11

Research activities of the GAPHE Research activities of the GAPHE and status of the AHEAD projectand status of the AHEAD project

Gregor Rauw on behalf of the Groupe Gregor Rauw on behalf of the Groupe d’Astrophysique des Hautes Energies (GAPHE)d’Astrophysique des Hautes Energies (GAPHE)

22

High-energy astrophysics...High-energy astrophysics... Study of the X-ray and Study of the X-ray and γ-ray emission of astrophysical γ-ray emission of astrophysical

sources.sources. These radiations are produced by violent processes These radiations are produced by violent processes

involving either very high temperatures or relativistic involving either very high temperatures or relativistic particles and liberating huge amounts of energy.particles and liberating huge amounts of energy.

Sometimes these processes cannot be studied at other Sometimes these processes cannot be studied at other wavelengths.wavelengths.

This offers a complementary view of the Universe.This offers a complementary view of the Universe.

33

The high-energy astrophysics teamThe high-energy astrophysics team GAPHE: GAPHE: GGroupe d’roupe d’AAstrostroPPhysique des hysique des HHautes autes EEnergiesnergies In alphabetic order: Michaël De Becker, Yassine Damerdji In alphabetic order: Michaël De Becker, Yassine Damerdji

(until 11/2008, now AEOS), Eric Gosset, Anthony Hervé, (until 11/2008, now AEOS), Eric Gosset, Anthony Hervé, Jean-Christophe Leyder, Natacha Linder (until 12/2008), Jean-Christophe Leyder, Natacha Linder (until 12/2008), Laurent Mahy, Jean Manfroid, Thierry Morel, Yaël Nazé, Laurent Mahy, Jean Manfroid, Thierry Morel, Yaël Nazé, Gregor Rauw, Jean-Pierre Swings, Jean-Marie VreuxGregor Rauw, Jean-Pierre Swings, Jean-Marie Vreux

Research topics mainly deal with multi-λ studies of massive Research topics mainly deal with multi-λ studies of massive stars (O, B and Wolf-Rayet). stars (O, B and Wolf-Rayet).

Massive stars are rare objects but, due to their extreme Massive stars are rare objects but, due to their extreme properties, they are the engines of many processes in the properties, they are the engines of many processes in the Universe.Universe.

44

Massive stars: some general propertiesMassive stars: some general properties

Spectral types O and Wolf-Spectral types O and Wolf-Rayet (WR) Rayet (WR)

Massive, hot and luminous Massive, hot and luminous objects : objects :

They have short lifetimes They have short lifetimes and are the progenitors of and are the progenitors of core-collapse supernovae.core-collapse supernovae.

55

Massive stars: some general propertiesMassive stars: some general properties

Powerful stellar winds Powerful stellar winds driven by momentum driven by momentum transfer through scattering transfer through scattering in UV resonance linesin UV resonance lines

huge mass-loss rates: huge mass-loss rates:

and large wind velocities:and large wind velocities:

66

Massive stars: some general propertiesMassive stars: some general properties Massive stars usually do not form in isolation. They appear Massive stars usually do not form in isolation. They appear

in open clusters or OB associations. in open clusters or OB associations.

NGC6231Pismis 24

77

The research topicsThe research topics Studies of binary systems: determination of their fundamental Studies of binary systems: determination of their fundamental

properties, studies of wind interactions in binary systems properties, studies of wind interactions in binary systems (including the acceleration of relativistic particles, see Michaël (including the acceleration of relativistic particles, see Michaël De Becker’s talk)...De Becker’s talk)...

88

The research topicsThe research topics Studies of the surroundings of massive stars (circumstellar Studies of the surroundings of massive stars (circumstellar

nebulae, low-mass PMS stars in young open clusters...)nebulae, low-mass PMS stars in young open clusters...)

99

The research topicsThe research topics Studies of the variability of single O, B and Wolf-Rayet Studies of the variability of single O, B and Wolf-Rayet

starsstars Preparation of the GAIA mission (software for the data Preparation of the GAIA mission (software for the data

processing + preparatory observations).processing + preparatory observations). Soon: studies of WR and LBV circumstellar nebulae with Soon: studies of WR and LBV circumstellar nebulae with

Herschel in the far-IR.Herschel in the far-IR.

1010

The tools...The tools... Multi-Multi-λλ studies require a broad expertise and access to a studies require a broad expertise and access to a

number of space-borne and ground-based facilities.number of space-borne and ground-based facilities.

1.1. Observations in X-rays (XMM-Newton, Chandra...) and soft Observations in X-rays (XMM-Newton, Chandra...) and soft γγ-rays -rays (INTEGRAL): ARC-related activities (AHEAD, (INTEGRAL): ARC-related activities (AHEAD, Simbol-X, Anthony Hervé’s thesis work,...)Simbol-X, Anthony Hervé’s thesis work,...)

1111

The tools...The tools...2.2. Complementary observations in the optical (spectroscopy, Complementary observations in the optical (spectroscopy,

photometry, interferometry) and radio domain (the latter in photometry, interferometry) and radio domain (the latter in collaboration with other teams): ARC related activities collaboration with other teams): ARC related activities (interferometry of massive stars, see Michaël De Becker’s (interferometry of massive stars, see Michaël De Becker’s talk)talk)

1212

The AHEAD projectThe AHEAD project

AHEAD = Integrated AHEAD = Integrated AActivities for the ctivities for the HHigh-igh-EEnergy nergy AAstrophysics strophysics DDomainomain

Initial goal: foster collaboration among European Initial goal: foster collaboration among European institutes/groups working in the field of high-energy institutes/groups working in the field of high-energy astrophysics. astrophysics.

