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- Contact:
- Wouter Vlemmings
Argelander-Institut für Astronomie
Universität Bonn
Auf dem Hügel 71,
D-53121 Bonn,
Germany - wouter (at) astro.uni-bonn.de
- tel:+49 (0)228 733670
fax:+49 (0)228 731775
The study of how stars form and die is if fundamental importance. Stars and planetary systems are formed through complex physical processes during the collapse of molecular gas clouds. In these clouds, the heavy elements that are formed during stellar evolution and expelled in outflows in the final stages of a stars life, are essential for the formation of stars, planets and life. One of the questions that remains about the formation and final evolution of stars concerns the role of magnetic fields. Magnetic fields are ubiqutous throughout the universe, having been observed from the Sun and planets as well as in other galaxies.
This Emmy Noether group will focus on the observations of magnetic fields during high-mass starformation and during the final stages of stellar evolution (such as AGB, post-AGB stars and planetary nebulae). This requires observations at a variety of different scales and because stars in both evolutionary phases are highly obscured by dusty envelopes, they are best probed through observations of molecules and dust at (sub-)millimeter and radio wavelengths. The research group will thus use several of the exciting new and newly upgraded instruments, such as ALMA, SMA, IRAM PdB, eMERLIN and eVLA, to determine the importance of magnetic fields in regulating the creation of protostellar disks and outflows, as well as in driving and shaping the mass-loss of evolved stars.
Massive stars' magnetically controlled diets
A team of astronomers, led by Dr. Wouter Vlemmings at Bonn University, has used the MERLIN radio telescope to show that magnetic fields play an important role during the birth of massive stars. Magnetic fields are already known to strongly influence the formation of lower-mass stars like our Sun. This new study reveals that the way in which high-mass and low-mass stars form may be more similar than previously suspected. (Image credit: Tobias Maercker).
Press releases: German,English,Dutch.
Images and animations: here.