The periodic table, which orders all chemical elements according to their basic atomic properties, was proposed by Dimitri Mendeleev more than 150 years ago. This table laid foundations of modern science and technology and allowed a vast landscape of discovery, among the most exciting ones being the prediction and characterization of natural elements unknown at that time, but also species created later on in particle accelerators. However, up to present, the cosmic origin of the majority of elements in this table is not known, representing one of the main unsolved problems in physics. In which astrophysical events, when, and how were heavy elements formed?
This ERC project represents the first systematic investigation of nucleosynthesis of heavy elements using new astronomical data and modern techniques. Our main objectives are to trace and characterize the history of production of different chemical elements in the Galaxy. This will be done by applying novel theoretical methods to allow precise measurements of element abundances in stellar spectra, including transition metals, alkaline earth, and lanthanides. Combining our new data with state-of-the-art Galactic chemical evolution models will make it possible to place strong quantitative constraints on the origins of heavy elements beyond iron.
Why do we need to know where and how do chemical elements form? This is because once we have the answer to this question, we can create the “astronomical time machine”. In other words, we will be able to predict – on the basis of their measured (observed) chemical composition – the formation time, present-day structure, and fate of different objects in the Universe, such as stars, galaxies, and planets.
