The evolution of discs around evolved binaries.

The proposed research project aims to study in detail the evolution of binary stars. Recent studies show that a significant fraction of evolved binary objects do now evolve according to theoretically predicted evolutionary tracks. In this project we focus our aim on post-AGB binaries surrounded by a stable circumbinary dusty disc. So far, very little is known about the structure of these discs, their evolution and the impact they have on the evolution of the entire binary system. Using both a theoretical and observational approach this projects hopes to shed light on these reamining questions. The project consists of three parts: one part which broadens current research of the disc structure and two more in-depth parts, in which we will try to model the different chemical and physical processes occuring during disc evolution and finally, a large-scale correlation study to detect possible evolutionary trends in disc and stellar parameters. For this, we will use multiwavelength observations and theoretical models, combine with expertise from within our own institute and different external collaborators.

Keywords:Binary stars, Stellar evolution, Circumstellar matter, Cosmic dust, Post-AGB stars

Disciplines:Astronomy and space sciences