Stellar physics is a topic in astrophysics that researches various interesting cosmic phenomena about the structure and evolution of stars. For example, massive single star evolution is connected with Wolf-Rayet stars, collapsars and gamma-ray bursts and massive binary evolution additionally with Supernovae type b/c, x-ray systems and, most recently, with sources of gravitational waves. Beside this, mass transfer, contact binaries, pulsations in binaries and radiative transfer are also important topics in stellar physics.
Stellar Physics Group activities cover:
Modeling of massive star evolution – single and binaries
Research and modeling of Double Periodic Variable stars
- Research of low-mass binaries with pulsations
- Research of radiative transfer, polarization and Solar activity, spectroscopy of astrophysics plasma
In more detail, this group works on massive star evolution modeling, using the MESA (Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics) numerical code to reproduce sources of gravitational waves. It also researches Double Periodic Variable stars - close binaries with accretion disks, with the goal of better understanding their evolutionary phase and explaining changes in their light curves. This group also researches pulsation in Cepheids type II and anomalous Cepheids using the observations of space telescope Kepler – K2. Finally, the group investigates atomic processes in astrophysics plasma, as well as the Solar atmosphere in optical and infrared part of spectrum obtained by the ALMA radio Observatory.
Group members:
- Monika Jurković (PI), Assistant Research Professor
- Jelena Petrović, Full Research Professor
- Zoran Simić, Full Research Professor
- Ivan Milić, Associate Research Professor
- Atila Čeki, Associate Research Professor
- Olivera Latković, Associate Research Professor
