Searching for He-rich post-AGB stars in clos binaries systems

• Applicant: Dr. Thorsten Nagel
• Subject Area: Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Term: from 2014 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 267375256

The origin of He-dominated post-AGB stars is still not understood. While very late thermal pulse scenarios can explain the C-dominated surface abundances, no single star evolutionary scenario is able to explain He-dominated post-AGB stars. The ejection of a common envelope in a previous evolutionary stage could explain how these stars have lost their hydrogen-rich envelope. With medium-resolution spectroscopy we aim to measure radial velocity shifts of promising close binary candidates. The detection of these systems would provide important information on the evolutionary origin of He-dominated post-AGB stars.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants