Research Topics


Binary star evolution

Case B mass transfer
  • Evolution of low and intermediate-mass interacting binaries. Modelling of Algols and Barium star systems
    • Philip DAVIS (ex-ULB, Belgium)
    • Alain JORISSEN (ULB, Belgium)
    • Pawel KRYNSKI (PhD, Belgium)



SPH simulations

Wind accretion in a long period binary
  • Hydrodynamics of mass transfer in long period systems. Wind accretion by a pulsating AGB star
    • Daniel PRICE (MoCA, Australia)
    • Mats Esseldeurs (KUL, Belgium)
      • development of ray tracing modules
      • modelling of binary wind interations
    • Jolien MALFAIT (KUL, Belgium)
      • multiple systems involving an AGB primary
    • Silke MAES (KUL, Belgium)
Density plot + opacity contours
  • Common envelope evolution
    • Orsola de MARCO (Macquaries)
    • Luis BERMUDEZ (Post-doc Macquaries)
    • Daniel PRICE (MoCA, Australia)



Stellar Hydrodynamics

He flash simulation by M. Mocak


Hydrodynamics of mixing and time-dependent theory of convection

  • Miroslav MOCAK (Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium)
  • Ewald MULLER (Max-Planck Institute, Garching, Germany)
  • Casey MEAKIN (LANL, USA)

Super AGB stars (7-12 Mo)


Evolution and nucleosynthesis of massive AGB stars

carbon flash

  • John LATTANZIO (Monash University, Melbourne, Australia)
  • Carolyn DOHERTY (Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, PhD)
  • Pilar GIL-PONS (Universitad de Barcelona)

Low and Intermediate mass Stars

Proton ingestion during early AGB phase
  • Structure, Evolution and Nucleosynthesis of primordial stars
    • John LATTANZIO (Monash University, Melbourne, Australia)
    • Mario LIVIO (Space Telescope Science Institute, USA)
    • Stéphane GORIELY (Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium)


A possible signature of planet accretion by a giant star


  • Engulfing of planets by giant stars

Detailed study of the structural response of the star swallowing a giant planet and of the potential observational signatures of such an event.

o Mario LIVIO (Space Telescope Science Institute, USA)




Thermal pulse in a rotation 3Mo AGB
  • S-process Nucleosynthesis in AGB stars
Detailed computations of the neutron-capture nucleosynthesis during the TP-AGB phase. Study of the effect of rotational mixing on the s-process.
o Stéphane GORIELY (Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium)
o Arthur CHOPLIN (Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium)
o Norbert LANGER (Bonn, Germany)


  • Transport processes of chemicals and angular momentum in RGB and AGB stars
Meridional currents
Evolution of the surface composition and determination of yields from low-mass and intermediate-mass stars (RGB and AGB stars). Study of rotationally induced mixing (effects associated with meridional circulation, shear and turbulent mixing), overshooting, and gravity waves. This project involves :
o Thibaut DÉCRESSIN (Geneva Observatory, Switzerland)
o Ana PALACIOS (GRAAL Montpellier, France)
o Corinne CHARBONNEL (Geneva Observatory, Switzerland)
o Jean-Paul ZAHN (Meudon observatory, France)
o Stéphane MATHIS (CEA Saclay, France)

Mass accreting PMS tracks


  • Pre Main sequence evolution
Accretion process in young low mass stars. Birthline. Rotational evolution of PMS stars.
o Claude BERTOUT
o Manuel FORESTINI