Mass Transport Processes and their Roles in the Formation, Structure, and Evolution of Stars and Stellar Systems

Details Mass Transport Processes and their Roles in the Formation, Structure, and Evolution of Stars and Stellar Systems Mass Transport Processes and their Roles in the Formation, Structure, and Evolution of Stars and Stellar Systems

2009-03-13

arxiv.org/abs/0903.2433v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

A Science Whitepaper submitted in response to the 2010 Decadal Survey Call

Scientific paper

We summarize some of the compelling new scientific opportunities for understanding stars and stellar systems that can be enabled by sub-mas angular resolution, UV/Optical spectral imaging observations, which can reveal the details of the many dynamic processes (e.g., variable magnetic fields, accretion, convection, shocks, pulsations, winds, and jets) that affect their formation, structure, and evolution. These observations can only be provided by long-baseline interferometers or sparse aperture telescopes in space, since the aperture diameters required are in excess of 500 m - a regime in which monolithic or segmented designs are not and will not be feasible - and since they require observations at wavelengths (UV) not accessible from the ground. Two mission concepts which could provide these invaluable observations are NASA's Stellar Imager (SI; http://hires.gsfc.nasa.gov/si/) interferometer and ESA's Luciola sparse aperture hypertelescope, which each could resolve hundreds of stars and stellar systems. These observatories will also open an immense new discovery space for astrophysical research in general and, in particular, for Active Galactic Nuclei (Kraemer et al. Decadal Survey Science Whitepaper). The technology developments needed for these missions are challenging, but eminently feasible (Carpenter et al. Decadal Survey Technology Whitepaper) with a reasonable investment over the next decade to enable flight in the 2025+ timeframe. That investment would enable tremendous gains in our understanding of the individual stars and stellar systems that are the building blocks of our Universe and which serve as the hosts for life throughout the Cosmos.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Mass Transport Processes and their Roles in the Formation, Structure, and Evolution of Stars and Stellar Systems does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Mass Transport Processes and their Roles in the Formation, Structure, and Evolution of Stars and Stellar Systems, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Mass Transport Processes and their Roles in the Formation, Structure, and Evolution of Stars and Stellar Systems will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-229220