F3501 Scientific workflow in astrophysics

Přírodovědecká fakulta
podzim 2020
Rozsah
0/2/0. 2 kr. Ukončení: z.
Vyučující
doc. Ernst Paunzen, Dr.rer.nat (cvičící)
Mgr. Michal Prišegen, Ph.D. (cvičící)
Garance
doc. Ernst Paunzen, Dr.rer.nat
Ústav teoretické fyziky a astrofyziky – Fyzikální sekce – Přírodovědecká fakulta
Kontaktní osoba: doc. Ernst Paunzen, Dr.rer.nat
Dodavatelské pracoviště: Ústav teoretické fyziky a astrofyziky – Fyzikální sekce – Přírodovědecká fakulta
Předpoklady
The course is intended for all students after the second year of study with a basic knowledge of physics and astrophysics. The main language of the course will be English because we will execute one specific scientific project. However, questions and discussions can be also done in Czech and Slovak.
Omezení zápisu do předmětu
Předmět je nabízen i studentům mimo mateřské obory.
Mateřské obory/plány
Cíle předmětu
The second proper Gaia data release (GDR2) provides precise kinematics and photometric information for an unprecedented number of stars. This release has also lead to the identification of many thousands of white dwarfs (WDs) and white dwarf candidates. WDs are an evolutionary end-point of stars with masses similar to that of the Sun, meaning they are ubiquitous throughout the Galaxy. They are responsible for several high-energy phenomena and are crucial for the understanding of the stellar evolution. GDR2 provides the parallaxes (thus distances) to many WDs, however, even more valuable information can be obtained if some WDs can be associated with a star cluster or association. These structures share the same age, kinematics and original metallicity, which can be used, in conjunction with the distances, to significantly advance the understanding of not only WDs but also star clusters. It is obvious that the catalog of WDs in star clusters would be beneficial to the community. We theorize that the creation of a WD cluster catalog would facilitate the exploration of several research avenues, for instance:
1) The population of cluster WDs can be studied with respect to cluster parameters, such as the age and metallicity - putting constraints on the physical processes that lead to WD formation.
2) If we can confirm the cluster membership of a WD that has spectroscopic measurements in a suitable spectral range, we can obtain an accurate WD mass via the gravitational redshift of suitable spectral lines.
3) The presence of WDs in clusters can be used to put constraints on the initial mass of a star that can produce a neutron star.
We will use the catalog of WDs and star clusters to find the positional matches between them. Then we will compare the proper motions to find WDs which are actual members of the star clusters. This will yield a corresponding catalog for which we will write a peer-reviewed paper that we will submit at the end of the semester.
Výstupy z učení
- advanced archival search and analysis of scientific data
- matching kinematic and astrometric data
- understating of Gaia DR2 data
- understanding of star clusters
- fitting of isochrones and determination of astrophysical parameters
- working in a team on a specific scientific topic
- writing a scientific paper
- following the publication and referee process of a scientific paper
Osnova
  • The following astrophysical topics will be discussed: star clusters, white dwarfs, stellar formation and evolution
  • Techniques used: advanced search in data archives, combination of astrometric and kinematic data, isochrones fitting
  • Additional skills: working in a team, writing a scientific paper
Výukové metody
lectures, group project and paper, literature search, data analysis, class discussion
Metody hodnocení
final peer-review paper
Vyučovací jazyk
Angličtina
Informace učitele
none
Další komentáře
Studijní materiály
Předmět je dovoleno ukončit i mimo zkouškové období.
Předmět je vyučován každoročně.
Výuka probíhá každý týden.
Předmět je zařazen také v obdobích podzim 2019, podzim 2021, podzim 2022, podzim 2023, podzim 2024.