Astrophysique Multi-Echelle
(AME)
Previously « Fluides et Plasmas Astrophysiques » (FPA)
Domains & Methods
• Physical processes in astrophysical plasmas
• Fundamental Physics
• Modelling objects at any scales (from atoms to universe!)
• Numerical simulations
• Databases
• Astrophysics in the lab (lasers, ATER)
• Implication in large projects:
Observations: COROT, FUSE, Keck, VLT, HST, Spitzer, Sloan Digital Sky Survey, RT
DAM Nançay and Kharkov
Experiments: Laser Mégajoule, MHD
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Composition of the team
Permanent (10)
– Alecian G.
PhD students (6)
– Cavet C. *
Associates (5)
– Celerier M-N.
– Cayatte V. *
– Globus N. *
– Cornille M. *
– Grappin R.
– Mouhali W.
– Herpe G. *
– Michaut C. *
– Nguyen C. *
– Leorat J.
– Nottale L.
– Pinto R.
– Megessier C.
– Sauty Ch. *
– Vale-Asari N.
– Stasinska G.
– Schneider J. (Em)
– Vitry R. (Ing.)
– Zahn J-P. (Em)
Temporary (until Oct. 2008)
Boireau L., Cabrera J., Ceccolini
D., da Rocha D., Falize E., Hess
S., Simon-Diaz S.
– Mottez F.  coordinator of the previous team (FPA)
– Zeippen C. 
External associates (12)
Blancard Ch., Bouquet, S., Brun S.,
Cid-Fernandes R., Delahaye F.,
Dubau J., Galopeau P., GonçalvesDarbon A., Mathis S., Meliani Z.,
Michaud G. (Can), Stift, M. (Aut)
(* JAR group)
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Scientific production
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Publications during the FPA period
from 15/10/2004 to 15/10/2008 (referenced by AERES)
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Journals
Conferences
Books
others
Thesis+HDR
119 (for 9 FPA researchers )
138
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Other activities:
Scientific Coordination
– LEA Astrophysique Pologne-France (Stasinska)
– PICS France-Arménie (Alecian)
– Exoplanet Encyclopaedia and IYA2009 “Special Task” (Schneider)
– International working wroup “Oxygen in the Universe (Stasinska)
– Radiative shock experiments on French and Japanese lasers (Michaut)
– “Echanges et Mélanges” : FPA-AME internal seminars (Stasinska)
– Several operations in french “Programmes Nationaux” (PNPS, PNG, PCMI)
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Other activities:
International conferences
Organization as chairs or co-chairs
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Conference « Exoplanets in Multi-Body Systems » Torun (Poland) (4 days, 2008) [Schneider]
Conference « The Cosmic Odyssey of the Elements » Aegina (Greece) (5 days, 2008)
[Stasinska]
• Conference « Planetary Nebulae as Astronomical Tools » Gdansk (Poland) (5 days, 2005)
[Stasinska]
• Conference « Elements stratifications in stars: 40 years of atomic diffusion » Mons (France),
2005 [Alecian]
• Jenam 2007 EAS-S2 Meeting, Yerevan (Armeny) [Alecian]
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Workshop « Super-Earths » Nantes (France) (3days, 2008) [Schneider]
Workshop « Oxygen in the Universe » la Colle-sur-Loup (France) (5 days, 2008) [Stasinska]
Workshop « La Théorie de la Relativité d'Echelle, une base commune à une vision structurelle
du monde » Avignon (France) (2 days 2007) [Nottale]
• Workshop « Planetary Nebulae Near and far » Sasek (Poland), (11 days, 2008) [Stasinska]
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Other activities:
Schools
• « numerical experiments on collisionless plasma » Meudon CIAS (France) (5 days)
2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 [Grappin]
• « From the land of salt to the heavens of SALT » Krakow (Poland) (5 days, 2007)
[Stasinska]
• « Physique Stellaire autour des Grands Lasers » Aussois (France) (5 days, 2008)
[Zahn]
• « Nucléosynthèse stellaire 50 ans après B2FH » Aussois (France) (5 days, 2006)
[Zahn]
• « Les champs magnétiques stellaires » la Rochelle (France) (5 days, 2007) [Zahn]
• « Interaction dans les systèmes composites : étoiles, disques et planètes » Oléron
(France) (5 days, 2005) [Zahn].
