Asteroseismology

POCI/CTE-AST/57610/2004

Principal investigator
Margarida S. Cunha

The project aims at studying different aspects of the structure and evolution of stars of small and intermediate masses. By studying different classes of stellar pulsators, and stellar pulsators in different phases of evolution, we will contribute to the understanding of different physical process taking place in the interior of stars, as well as to the understanding of the complex puzzle of stellar evolution.

The project involves three components. These are: (i) the acquisition and analysis of seismic data of pulsation stars, as well as data for determining their precise global parameters, with particular emphasis on luminosities and effective temperatures; (ii) the improvement of stellar evolutionary codes and consequent computation of models for the stars under study, including, in particular, all the physical aspects to be tested; (iii) the development and application of seismic tools to extract information about the structure and evolution of pulsing stars, and of the families they represent.

The seismic studies will concentrate on physical aspects related to convention, diffusion, rotation and magnetic fields in the stellar interiors, as well as on their implications to stellar evolution, building on the previous work and expertise of the team. The targets stars are chosen to be representative of different classes, hence including the vast group of different physical aspects to be studied. In particular, stars in different regions of the HR diagram will be considered, representing different stages of the stellar evolution, from pre-main-sequence, to white dwarfs, as well as different masses and chemical compositions.

The observations will be carried out from individual telescopes from ESO, as well as from the ground based network WET (Whole Earth Telescope). Data from the space missions COROT (France/ESA) and MOST (Canada) will also be used, under the formal participation of the team through ESA in the French mission, and the scientific collaboration under way with the principal investigator of the Canadian mission. Both participants include collaborations in this field with other Portuguese teams, and the coordination of one international team on the development of models and tools for the analysis of the data from COROT.

Funding institution
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

Start: 1 January 2005
End: 31 December 2007