Theoretical study of atomic parameters with applications to astrophysics (No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-02-0072)
This research is funded by the European Social Fund.
Atomic data, i.e. energy spectra, transition data, hyperfine structure parameters are important and widely used in many different fields of science, such as atomic spectroscopy, plasma physics, and astrophysics. Investigations of the stars and their evolution depend on the analysis of stellar spectra. So, there is a great scarcity of atomic data. Atomic characteristics are also important for recently emerging branch of astronomy/astrophysics - gravitational-wave astronomy, which aims to study and observe gravitational waves. The properties of the ejecta produced during the merger of two black holes or neutron stars are expected to play an important role in the electromagnetic transients. Characteristics of the ejecta include large velocity gradients and the presence of heavy r-process elements, which pose significant challenges to the accurate calculations of radiative opacities and radiation transport. So, for the studies of r-process opacities the energy spectra and transition data are needed. The aim of this project is to theoretically investigate atomic characteristics of the elements, which are important in astrophysics, searching for the appropriate strategies of calculation applying multiconfiguration Dirac-Hartree-Fock approach. The participation in the project for the research fellow will allow to develop researcher’s competence in atomic physics and astrophysics. This post-doctoral fellowship will allow the research fellow to gain new knowledge, experience, and to develop his competence by conducting research in foreign scientific centers. The obtained results of energy spectra and transition data will help in the analysis of stellar spectra from ongoing or planned large-scale surveys and will allow a better understanding of the formation of heavy elements in the universe and the evolution of the universe. The identified appropriate strategies of the influence of electron correlation for elements with complex electronic configurations can speed up theoretical investigations of the atomic characteristics of such elements.
Research fellow: dr. Pavel Rynkun
Fellowship supervisor: prof. habil. dr. Gediminas Gaigalas