Search Publications
Magnetic fields of M dwarfs
Kochukhov, Oleg
Magnetic fields play a fundamental role for interior and atmospheric properties of M dwarfs and greatly influence terrestrial planets orbiting in the habitable zones of these low-mass stars. Determination of the strength and topology of magnetic fields, both on stellar surfaces and throughout the extended stellar magnetospheres, is a key ingredien…
Weighing stars from birth to death: mass determination methods across the HRD
Feuillet, Diane K.; Girardi, Léo; Stassun, Keivan G. +31 more
The mass of a star is the most fundamental parameter for its structure, evolution, and final fate. It is particularly important for any kind of stellar archaeology and characterization of exoplanets. There exist a variety of methods in astronomy to estimate or determine it. In this review we present a significant number of such methods, beginning …
Star formation and nuclear activity in luminous infrared galaxies: an infrared through radio review
Aalto, Susanne; Alonso-Herrero, Almudena; Mattila, Seppo +2 more
Nearby galaxies offer unique laboratories allowing multi-wavelength spatially resolved studies of the interstellar medium, star formation and nuclear activity across a broad range of physical conditions. In particular, detailed studies of individual local luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs) are crucial for gaining a better understanding of these pr…
Cool outflows in galaxies and their implications
Maiolino, Roberto; Bolatto, Alberto D.; Veilleux, Sylvain +1 more
Neutral-atomic and molecular outflows are a common occurrence in galaxies, near and far. They operate over the full extent of their galaxy hosts, from the innermost regions of galactic nuclei to the outermost reaches of galaxy halos. They carry a substantial amount of material that would otherwise have been used to form new stars. These cool outfl…
Cluster-galaxy weak lensing
Umetsu, Keiichi
Weak gravitational lensing of background galaxies provides a direct probe of the projected matter distribution in and around galaxy clusters. Here, we present a self-contained pedagogical review of cluster-galaxy weak lensing, covering a range of topics relevant to its cosmological and astrophysical applications. We begin by reviewing the theoreti…
Observations of galactic and extragalactic novae
Izzo, Luca; Della Valle, Massimo
The recent GAIA DR2 measurements of distances to galactic novae have allowed to re-analyse some properties of nova populations in the Milky Way and in external galaxies on new and more solid empirical bases. In some cases, we have been able to confirm results previously obtained, such as the concept of nova populations into two classes of objects,…
Precise radio astrometry and new developments for the next-generation of instruments
Rioja, María J.; Dodson, Richard
We present a technique-led review of the progression of precise radio astrometry, from the first demonstrations, half a century ago, until to date and into the future. We cover the developments that have been fundamental to allow high accuracy and precision astrometry to be regularly achieved. We review the opportunities provided by the next gener…
What is a globular cluster? An observational perspective
D'Orazi, Valentina; Gratton, Raffaele; Bragaglia, Angela +3 more
Globular clusters are large and dense agglomerate of stars. At variance with smaller clusters of stars, they exhibit signs of some chemical evolution. At least for this reason, they are intermediate between open clusters and massive objects such as nuclear clusters or compact galaxies. While some facts are well established, the increasing amount o…
Pulsating white dwarfs: new insights
Kepler, S. O.; Córsico, Alejandro H.; Althaus, Leandro G. +1 more
Stars are extremely important astronomical objects that constitute the pillars on which the Universe is built, and as such, their study has gained increasing interest over the years. White dwarf stars are not the exception. Indeed, these stars constitute the final evolutionary stage for more than 95% of all stars. The Galactic population of white …
Solar wind charge exchange: an astrophysical nuisance
Kuntz, K. D.
Solar wind charge-exchange (SWCX) emission is present in every X-ray observation of an astrophysical object. The emission is problematic when one cannot remove the foreground by the simultaneous measurement of a nearby field. SWCX emission is a serious impediment to the study of the diffuse hot ISM, including the galactic halo, as its contribution…