The research activities of my group span a broad range of topics in modern astrophysics, from numerical modelling and physics of stellar atmospheres to quantitative spectroscopy, nucleosynthesis, and studies of chemical and dynamical structure of the Milky Way and star forming galaxies.
Our cutting-edge is non-equilibrium (Non-LTE) radiative transfer modelling using 3D convective atmospheres. Lifting the canonical approximations of 1D-geometry, hydrostatic equilibrium and local thermal equilibrium, our models open new avenues for studies of physics and structure of stars.
We are actively involved in major large-scale astronomical programs: the Gaia-ESO survey, WEAVE, PLATO, 4MOST, and MSE.
With exquisite quality multi-million datasets, novel 3D Non-LTE models, and diagnostic methods, fundamentally new perspectives are opening in studies of the origins of chemical elements, stellar clusters, binaries and multiplicity, Galactic structure and extragalactic stellar populations, and star-planet connection.
Among various topics, we tackle the following questions:
- What is the role of extreme events - compact binary mergers and high energy supernovae -, in Galaxy evolution?
ERC StG ELEMENTS - What are the astrophysical conditions responsible
for the formation of Fe-group and heavy trans-iron elements?
ERC StG ELEMENTS
Collaborative Research Center "The Milky Way System” (projects A5, A10) - What is the growth history of the Milky Way? How was it shaped by gas flows, mergers and secular
evolution? How did the Galactic bulge form?
Lise Meitner grant of the MPG - What is the chemical make-up of the Sun and Sun-like stars? How does the chemical composition of stars influence their evolution and habitability?
Lise Meitner grant of the MPG
Figure credits
top: (c) Steffen Brinkmann and Maria Bergemann
middle: (c) ESA/ESO
bottom: (c) Greg Stinson and Maria Bergemann; ESO