Laboratory of Stellar Physics
Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences

The Laboratory of Stellar Physics has been created in February 12, 1992 from the Temporary Research Group ("Orbit", 1988 - 1992). This is one of the three laboratories in the Optical Sector of SAO which were created on 1992 on the base of the department of Physics and Evolution of Stars, lead by the first Director of SAO, Prof. I.M. Kopylov.

The main goals of the Laboratory:

  • research in the field of stellar astrophysics
  • training of young astronomers
  • development of astrophysical methods of observations and data analysis
  • The main scientific fields:

    Close binary stars with relativistic or degenerate companions.

    The main goals are to study mechanisms of gas accretion in close binaries, evolution status of such systems. A study of various observational appearances of accretion disks around relativistic stars.

  • A study of close binaries with black holes, neutron stars and white dwarfs.
  • A study of microquasars - the close binaries with black holes producing relativistic jets. A search for new microquasars.
  • A study of cataclismic systems. Novae in our Galaxy and in nearby galaxies.
  • Red peculiar Novae - a rare type of objects, where a merging in close binaries occurs.
  • Supercritical accretion disks

    The main goals are physics of the supercritical accretion onto black holes, a structure of the supercritical accretion disk winds, conditions of funnel and wind fotmation in such disks. The mass loss in the disks, optical and X-ray soectra in the super-Eddington disks, the gas accretion rate and efficacy of the energy release, the black hole growth. Mechanisms of the jet formation.

  • A study of SS433 - the massive close binary with a black hole in the regime of supercritical accretion
  • A study of ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) in external galaxies, optical and X-ray spectroscopy of ULXs.
  • A study of nebulae surrounding the ULXs.
  • Connection of the ULXs with young star clusters.
  • A search for intermediate-mass black holes (IMBH). The black holes which are not supermassive black holes observed in quasars, and which were formed not in massive stars.
  • Massive stars on critical stages of evolution. Massive star polulation in galaxies.

    The main goal is to understand evolutionary relations between massive stars of different types. How a star in a critical evolution stage do appear itself depending on its rotation, binarity, chemical composition and other parameters.

  • A search for the most massive stars in the Local Group galaxies: the LBV-like objects (Luminous Blue Variables), B[e]-supergiants, peculiar WR stars.
  • Modeling of photosphers and winds of massive stars at critical stages of evolution.
  • A study of selected LBV stars, their spectral and photometrical variability. A search for binarity in LBVs.
  • Stellar magnetism.

    The main tasks are to understand origin of magnetic fields in stars, to study the surface field structure and relations between the field strength, the field structure and chemical pecularities (CP) in the stellar atmosphers.

  • A search for new magnetic stars, new CP stars, measurements of magnetic fields in stars
  • A study of the stellar magnetic field structure and geometry, variability of the magnetic fields with the phase of rotation
  • A study of statistical relations in stellar magnetism appearance
  • Making of cataloques of magnetic stars, their magnetic curves and rotational periods
  • Feedback e-mail: webmaster@jet.sao.ru

    Laboratory contacts

    Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences