colloquium Francesco Carotenuto - Relativistic jets from black hole X-ray binaries: a MeerKAT view
2024-01-30 11:30 - 12:30 (Europe/Rome) | Aula Gratton
Black hole X-ray binaries (BH XRBs) can launch powerful outflows in the form of radio-emitting discrete jet ejecta, which are generally observed to be produced during bright outburst phases and to propagate at apparently superluminal speeds. However, little is known about the powering mechanism, the formation and composition of these jets, and studying them is important for understanding both their physics and their feedback on the surrounding environment. While discrete ejecta have been historically difficult to detect and to follow in their motion away from the central black hole, the MeerKAT radio-interferometer (precursor of the SKA) is now revolutionizing the field with its exceptional sensitivity at GHz frequencies. In this talk, I will present some of the most interesting advancements that we have obtained with MeerKAT observations of BH XRBs in the last five years, as part of the ThunderKAT collaboration. More in detail, I will present the MeerKAT detection of a number of new ejecta that we observed to interact with the interstellar medium (ISM) and to strongly decelerate at parsec scales far from the black hole. In this context, covering the deceleration phase is essential for the physical modelling of the jet kinematics, and I will discuss what is possible to learn from the application of these models on the jet physical parameters and on the properties of the environment surrounding BH XRBs.

colloquium Paolo Saracco - SHARP - A Near-IR Multi-mode Spectrograph conceived for the Multi-Conjugate adaptive optics module MORFEO@ELT
2024-02-06 11:30 - 17:00 | Aula Gratton
The world’s largest aperture combined with state-of-the-art Adaptive Optics systems will enable the ELT to capture better data than the JWST in both sharpness and depth. Therefore, the spectrograph intended for the 2nd port of the Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics (MCAO) system MORFEO@ELT will be the most powerful instrument of the JWST era, revealing phenomena beyond the reach of others. SHARP (http://sharp.brera.inaf.it) is a near-IR (0.95-2.45 mu) spectrograph designed for the 2nd port of MORFEO@ELT, intended to be submitted in the upcoming ESO instrument call. Comprising a Multi-Object Spectrograph, NEXUS, and a multi-Integral Field Unit, VESPER, SHARP extends its wavelength range to ~2.45 μ. Coupled with MCAO-assisted observations, it delivers unprecedented high angular (~30 mas) and spectral resolution, outperforming NIRSpec@JWST (100 mas). MORFEO-SHARP will allow us to study the nearby and the early Universe in unprecedented detail, resolving the first galaxies and the star forming regions within galaxies far back in cosmic time, and providing spectra of individual nearby young stellar objects. This presentation introduces the scientific rationale behind SHARP, showcasing its features and inviting those interested to join the SHARP team.

JAC colloquium - Andrea Miglio
2024-02-14 11:30 - 12:30 | Aula Gratton

Colloquium Letizia Stanghellini - Advances in stellar and galactic evolution with the population of planetary nebula progenitors from the APOGEE DR17 survey
2024-02-20 11:30 - 12:30 | Aula Gratton
Planetary nebulae (PNe) are the ejected gas and dust shells of Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars, which represent the late life of low- and intermediate-mass stars (LIMS). With the advent of the APOGEE DR17 survey, there is a purpose in comparing Red Giants (RGs) and PNe abundances to disclose their similarities and differences since such a comparison has been rarely, and not recently, done in the Milky Way. While we expect similarities in most of the alpha-element distributions across the two populations, given their limited evolution in LIMS, differences in Fe and S abundances allow us to determine their depletion due to grain condensation in post-AGB phases. Differences in N and C between PNe and their progenitors set new limits to their production in the late stages of LIMS evolution. Finally, we use radial metallicity gradients from RGs and PNe and Gaia-calibrated distances to constrain galaxy evolution in the framework of the current chemical evolution models.

colloquium - Andres Gurpide
2024-02-27 11:30 - 12:30 | Aula Gratton

colloquium - Alice Borghese: The zoo of isolated neutron stars
2024-03-12 11:30 - 12:30 | Aula Gratton
Neutron stars have shown diverse characteristics, leading us to classify them into different classes. In this talk, I will focus on the observational properties of isolated neutron stars: from magnetars, the strongest magnets we know of, to central compact objects, the so-called anti-magnetars, stopping by the rotation-powered pulsars and X-ray dim isolated neutron stars. Moreover, I will show you how some sources have exhibited features straddling those of different groups. I will then finish with some considerations on possible evolutionary links between neutron star families.

Colloquium Antonella Barucci - The JAXA sample return MMX (Martian Moon eXploration) mission
2024-03-12 11:30 - 12:30 | Aula Gratton
The JAXA MMX mission will be launched in 2026 to Martian system to carry out three years observations of the Martian moons, and to bring back to Earth in 2031 samples (>10 g) from Phobos. The spacecraft will arrive at Mars system in 2027, injected into Phobos co-orbit, to observe Phobos and monitor Mars’ atmosphere. Deimos will be also explored by several fly-bys.
The mission is devoted to study the origin of Martian moons, to enlarge the knowledge of the Martian system and to assess the possibility of Martian life,.
The major goals of the mission are to decipher the origins of the Martian moons and constrain processes for planetary formation and material transport in the region connecting the inner and outer Solar System. From the Martian moon Phobos, MMX will investigate the transport of water and organic materials across the Solar System and explore how life and habitable environments were created. The mission will clarify the driving mechanism of the transition of the Mars-moon system and add new knowledge to the evolution history of Mars.
An imager spectrometer MIRS (MMX Infrared Spectrometer) has been requested to our team at LESIA-Paris Observatory to accomplish several of the science objective of the mission.
The status of art of the mission will be presented.

colloquium - Srefano Camera
2024-03-19 11:30 - 12:30 | Aula Gratton

colloquium Mikako Matsuura - Dust and molecules in dying stars
2024-03-26 11:30 - 12:30 | Aula Gratton
There is a large debate about how dust grains have been accumulated in the interstellar medium (ISM) of galaxies. One of the major sources of dust grains into the ISM is evolved stars, such as AGB stars, red supergiants and supernovae (SNe). On the other hand, fast-expanding SN blast waves could be so efficient that theoretical models predict that almost entire ISM dust grains ejected by stars can be wiped off by SN explosion. There are still uncertainties in dust evolution in the ISM. We present several results about studies of AGB stars, planetary nebulae (PNe) and SNe in my talk. The first part is GAIA studies of AGB stars, showing the distribution of local dust output from AGB stars. The second part is studies of dust in PN, using JWST, indicating the final re-processing of dust grains before they are integrated into the ISM. Finally, JWST observations capture how dust grains are destroyed by SN blast waves in Supernova 1987A.

colloquium - Giovanni Cresci
2024-04-23 11:30 - 12:30 | Aula Gratton

colloquium Giovanni Poggiali: Looking from micro- to macro-scale: how the exploration of the Solar System can benefit from laboratory experiments on analog and returned samples
2024-04-30 11:30 - 12:30 | Aula Gratton
The exploration of the Solar System’s rocky surfaces of planets and minor bodies using remote sensing benefits from multiple sources of data: from ground-based observations, to orbiter and lander flybys, to returned samples of extraterrestrial material. However, the more data we acquire, the more it becomes clear that our current interpretation techniques (both laboratory and modelling), although improving, are still not sufficient to fully understand our observations. Indeed, the interpretation of remote sensing data could not be separated from intensive laboratory work, which provides a powerful tool for revealing the surface physical state and composition of rocky surfaces. The analysis of complex mixtures of analogous materials remains one of the key laboratory investigations to support remote sensing interpretation, but it is also one of the most challenging experiments, especially when multiple components are used. This talk gives a general overview of the main results from the literature on the efforts to use laboratory data to interpret infrared observations. Some new measurements on the mixing effect of different grain sizes and dark materials are also presented.

colloquium - Alice Borghese
2024-05-07 11:30 - 12:30 | Aula Gratton

colloquium - Matilde Signorini
2024-05-14 11:30 - 12:30 | OAR Monte Porzio Catone – aula Gratton, Via Frascati 33, Roma, RM, 00136, Italia

colloquium - Demetra De Cicco
2024-05-21 11:30 - 12:30 | Aula Gratton

colloquium Ettore Perozzi - The Asteroid Hazard: from Awareness to Operations
2024-06-04 11:30 - 12:30 | Aula Gratton
Over the last 30 years, monitoring the NEO (Near-Earth Object) population has undergone a change of
paradygm. Started as a research activity mainly focussed in investigating the challenging dynamical
behaviour of these small solar system bodies (needing high-accuracy orbit determination, close encounter
modelling, impact monitoring), it is now carried out routinely by dedicated centers at agency level (e.g. the
NASA and ESA Planetary Defence Offices). The NEAR rendezvous with Eros (February 2000) inaugurated the
in-situ exploration of NEOs which, to date, encompasses sample return missions and the successful
Dart/LICIAcube deflection experiment. Infrared orbiting obervatories are planned for further fostering the
NEO discovery rate. Finally, the asteroid hazard has attracted the growing concern of governmental
intitutions, which have established their own programmes and roles, reaching up to the United Nations
(UNOOSA) for global coordination. The transition to a ground- and space-based operational system is
therefore nearing. Within this framework, the (sometimes difficult) interaction between the many souls of
Planetary Defence – science, technology, civil protection, commercial exploitation – is discussed in an
historical perspective.

colloquium - Orsola De Marco
2024-06-19 11:30 - 12:30 | Aula Gratton