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Other activities:
Teaching (other than statutory obligations)
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Cours de physique des plasmas à l'Ecole d'Ingénieurs EPF [Michaut]
Cours de Fortran 90/95 en M2 l'Ecole Doctorale Astronomie et Astrophysique d'Ile
de France [Michaut]
Intervention en collège (classe de 5ème et 4ème)
Master de sciences chirurgicales, Faculté de médecine Denis Diderot, 2008, 2009.
"Relativité d'échelle en biologie". (2h)[Nottale]
cours 3ème cycle à Mexico (2 a 4 heures, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008) [Stasinska]
cours à la XVIII Canary Island Winterschool « The emission Line Universe” :
(2006, 5 heures) [Stasinska]
cours 3ème cycle à l'Université de Beijing (4 heures, 2007) [Stasinska]
cours 3ème cycle à l'Université de Sao Paulo (4 heures, 2007) [Stasinska]
Cours Obs. Paris [Schneider]
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Main collaborations in France
– LUTH, GEPI, LESIA (Observatoire de Paris)
– IGPG
– OHP
– LULI, Ecole Polytechnique Département de Physique Théorique et Appliquée
– CEA/DIF Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences
– CNES
– ESA
– CETP, université Paris-Sud, Laboratoire de Mathématiques d'Orsay,
– Centre des Sciences de la Terre, Université de Dijon
– Université Versailles-St Quentin
– ENS Ulm, Equipe Genexpress, Génomique Fonctionnelle et Biologie des Systèmes pour la Santé
– UMR 6012 Espace, Université d'Avignon
– UMR 5572 (LATT-Toulouse)
– UMR 5024 (GRAAL-Montpellier)
– ENS-Lyon
– UMR 6202 – OCA Nice
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Main collaborations abroad
In Europe
Astrium collaboration: 6 european lab
Austria : Vienna Observatory
Belgium: ROB, Bruxelles, IAG Liège, ULB Bruxelles
Germany: NRL, IPP, Max-Planck Garching
Italy: Obs. Florence
Poland: N. Copernicus Astronomical Centre, Warszawa and Torun, Krakow Observatory
UK: University of York Graduate School of Engineering
Ukraine: Obs-Kiev
Outside Europe
Arménie: BAO
Brazil: UFSC-Florianopolis, IAG- Sao Paulo
Canada: Université de Montréal (PQ), Université de Moncton (NB)
Israel: Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheval Japan: Osaka University
Mexico: UNAM-Mexico, Morelia, Ensenada, INAOE-Puebla
South Africa: University of Cape Town
Spain: IAA-Granada
Switzerland: Obs-Geneva
US: University of Michigan Department of Physics, IA Honolulu
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Scientific topics (without JAR)
• Spectroscopic diagnostics of astrophysical plasmas
• Turbulence, Sun, Solar Wind, and Jupiter magnetosphere
• Exoplanets and Exobiology
• Scale Relativity
• Instabilities and mixing in stellar interiors
• Theory and modelling of element transport processes in stars.
• Turbulence experiment ATER
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Spectroscopic diagnostics of astrophysical plasmas
G. Stasinska and collaborators
Planetary nebulae and HII regions
• design of methods to determine their chemical composition
• comparison with other abundance indicators in galaxies (e.g. stars)
• inferences on nucleosynthesis and on chemical evolution of galaxies
Galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
• analysis of their spectra in terms of stellar content
• analysis of their emission-line properties
• inferences on evolution of galaxies and AGN populations
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Planetary nebulae and HII regions
G. Stasinska,
collab: UNAM(Mexico), INAOE (Mexico), CAMK (Poland), Geneva obs (CH)
Development of a quick pseudo-3D
photoionization code for assymetric
nebulae : application to the most-oxygen
poor PN (PN G 135.9+55.9)
A scenario for the enrichment of the
interstellar medium by metal-rich
droplets which may explain the
abundance bias in HII regions
O/H in the Galactic bulge: PNe and giant
stars give different answers!
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Galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
G. Stasinska, N. Vale-Asari
collab: UFSC (Florianopolis, Brazil), IAG (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
top: observed spectrum of a
weak emission-line galaxy
right: simple stellar
populations accounting for the
observed continuum
bottom: residual spectrum
showing emission lines
~300,000 emission-line SDSS
galaxies in a diagram to
distinguish star-forming galaxies
from AGN hosts.
