NBIA Colloquium by Maria Bergemann

All you wanted to know about stars but were afraid to ask

Speaker: Maria Bergemann (MPI for Astronomy in Heidelberg & NBIA)

Abstract: The Milky Way galaxy is host to a few hundred billion stars. Of them, only about 10 million, less than 0.01%, have so far been mapped by large-scale spectroscopic surveys. Major progress in the quantity and/or quality of data is expected with next generation astronomical facilities.In this colloquium, I will focus on the frontiers in stellar physics. First, I will give a general overview of the role of stars in modern astrophysics. I will then summarize the physical principles behind models that allow us to extract physical parameters of stars from their observed spectra. 3D non-equilibrium models are poised to become workhorses of astronomy in the next decade. Also other techniques, such as interferometry and asteroseismology, yield complementary constraints on stellar structure.Finally, I will demonstrate how new data and new models drive progress in the areas that rely on stellar parameters and chemical composition of stars. These include studies of exoplanets and protoplanetary discs, nucleosynthesis and first stars, gravitational wave sources, and Galaxy formation. 

Bio: Maria Bergemann is an astrophysicist and head of an independent research group at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg. Her research interests are radiative processes in astrophysics, spectroscopy and stellar physics, chemical evolution of the Milky Way and star-forming galaxies, and cosmic nucleosynthesis. She studied physics at the Kazan State University, but spent many years working, in parallel, in exploration geophysics, in particular on the analysis of geothermal reservoirs and their properties in connection with hydrocarbon deposits. After graduating from the KSU, she was offered a PhD position in geophysics at Cornell University, but chose to pursue doctoral studies in astronomy at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich. And she does not regret this choice!

All are welcome! Refreshments will be served in the NBIA lounge after the talk.

The Colloquium will also be live-streamed on Zoom. A link will be provided on Friday.