Preparation of a proposal for funding under the FP7 Preparation of a proposal for funding under the FP7 “integrated activities” programme under the leadership of the “integrated activities” programme under the leadership of the ISDC (Geneva).ISDC (Geneva).

G. Rauw appointed as a member of the AHEAD steering G. Rauw appointed as a member of the AHEAD steering committee in January 2008.committee in January 2008.

Coordinated Belgian proposal involving the CSL, Hololab, Coordinated Belgian proposal involving the CSL, Hololab, GAPHE and ASPECT (UMH) teams submitted in August GAPHE and ASPECT (UMH) teams submitted in August 2008.2008.

1313

The AHEAD projectThe AHEAD project

Joint Research Activities with a proposed participation of Joint Research Activities with a proposed participation of the Belgian team:the Belgian team:

1.1. JRA1JRA1 (detectors): further development of the surface (detectors): further development of the surface plasmon resonance technology for the design of X-ray plasmon resonance technology for the design of X-ray detectors.detectors.

2.2. JRA2JRA2 (optics): development of ion-beam polishing + (optics): development of ion-beam polishing + metrology tools.metrology tools.

3.3. JRA3 (laboratory astrophysics): computation of atomic data JRA3 (laboratory astrophysics): computation of atomic data for K-shell transitions (ASPECT team)for K-shell transitions (ASPECT team)

4.4. JRA4JRA4 (data software and analysis): development of codes (data software and analysis): development of codes for the modelling of X-ray spectra (see Anthony Hervé’s for the modelling of X-ray spectra (see Anthony Hervé’s talk)talk)

1414

The AHEAD projectThe AHEAD project

Networking Activities with a proposed participation of the Networking Activities with a proposed participation of the Belgian team:Belgian team:

1.1. NA4NA4 (coordination of ground-based observations): take (coordination of ground-based observations): take advantage of our multi-wavelength expertise.advantage of our multi-wavelength expertise.

2.2. NA6NA6 (meetings and conferences): organise scientific (meetings and conferences): organise scientific meetings related to high-energy astrophysics themes in the meetings related to high-energy astrophysics themes in the tradition of the Liège astrophysical colloquia.tradition of the Liège astrophysical colloquia.

3.3. NA7NA7 (outreach activities): take part in the EPO activities to (outreach activities): take part in the EPO activities to promote the work done within the project.promote the work done within the project.

1515

The AHEAD projectThe AHEAD project Outcome of the Rome meeting (9 & 10 February 2009):Outcome of the Rome meeting (9 & 10 February 2009):

1.1. Due to a change in EU policy, it is not granted that the AHEAD Due to a change in EU policy, it is not granted that the AHEAD FP7 proposal can actually be submitted in 2009. FP7 proposal can actually be submitted in 2009.

2.2. The contribution from the ASPECT team to JRA3 was selected. The contribution from the ASPECT team to JRA3 was selected.

3.3. The coordinators of JRA1 and JRA2 identified priorities that do The coordinators of JRA1 and JRA2 identified priorities that do not include the projects proposed by Liège.not include the projects proposed by Liège.

4.4. JRA4 and NA4 were more or less dropped. JRA4 and NA4 were more or less dropped.

5.5. NA6 no longer includes scientific meetings, but will focus on NA6 no longer includes scientific meetings, but will focus on meetings related to activities of the different JRAs. meetings related to activities of the different JRAs.

6.6. We are still welcome (but not very enthusiastic) to take care of We are still welcome (but not very enthusiastic) to take care of the outreach activities.the outreach activities.

Is it worth remaining in the project????Is it worth remaining in the project????

1616

3939thth Liège International Astrophysical Colloquium: Liège International Astrophysical Colloquium:

The multi-wavelength view of Hot, Massive StarsThe multi-wavelength view of Hot, Massive Stars(July 2010 – Liège, Belgium)(July 2010 – Liège, Belgium)

With the advent of new, high-performance, ground-based and space-With the advent of new, high-performance, ground-based and space-borne facilities, the multi-wavelength investigation of massive stars borne facilities, the multi-wavelength investigation of massive stars has been boosted over the last decade. It is nowadays possible to has been boosted over the last decade. It is nowadays possible to study these objects from the radio domain up to the soft gamma-ray study these objects from the radio domain up to the soft gamma-ray energies. The aim of this 4-days meeting, which will be organized in energies. The aim of this 4-days meeting, which will be organized in the well-known series of Liège astrophysical colloquia, is to bring the well-known series of Liège astrophysical colloquia, is to bring astrophysicists from different wavelength ranges together to discuss astrophysicists from different wavelength ranges together to discuss how this multi-wavelength approach has revolutionized our view of how this multi-wavelength approach has revolutionized our view of massive stars and their surroundings in our Galaxy and beyond.massive stars and their surroundings in our Galaxy and beyond.

Contacts: Michaël De Becker, Eric Gosset, Yaël Nazé & Gregor Contacts: Michaël De Becker, Eric Gosset, Yaël Nazé & Gregor Rauw, liac2010@misc.ulg.ac.be Rauw, liac2010@misc.ulg.ac.be