What are LINERs?
the star formation histories of
strong-line (left) and weak-line
(right) galaxies show that most
LINERs are retired galaxies
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Scientific topics (without JAR)
• Spectroscopic diagnostics of astrophysical plasmas
• Turbulence, Sun, Solar Wind, and Jupiter magnetosphere
• Exoplanets and Exobiology
• Scale Relativity
• Instabilities and mixing in stellar interiors
• Theory and modelling of element transport processes in stars.
• Turbulence experiment ATER
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Turbulence, Sun and Solar Wind
R. Grappin, J. Léorat, R. Pinto
• Search for a self-consistent model of the solar wind
Challenge : include deep layers
density drop from 1 to 10-12
time scales 1 to 10-7
very irregular spatial mesh
• Chromospheric transition
Transmit photons energy upwards
Dissipate energy there into heat
Conduct heat back downwards
Radiate energy
All steps unsteady, turbulent, widely ≠ time scales => CPU demanding
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Turbulence, Sun and Solar Wind
R. Grappin, J. Léorat, R. Pinto
Transmission of movements between
distant points of photosphere
via magnetic loops
(chromospheric transition simplified)
=> Corona acts as a turbulent friction on
photospheric dynamics
(usual « line-tied » Boundary condition false)
=> Coronal heating works
in spite of non-reflective solar surface
Log perp. wavenumber
• MHD turbulence with mean field
Coordinate along loop
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Turbulence, Sun and Solar Wind
R. Grappin, J. Léorat, R. Pinto
• Chromospheric heating by P-waves
Transmission of P-waves reduced with partial ionization
Col S. Leygnac, 2009
• Coronal effects of Alfvén waves
Generating solar plume in an isothermal corona
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Io-Jupiter interaction and acceleration
F. Mottez, S. Hess (Ph-D), collab. P Zarka (LESIA)
• Io-Jupiter decametric radio-emissions (Nançay, Karkhov)
The emissions are caused by accelerated electrons in the Io-Jupiter flux tube
through maser cyclotron instability.
• First observational characterisation of acceleration processes
Acceleration by Alfvén waves and by
electrostatic double layers.
• Simulation of e- acceleration
Simulation of electron motions + Alfvén
waves and/or electric potential jumps.
Computation of the maser cyclotron
instability. Reconstruction of dynamic
spectra : they are similar to those observed.
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Scientific topics (without JAR)
• Spectroscopic diagnostics of astrophysical plasmas
• Turbulence, Sun, Solar Wind, and Jupiter magnetosphere
• Exoplanets and Exobiology
• Scale Relativity
• Instabilities and mixing in stellar interiors
• Theory and modelling of element transport processes in stars.
• Turbulence experiment ATER
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Exoplanets and Exobiology
Juan Cabrera, Laurent Nottale, Jean Schneider
Final goal:
search for “biosignatures” on exoplanets (top priority of ESA “Cosmic Vision”).
Different actions on this pathway:
•Detection of exoplanets
•Understand the dynamics of multi-body exoplanetary systems
•Modelling internal structure and atmospheres of exoplanets
•Optimize and test future biosignatures
• Detection by transits with the CoRoT satellite CoRoT (J. Schneider initiative):
6 giant planets discovered,
The first transiting super-Earth with
the smallest radius ever measured R = 1.65 REarth
M < 11 MEarth (under refinement)
• Detection by direct imaging and spectroscopy of atmospheres of super-Earths:
SEE-COAST (PI) space telescope project to be submitted to ESA + NASA 2015-2025
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Exoplanets and exobiology
Juan Cabrera, Jean Schneider
Detection of multiplanet systems and of exo-moons by perturbation of transit epochs
Detection of exo-moons by mutual
events in direct imaging of exoplanets
Modelling of atmospheres and internal structure
Mass-radius relation of super-Earths as a function
of composition (Grasset, Schneider & Sotin 2009)
Modelling of silicate vapor of the atmosphere of
CoRoT-Exo-7b
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Exoplanets and exobiology
Juan Cabrera, Jean Schneider
• Exobiology
– Observational test of detectability of “Vegetation Red Edge” VRE: example of
Earth as seen from remote space thanks to Earthshine's spectrum
OHP results:
http://www.science.gouv.fr/…
VRE
• In Antarctica: possibility to
monitor 24h Earth's rotation in
Earthshine. Test under way
LUCAS experiment (PI),
collaboration with IPG, GEPI,
OHP, started summer 2008
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Exoplanets and exobiology
Laurent Nottale
• Dynamics of planetary systems
– Architecture of planetary systems using Scale Relativity
Ceres
Mars
Terre
Mercure
Semi-major axis observed
distribution
(a/M*)1/2
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Scientific topics (without JAR)
• Spectroscopic diagnostics of astrophysical plasmas
• Turbulence, Sun, Solar Wind, and Jupiter magnetosphere
• Exoplanets and Exobiology
• Scale Relativity
• Instabilities and mixing in stellar interiors
• Theory and modelling of element transport processes in stars.
