Event Calendar

Title: Surprising Impacts of Gravity Waves

Abstract: Gravity waves are low frequency fluid oscillations restored by buoyancy forces in planetary and stellar interiors. Despite their ubiquity, the importance of gravity waves in evolutionary processes and asteroseismology has only recently been appreciated. In stars and planets, orbital resonances with standing gravity waves in the stellar/planetary interior can accelerate tidal evolution, especially when such resonances are maintained by a resonance locking mechanism. This process can explain observations of tidally excited pulsations in heartbeat stars and the rapid observed migration of Saturn's moons. In the late phase evolution of massive stars approaching core-collapse, vigorous convection excites gravity waves that can redistribute huge amounts of energy and angular momentum within the star. I will present preliminary models of this process, showing how wave energy redistribution can drive outbursts and enhanced mass loss in the final years of massive star evolution, with important consequences for the appearance of subsequent supernovae.

Host: Xinyu

Location: MP1318A

Location: MP1318A

The schedule of speakers: https://tinyurl.com/cita-blackboard Location: MP 1318A

Title: Galaxy mergers in the nearby Universe

Abstract: Astronomy's current model of galaxy evolution is built on a foundation of hierarchical growth, in which small galaxies merge together to form larger ones. In addition to the simple accrual of mass, this merging process is predicted to fundamentally change the galaxies’ properties, such as dramatic morphological transformations, the triggering of bursts of star formation and high rates of accretion onto the central supermassive black hole. In this talk I will explain the physical processes behind these predictions, and present the observations that we are performing in order to test the theory, as well as results from new simulations. Although many of the predictions are indeed borne out by experiment, there have been some surprising conflicts as well, that demand revisions to our models of how mergers shape galaxy evolution.

Host: Laura

Location: MP1318A

Location: MP 15th Floor Conf Room

Weekly paper discussion focussing on pulsars, compact objects, and propagation effects.

For a list of upcoming discussions, see:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KEyKBCmeGFUmMoiYKuHEDguCv9OOrEZqm3A6GM1Slk0/edit?usp=sharing 

If you would like to sign up for the presenter rota, email: simard@astro.utoronto.ca Location: CITA lounge

Open discussion of stars- and planets-related topics or more specialized discussion of dynamics-related papers on alternating weeks. See here for details. Location: MP 1318A

The schedule of speakers: https://tinyurl.com/cosmo-rota  
Location: 15th floor conference room

Title: Stellar Forensics with the most powerful explosions in the Universe

Abstract: Supernovae (SNe) and Long-duration Gamma-ray Bursts (GRBs) are exploding stars and constitute the most powerful explosions in the universe. Since they are visible over large cosmological distances, release elements heavier than Helium, and leave behind extreme remnants such as black holes, they are fascinating objects, as well as crucial tools for many areas of astrophysics, including cosmology. However, for many years the fundamental question of which stellar systems give rise to which kinds of explosions has remained outstanding: for Type Ia SNe used for cosmology as well as for Superluminous SNe and long-duration GRBs that must originate from special kinds of massive stars. I will discuss the exciting recent progress that we have made on this question in key areas by publishing and thoroughly analyzing the largest data sets in the world at the time. I will conclude with an outlook on how the most promising venues of research - using the existing and upcoming innovative large time-domain surveys such as ZTF and LSST - will shed new light on the diverse deaths of stars.

Host: Sarah Gossan

Location: MP1318

Location: MP1318A

The schedule of speakers: https://tinyurl.com/cita-blackboard Location: MP 1318A

Location: MP 15th Floor Conf Room

Title: TBA

Abstract: TBA

Location: CITA, 1318A

Weekly paper discussion focussing on pulsars, compact objects, and propagation effects.

For a list of upcoming discussions, see:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KEyKBCmeGFUmMoiYKuHEDguCv9OOrEZqm3A6GM1Slk0/edit?usp=sharing 

If you would like to sign up for the presenter rota, email: simard@astro.utoronto.ca Location: CITA lounge

Location: MP1318A

The schedule of speakers: https://tinyurl.com/cosmo-rota  
Location: 15th floor conference room