Postdoc - The Impact of OB Runaway Stars on the Dynamical and Chemical Evolution of the Galaxy
Postdoc - The Impact of OB Runaway Stars on the Dynamical and Chemical Evolution of the Galaxy
UvA - University of Amsterdam
Amsterdam, Netherlands
We plan to start a post-doctoral position at the Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy (API) of the University of Amsterdam to study the impact of OB runaways on the dynamical and chemical evolution of the Galaxy exploring the ESA Gaia database. The post-doc will be embedded in the research group focused on the formation, evolution and fate of massive stars led by Prof. Dr. Lex Kaper and Prof. Dr. Alex de Koter in Amsterdam.
A significant fraction of the most massive stars travel through the interstellar medium at high velocity, up to 200 km/s: these are the so-called OB-runaway stars. They are produced via two different channels: (i) Dynamical ejection: during and right after star formation in a young massive cluster; (ii) Via the binary supernova scenario: when in a massive binary system the initially most massive star explodes as a supernova, the secondary star receives a kick velocity comparable to its original orbital velocity. Little is known about the observed runaway properties from either ejection scenario, as it requires disentangling the two scenarios, also a hybrid scenario is possible.
The OB runaways escape from their natal cloud, and with their powerful ionizing radiation and strong stellar wind they inject momentum and energy efficiently into the tenuous interstellar- and inter-galactic medium. Their eventual supernova may occur in a low-density region, creating an outflow that leaves the galaxy, such that material escapes rather than enriches the galaxy. The revolutionizing ESA Gaia astrometry mission provides the opportunity to obtain detailed information on the physical properties of the OB runaways in our Galaxy and even beyond.
What are you going to do?
You will search for OB runaways in the Galaxy, as well as in our close neighbors the Large and Small Magellanic Cloud, using Gaia astrometry.
By applying sophisticated membership analysis techniques and state-of-the-art stellar evolution models you will determine the age of the parent clusters and the kinematic age of the OB runaways, key discriminants between the two possible OB runaway formation channels.
You will estimate the impact of OB runaways on the derivation of the high-mass end of the initial mass function. Also, you will predict the explosion sites of the OB runaways and to quantify the impact of OB runaways on the dynamical and chemical evolution of the Galaxy.
You will be a pro-active member of the massive star research group at API, being exposed to a vibrant scientific environment including master students, PhD students, and take part in the definition of their research projects and their supervision.
What do we require?
Interested candidates should have
- a PhD in astronomy (or the equivalent),
- a strong background in astrometry and experience with the use of Gaia data
- a track record of publications in the field
- excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
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