• Turbulence experiment ATER
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Scale Relativity
L. Nottale, M.-N. Célérier, P. Galopeau (associé), D. Ceccolini (doctorant †2007)
• Formation and evolution of gravitational structures
* Model of structure formation over many scales
* Hypothesis: fractality of space (additional to space-time
curvature).
* Physical constrain: principle of relativity applied to
scale transformations.
* Consequence: Schrödinger form of motion equations.
• Dark potential
* Other form of these equations: fluid (Euler + continuity) + additional potential energy.
This “dark potential”:
* Spontaneously appear as manifestation of fractal geometry
* Could account for (some of) the effects currently attributed to “dark matter”.
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Scale Relativity (suite)
L. Nottale, M.-N. Célérier, P. Galopeau (associé), D. Ceccolini (doctorant)
• Physics: foundation of quantum mechanics and gauge
theories
 Derivation of the “postulates” of quantum mechanics in a non-differentiable
and fractal geometric framework + principle of scale relativity:
 Quantum tools (complex, spinor, bispinor wave functions) and equations
(Schrödinger, Pauli, K-G, Dirac), Born and von Neumann axioms, etc.
 Applications to the quantum/classical transition and to fractal wave functions
 Derivation of gauge fields and charges (Abelian and non-Abelian) from fractal
geometryof space-time
• Biophysics
Application of the scale-relativity approach to self-organisation and multi-scale
integration in system biology
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Scale Relativity (continuation)
L. Nottale, M.-N. Célérier, P. Galopeau (associé), D. Ceccolini (doctorant)
Comparaison between theoretical prediction and experimental values of strong
coupling constant as(mZ)
Data: Particle Data Group 1992-2006
Date of theoretical prediction : 1992 !
(LN 1992, IJMPA 7,4899)
Theoretical prediction:
0.1165±0.0005 (1992)
Accounting for top quark
mass (known after 1992),
becomes
0.1173±0.0004
(from expected critical value
42 of inverse coupling at
Planck energy scale and
running from Planck to Z
scales using renormalization
group equations with special
scale-relativistic correction)
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Scale Relativity (continuation)
L. Nottale, M.-N. Célérier, P. Galopeau (associé), D. Ceccolini (doctorant)
Cosmological constant (« dark energy »): comparison between theoretical estimate
(1993) and measured values
Date of theoretical estimate : 1993 !
(LN 1993, Fractal Space-Time and
Microphysics, pp. 302-305)
Expected value:
h2=0.38874±0.00012
(from calculation of
gravitational self-energy
density of quantum
fluctuations)
Gunn-Tinsley
LN, Hubble
diagram of
Infrared
ellipticals
LN,
age
problem
Early observational estimates
SNeI
SNe,
WMAP
1yr
lensing
SNe,
WMAP 3yr
lensing
SNe,
WMAP 5yr
lensing
Recent measurements
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Scientific topics (without JAR)
• Spectroscopic diagnostics of astrophysical plasmas
• Turbulence, Sun, Solar Wind, and Jupiter magnetosphere
• Exoplanets and Exobiology
• Scale Relativity
• Instabilities and mixing in stellar interiors
• Theory and modelling of element transport processes in stars.
• Turbulence experiment ATER
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Instabilities and mixing in stellar interiors
J.-P. Zahn; A. S. Brun, S. Mathis (SAp/CEA, chercheurs associés)
• Rotational mixing in stellar radiation zones
That mixing explains the
anomalies of chemical
composition observed at the
surface of stars and their
internal rotation profile; the
model is being applied to
stars observed with CoRoT.
• Thermohaline mixing in red giant stars
Due to an inversion of the molecular weight gradient, thermohaline instability
accounts for the moderate enrichment in 3He of our Galaxy; until now 3He was
overestimated with standard models (with C. Charbonnel).
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Instabilities and mixing in stellar interiors
J.-P. Zahn; A. S. Brun, S. Mathis (SAp/CEA, chercheurs associés)
• A fossil field in the interior of the Sun?
