Reinout van Weeren's main research interest is in studies of galaxy clusters and large scale structures with the aim of understanding their origin and evolution.

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Reinout van Weeren's main research interest is in studies of galaxy clusters and large scale structures with the aim of understanding their origin and evolution. 

Galaxy clusters are the largest gravitationally bound objects in the Universe. They form through accretion of gas and via mergers with other clusters and galaxy groups. Clusters are unique laboratories to study some of the most fundamental questions in astrophysics, related to the physics of particle acceleration and cosmic rays, the growth of large-scale structure, and the nature of dark matter.

An important aim is to determine how the mergers between galaxy clusters lead to the acceleration of cosmic rays to relativistic energies. This is done by observing galaxy clusters with large radio telescopes and X-ray satellites. The LOFAR radio telescope plays a very important role in these studies by obtaining deep images of the entire northern sky. This allows detailed studies of individual nearby clusters and the discovery of very distant systems.

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