Project description
Cracking the evolution of binary star systems
Many mysteries remain about how binary stars are born, chief among them being a phase in their evolution where both stars are subsumed in one gaseous field, known as a common envelope. The EU-funded CET-3PO project looks to shed light on this common envelope evolution (CEE) using a new type of astrophysical transients called luminous red novae (LRNe). The project will study different stages of CEE in massive binaries using observations of extragalactic LRNe. By using new observational and modelling techniques, researchers will derive the energetics, chemistry, dust content, and geometry of these outbursts. This will reveal what occurs right before, during, and after the ejection of the common envelope in massive binary systems.
Objective
Common envelope evolution (CEE) is a crucial phase in binary evolution, as it is responsible for the formation of many of the most exciting systems in astrophysics, including sources of gravitational waves. Despite its importance, there are several unanswered questions that hamper the urgently needed progress in this field: What systems enter CEE? What happens during CEE? How the CEE remnants evolve? Recently, a new type of astrophysical transients called luminous red novae (LRNe) has emerged as direct observational evidence of the dynamical ejection of the CE in binaries. My work on their progenitor systems and their late time evolution has shown their potential to study the initial and final state of binary systems entering CEE. The imminent start of operations of the large transient surveys BlackGEM and LSST provides a unique opportunity to bring CEE observational studies to the next level with LRNe population studies. The aim of this project is to study the different stages of CEE in massive binaries using observations of extragalactic LRNe. The sample will contain ~30 transients within 15 Mpc from massive binary progenitors with HST archival data. My team will use a novel transient selection strategy to identify a fraction of these LRNe years before their main outburst, and study the extensive mass loss leading to coalescense. Novel observational and modelling techniques in optical and infrared wavelengths will allow me to derive the energetics, chemistry, dust content, and the geometry of the outbursts. My study will provide the so needed evidence of the physical processes that occur before, during, and after the ejection of the CE in massive binary systems, the characteristics of their progenitors, and their rate in our Local Universe. This will in turn have fundamental impact on several fields of astrophysics such as binary population synthesis, simulations of CEE, and understanding of mass transfer in the progenitor systems.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy astrophysics
- natural sciences mathematics pure mathematics geometry
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2021-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
08007 BARCELONA
Spain
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