Observatório Nacional/MCTI
77 General José Cristino Street, 20921-400, Room 311
Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil
madeira@on.br
+55 (21) 3504-9218
I am an Assistant Researcher at the Observatório Nacional and Principal Investigator of the Group of Origin and Dynamics of Satellites. I hold a PhD in Physics from São Paulo State University (Brazil) and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (France).
My research aims to contribute to the understanding of the formation, evolution, and composition of objects in the Solar System, as well as those in exoplanetary systems. I have a solid background in the study of the origin and dynamics of satellites, rings, and small bodies.
My research is predominantly based on numerical simulations. I have experience with several computational tools, including N-body codes, hydrodynamical codes, and SPH codes. In addition, I have a strong interest in the theory of orbital dynamics and seek to compare my numerical results with theoretical predictions and observational data.
I was part of NASA’s DART mission and am currently a member of ESA’s Hera and RAMSES space missions. I am also a member of the Rio Occultation Group and of the IMPACTON project.
My contributions to the field have been recognised with the Wagner Sessin Award in Dynamical and Planetary Astronomy and the São Paulo State University Best Thesis Award.
Research Topics
- Composition: composition of the Moon and exoplanet atmospheres.
- Giant impacts: formation of the Moon, formation of Phobos and Deimos, and exoplanet formation.
- Perturbations on small bodies: solar radiation, plasma drag, Lorentz forces, tides, and Yarkovsky effect.
- Ring dynamics: stability and formation of planetary rings and arcs.
- Satellite formation: accretion in circumplanetary disks and rings, pebble accretion, gas-driven migration, tides, and ring torques.
- Small bodies: formation of binary systems, rings, and dynamics around small bodies.
- Small impacts: dust production due to meteoroid impacts.