. M.B.M. van der Klis" (in Dutch). Natuurwetenschap & Techniek. http://www.natutech.nl/00/nt/nl/49/nieuws/2179/Prof_dr_MBM_van_der_Klis.html. Retrieved 30 June 2009. 
• "Laudatio Van der Klis". KNAW. http://www.knaw.nl/pdf/laudatio_van_der_klis.pdf. Retrieved 7 August 2010.  Jury report for his 2010 KNAW nomination.

External links

• Link to all papers by Michiel van der Klis on the ArXiv
• Link to the NARCIS scientific portal

Persondata
Name	Klis, Michiel B.M. Van Der
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	9 June 1953
Place of birth	The Hague, Netherlands
Date of death
Place of death