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The research topics of GAPHE

The study of the properties of massive stars is crucial for the understanding of the evolution and the dynamics of galaxies, reason why GAPHE devotes an important amount of efforts to a multi-wavelength observational investigation of those objects. The research topics are thus:

• determination of fundamental parameters of massive stars (masses, radii, luminosities,...);
• analysis of the X-ray emission of binary systems in different evolutionary stages and with a variety of stellar wind interactions, as well as a numerical simulation of these phenomena;
• analysis of phenomena related to relativistic particles in stellar winds through high energy observations, particularly with the European XMM and INTEGRAL satellites;
• study of nebulae either ionized or created by massive stars (dynamics and chemical composition of the nebulae , properties of the ionizing source, interaction between the material ejected by the central star and the surrounding medium);
• study of the photometric and/or spectroscopic variability of massive stars (effects of pulsations, of magnetic fields, or hydrodynamic instabilities,...);
• study of Wolf-Rayet stars (single or in binary systems);
• search for proto-stars which are forming in stellar clusters which include massive stars through their X-ray or H-alpha emission(s)

These activities are presented in dedicated webpages starting with an Introduction.

In order to perform their observational campaigns, the GAPHE researchers regularly travel to observatories in France (Haute Provence Observatory), in Chile (European Southern Observatory : La Silla and Paranal), and in Mexico (el TIGRE). They also make regular use of space-borne observatories, particularly those of the European Space Agency. Many collaborations exist between GAPHE and groups in Belgium and in foreign countries. Furthermore the GAPHE members regularly participate to specific international colloquia and symposia where speciallists of the field meet.

The 5 most recent publications from GAPHE members: