Research activities at CAMK Toruń
Stellar mergers (T. Kamiński)
Mergers of non-compact stars (main-sequence stars, red giants and AGB stars) and white dwarfs and their products (R CrB stars, FK Com, J-type carbon stars, etc). What is the physics of the stellar collisions and the common-envelope phase?
Red novae, red transients, and their remnants (T. Kamiński)
Red novae and similar transients are optical and infrared manifestations of stellar mergers happening in real time. Red novae include the following Galactic objects: V838 Mon, V4332 Sgr, OGLE-2002-BLG-360, V1309 Sco, and CK Vul.
Evolved stars (T. Kamiński, M.Schmidt)
All aspects of advanced stellar evolution, in particular of red supergiants, giants (RGB and AGB) and pre-planetary nebulae. Our pet objects are VY Canis Majoris, Mira (omicron Ceti), Betelgeuse, and Rotten Egg Nebula.
Dust formation and circumstellar matter (T. Kamiński, M.Schmidt)
How evolved stars lose their mass? Why are the circumstellar envelopes so inhomogenous (clumpy) ? How dust is formed in the wind and in the hot atmospheres of these stars? What are the first solids formed by stars? What are the seed particles initiating nucleation at high temperatures?
Submillimeter-wave interferometry (T. Kamiński)
Imaging techniques at very high angular and spectral resolutions of cool dusty objects.
Molecules in space and astronomical spectroscopy (T. Kamiński, M.Schmidt)
Astro-chemistry, including chemistry of circumstellar shocks and formation of complex organic species on dust grains. Observing spectral signatures of low-abundance species (TiO, TiO2, CrO) important for dust formation and detecting rare isotopologues (26AlF).
Stellar model atmospheres ( M.Schmidt)
High precision model atmospheres of dwarf and giant stars of different chemical composition. High-precision spectroscopy.
Radiative pulsar astrophysics (J. Dyks)
Pulse profiles, polarization, pulse modulation. Pulsar radiation is highly anisotropic and time dependent with even the most basic phenomena not understood. In the radio band these include beam morphology, origin of observed polarization (e.g. transitions between orthogonal polarization modes, circular polarization, fractional polarization), numerous modulation phenomena (subpulse drift, nulling, pulsation modes, special pulsation patterns) as well as some peculiar features such as symmetrical bifurcated components or double notches in extended stretches of radio emission. The research is aimed at understanding the phenomena in terms of geometry and relativistic radiative physics within the pulsar magnetosphere.
Binary and multiple stellar systems (K. Hełminiak)
Extrasolar planets and brown dwarfs (K. Hełminiak)
Araucaria Project - eclipsing binary stars (D. Graczyk)
Analysis of early-type eclipsing binary stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud in order to precisely characterize their physical properties. The components are late O-type or early B-type spectral types. These stars provide calibrators for the surface brightness - color relations (SBCR) of massive, bright stars. The resulting SBCRs are expected to be useful in determining direct, geometrical distances to important anchors of the extragalactic distance scale: M31 (the Andromeda galaxy) and M33 (the Triangulum galaxy).
International observational projects, which involve CAMK Toruń researchers
PLAnetary Transits and Oscilations (PLATO)
Satellite mission of the European Space Agency (ESA). PLATO will detect terrestrial exoplanets at orbits up to the habitable zone of solar-type stars . PLATO will provide key information (planetary radii, mean densities, ages, stellar irradiation, and architecture of planetary systems) needed to determine the habitability of these unexpectedly diverse new worlds. PLATO capitalizes on tremendous developments in high-precision photometry from space and ultra-stable ground-based spectroscopy techniques that have largely been led by Europe over the last 20 years. CAMK Toruń researchers are part of the Benchmark Stars and Complementary Science working groups, as well as the Ground Based Follow-up Program.
Atmospheric Remote-sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey (ARIEL)
Satellite mission of the European Space Agency (ESA). Ariel will inspect the atmospheres of a thousand planets in our Galaxy orbiting stars other than the Sun. Ariel will reveal the ingredients of their atmospheres and the presence of clouds, and monitor how weather conditions change over time. From rocky to gas-giant exoplanets, Ariel will deepen our understanding of these distant worlds. CAMK Toruń researchers are part of the Stellar Characterisation working group, which is a part of the scientific preparation for the mission itself.
SST-1M (SST-1M)
Originally developed as a prototype of the Small-Sized Telescope for the Cherenkov Telescope Array (gamma-rays with energies above 3 TeV), the SST-1M design is based on the Davies-Cotton concept with a 4-m multi-segment mirror dish composed of 18 hexagonal facets, and an innovative camera featuring a fully digital readout and trigger system. The camera pixels are based on the SiPM technology, allowing for operation even under a high Night Sky Background, which increases the telescope duty cycle significantly. A pair of the SST-1M telescopes was constructed at IFJ, Kraków and in 2021 and 2022 re-installed at Ondrejov Observatory, Czech Republic, where prototypes are now commissioned. The telescopes’ capabilities for mono and stereo observations are being tested until the final location of the SST-1Ms is decided. CAMK Toruń responsibilities include management of on-site computer network at Ondrejov Observatory and development of data processing software.
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