Nucleosynthesis and molecular processes in the late stages of Stellar Evolution

    General
    Description

    Low- to intermediate-mass (M < 8 solar masses, Ms) stars represent the majority of stars in the Cosmos. They finish their lives on the Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) - just before they form planetary nebulae (PNe) - where they experience complex nucleosynthetic and molecular processes. AGB stars are important contributors to the enrichment of the interstellar medium where new stars/planets are born (including our own Early Solar System, ESS), and to the chemical evolution of stellar systems like globular clusters (GCs) and galaxies. In particular, the more massive (M > 4-5 Ms) AGB stars synthesize very different (radio)isotopes from those formed by lower mass AGB stars and Supernova detonations, as a consequence of different nucleosynthesis mechanisms. Evolved stars in the transition phase between AGB stars and PNe also form diverse organic compounds like PAHs, and fullerene and graphene molecular nanostructures, being a wonderful laboratory for Astrochemistry. On-going massive surveys like SDSS-IV/APOGEE-2 and the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) represent a fundamental step forward to understand the nucleosynthesis and molecular processes in evolved stars. We aim to explore the nucleosynthesis of light and heavy (radio)isotopes in AGB stars and how they contribute to the ESS radioactive inventory as well as to the formation and evolution of GCs and galaxies. We also aim at understanding the top-down formation process of fullerene and graphene molecular nanostructures in evolved stars. Finally, it is intended to perform data mining with the Gaia satellite, in order to study the AGB- PNe evolutionary phase. In addition we aim to use the GALEX database to discover binary central stars in Galactic PNe.

    Principal investigator

    1. During 2020, we have published 37 papers in high-impact international refereed astronomical journals (including one invited review) and 2 papers in the Chemistry -Physics journal FNCN.

    2. Phosphorus-rich stars with an extremely peculiar chemical abundance pattern have been discovered for the first time, challenging the theoretical nucleosynthesis predictions.

    3. It was demonstrated that the P-rich star progenitors represent a new site for s-process nucleosynthesis, with important implications for the chemical evolution of our Galaxy.

    Related publications

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      Context. Several planetary formation models have been proposed to explain the observed abundance and variety of compositions of super-Earths and mini-Neptunes. In this context, multitransiting systems orbiting low-mass stars whose planets are close to the radius valley are benchmark systems, which help to elucidate which formation model dominates

      Pozuelos, F. J. et al.

      Advertised on:

      4
      2023
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    • A spectral classification system for hydrogen-deficient carbon stars

      Stellar spectral classification has been highly useful in the study of stars. While there is a currently accepted spectral classification system for carbon stars, the subset of hydrogen-deficient carbon (HdC) stars has not been well described by such a system, due predominantly to their rarity and their variability. Here we present the first system

      Crawford, Courtney L. et al.

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      5
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    • The chemical characterization of halo substructure in the Milky Way based on APOGEE

      Galactic haloes in a Λ-CDM universe are predicted to host today a swarm of debris resulting from cannibalized dwarf galaxies. The chemodynamical information recorded in their stellar populations helps elucidate their nature, constraining the assembly history of the Galaxy. Using data from APOGEE and Gaia, we examine the chemical properties of

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    • The Gaia-ESO survey: Placing constraints on the origin of r-process elements

      Context. A renewed interest in the origin of r-process elements has been stimulated by the multi-messenger observation of the gravitational event GW170817, with the detection of both gravitational waves and electromagnetic waves corresponding to the merger of two neutron stars. Such a phenomenon has been proposed as one of the main sources of the r

      Van der Swaelmen, M. et al.

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      2
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    • The intense production of silicates during the final AGB phases of intermediate mass stars

      Context. The formation of silicates in circumstellar envelopes of stars evolving through the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) is still highly debated given the uncertainties affecting stellar evolution modelling, the description of the dust formation process, and the capability of silicate grains to accelerate stellar outflows via radiation pressure

      Marini, E. et al.

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      2
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    • Comparative analysis of atmospheric parameters from high-resolution spectroscopic sky surveys: APOGEE, GALAH, Gaia-ESO

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      2
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    • Hydrogenation of [Li@C60]PF6: A comparison with fulleranes derived from C60
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      12
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    • On the Presence of Metallofullerenes in Fullerene-rich Circumstellar Envelopes

      The presence of neutral C 60 fullerenes in circumstellar environments has been firmly established by astronomical observations as well as laboratory experiments and quantum-chemistry calculations. However, the large variations observed in the C 60 17.4 μm/18.9 μm band ratios indicate that either additional emitters should contribute to the

      Barzaga, R. et al.

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      1
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    • HD 20329b: An ultra-short-period planet around a solar-type star found by TESS

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      12
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    • The messy death of a multiple star system and the resulting planetary nebula as observed by JWST

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      De Marco, Orsola et al.

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      12
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    • The Gaia-ESO Public Spectroscopic Survey: Motivation, implementation, GIRAFFE data processing, analysis, and final data products

      Context. The Gaia-ESO Public Spectroscopic Survey is an ambitious project designed to obtain astrophysical parameters and elemental abundances for 100 000 stars, including large representative samples of the stellar populations in the Galaxy, and a well-defined sample of 60 (plus 20 archive) open clusters. We provide internally consistent results

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    • The Gaia-ESO Public Spectroscopic Survey: Implementation, data products, open cluster survey, science, and legacy,★

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    • Estimating the atmospheric properties of 44 M dwarfs from SPIRou spectra

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    • BACCHUS Analysis of Weak Lines in APOGEE Spectra (BAWLAS)

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    • Asphaltenes as model compounds of the UIBs/AIBs detected in various astrophysical objects. Part 3: Petroleum asphaltenes high energy radiation processed
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    • Asphaltenes as model compounds of the UIBs/AIBs detected in various astrophysical objects. Part 2 – Natural bitumens asphaltenes carbonization
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    • Chemical Cartography with APOGEE: Mapping Disk Populations with a 2-process Model and Residual Abundances

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