| |
Astrophysics research group
Astrophysics
The
physics of stars and planets are closely connected topics. The Sun, as
well as other stars, has an enormous influence on its planets. Intense
radiation at short wavelengths (X-ray - UV) drives thermal escape
processes, whereas stellar winds and CMEs lead to non-thermal escape
processes, especially on non- or weakly magnetized planets. Therefore,
the properties and evolution of stellar activity has important
consequences for the properties and evolution of planets, and
consequently, habitability.
The
solar-stellar analogy provides an important basis for the study and
understanding of stellar activity phenomena and their impact on
planets. In the same way as we can learn about other stars though the
detailed observations possible for the Sun, observation of stellar
activity can in turn provide valuable information on the evolution of
stars, and therefore the history of our Sun and the solar system.
Research topics
Properties of active stars
- solar-stellar analogy
- flares, prominences and CMEs
- flaring Sun as proxy for young stars
- activity diagnostics in different wavelength regimes: optical, FUV, Radio
- Observational data
Stars: ESO-VLT (Optical), UTR-2 (Radio), GMRT (Radio), EVLA (Radio), FUSE (FUV) Sun: TIMED, CDS
Extrasolar planets
- transit lightcurve analyses
- planetary atmospheres: modelling of thermal escape
- response of planetary atmospheres to stellar activity
Observational data
Exoplanets : Observatory Lustbühel, CoRoT, MOST, Kepler
Planetary atmosheres: CHAMP, GOCE
|
|
