[phas-grad] Another special colloquium on Tuesday!

[Kurtis Williams]

Hello everybody,

Tuesday we are being visited by a third candidates for our tenure-track hire, Dr. Vinicius Placco.  Colloquium will start at 4:10 in Room 127.  I realize its an odd time, but please come if you are able.

Cheers,
Dr. Williams

Special Colloquium
Department of Physics & Astronomy, TAMU-Commerce
TUESDAY Nov 6, 4:10-5:00 PM in Science Building 127
(Note special date)
Coffee and cookies will be served at 4:00 PM

Stellar Archaeology: Understanding the Origin of the Chemical Elements in the Universe through a 59-Color Map of the Night Sky
Dr. Vinicius Placco
University of Notre Dame

Dr. Placco earned a BS in Physics from Universidade de São Paulo in 2005.  He completed his PhD in astronomy from Universidade de São Paulo in 2010, then spent time as a postdoctoral fellow in São Paulo, the National Optical Astronomy Observatories, and Gemini Observatory.  Since 2015, Dr. Placco has been a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Notre Dame.



More information about Dr. Placco can be found at
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__physics.nd.edu_people_faculty_vinicius-2Dm-2Dplacco_&d=DwIGaQ&c=oqyuZuih6ykib6aKiBq22_bich4AVfYGoLertJN0bEc&r=0FY-iIjI4SqeYwGC2b_NjfnnP9-oBQufaoX9RLyQuLE&m=ATPQY69bg_vhW_Bwq2naQSoGFSy_gOyEKzMEzpEpLAs&s=fkWIOOhM2sScL5OGqUsqwIReZ3KdCF9zldl4TYppyCI&e=


Abstract

The chemical composition of our bodies, the Earth, the Sun, and the Universe is complex, and the end result of the formation and evolution of numerous stellar generations that contributed all of the elements heavier than helium. One way to understand the possible pathways that led to such complexity is to determine the chemical abundance patterns of ancient low-metallicity stars in the Halo of our Galaxy. These objects are believed to be the stellar relics of the very first stars to be born after the Big-Bang and their abundance patterns serve as observational constraints on the origins of the chemical elements in the Galaxy and the Universe. However, it is impossible to observe each of the 200 billion stars in the Milky Way in sufficient detail to assess their chemical composition. Hence, astronomers have developed efficient ways to pre-select the most interesting stars for further high-resolution follow-up, based on the understanding that the colors of stars in specific regions of the optical spectrum are affected in predictable ways by changes in the chemical composition of their atmosphere. I will discuss the importance of a new observing effort, called J-PAS (Javalambre Physics of the Accelerating Universe Survey), in selecting low-metallicity, carbon-enhanced, and neutron-capture-element enhanced stars, using a 59-color map of the night sky, which will fully exploit this approach, in a manner superior to all previous such efforts.

Dr. Kurtis A. Williams
Associate Professor
Department of Physics & Astronomy
Texas A&M University-Commerce
kurtis.williams at tamuc.edu<mailto:kurtis.williams at tamuc.edu>
(903) 886-5516

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