A fossil field in the radiative interior of the Sun
would diffuse and penetrate into the convection
zone, and it would imprint the differential
rotation thereof on the whole radiation zone.
Helioseismology proved the contrary: the
radiation zone is in uniform rotation. Conclusion:
the Sun has no such fossil field.
convection
zone
field lines
radiation zone
• Future work
o Modelling of CoRoT targets with rotational
mixing.
o Tidal evolution of extrasolar systems
rotation
rate
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Scientific topics (without JAR)
• Spectroscopic diagnostics of astrophysical plasmas
• Turbulence, Sun, Solar Wind, and Jupiter magnetosphere
• Exoplanets and Exobiology
• Scale Relativity
• Instabilities and mixing in stellar interiors
• Theory and modelling of element transport processes in stars.
• Turbulence experiment ATER
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Theory and modelling of element transport
G. Alecian & collaborators (F. LeBlanc, M. Stift)
• Diffusion processes in stellar
interiors
• Diffusion processes in magnetic
atmospheres
A new code for polarized radiation
transfer and atomic diffusion
Computed 2-D stratification
Real B
Ti
Teff=8500K
Dipolar field B:
20 kG at the pole
Codes CaratStrat
& CaratVisu
(Alecian & Stift 2007)
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Theory and modelling of element transport
G. Alecian & collaborators (Gebran, Auvergne, Richard, Samadi, Weiss, Baglin)
• Looking for pulsations through CoRoT ligthcurves
Possibly the first detection of pulsations in a HgMn star.
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Scientific topics (without JAR)
• Spectroscopic diagnostics of astrophysical plasmas
• Turbulence, Sun, Solar Wind, and Jupiter magnetosphere
• Exoplanets and Exobiology
• Scale Relativity
• Instabilities and mixing in stellar interiors
• Theory and modelling of element transport processes in stars.
• Turbulence experiment ATER
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Experimental hydrodynamics: ATER facility
« Agitateur pour la Turbulence En Rotation »
W. Mouhali , J. Léorat , T. Lehner R. Vitry
• Motivations(1): find a driving configuration for fluid dynamo
Precession forcing is closer to natural dynamos than contra-rotating impellers (cf
Cadarache experiment). Large scale forcing is a priori favourable.
• Motivations(2): hydro simulations at Re=UL/ν> 105 not feasible
• Motivations (3): Physics issues:global circulation ? Differential rotation ?
transition laminar/turbulent ?
•Cylindrical container
(diameter= 300 mm, length between 300 and 400 mm)
•Particle Image Velocimetry (home made)
•Control parameter : precession rate =Ωp/Ωr
=> Forcing m=1 modes + parity invariance(r->-r)
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Experimental hydrodynamic: ATER facility
« Agitateur pour la Turbulence En Rotation »
W. Mouhali , J. Léorat , T. Lehner R. Vitry
• Weak forcing: inertial waves
(m=1)
Vorticity
contours
• Medium forcing: cyclonic
vortices (quasi-steady non
linear structures)
Non-linear coupling (resonant
triad) => differential rotation
(m=0)
• Above turbulence threshold:
6 successive
times
quasi-homogeneous
turbulence
Global rotation is inhibited
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Experimental hydrodynamic: ATER facility
« Agitateur pour la Turbulence En Rotation »
W. Mouhali , J. Léorat , T. Lehner R. Vitry
Azimuthal speed in container
frame : differential rotation (a
typical example, discard r > 0.7)
Related works in progress:
- ellipsoïdal container to be installed on ATER (cf LGIT- Grenoble)
- kinematical dynamo including cyclonic vortices (with R. Laguerre, ULB and
SFEMaNS code)
-Simulations of rotating flows with shear (Ivan Delbende, LIMSI and M. Rossi, UP6)
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Prospects (1)
 Planetary Nebulae and HII regions: Put chemical composition analysis on
firmer grounds
 Statistical studies of galaxies: Refine methods for low redshifts, extend them to
higher redshifts and other wavelengths (Stasinska)
 Study of the coupling of solar photosphere-corona-wind. Solar wind
modelling: transport to 2D/3D the time-dependent model including dense
layers (current work). Take into account radiative transfer in chromosphere
(Grappin)
 Detection by direct imaging. Detection of exo-moons by mutual events in direct
imaging of exoplanets, LUCAS experiment (Schneider)
 Continuation of the Scale Relativity development, namely about "dark
potential" to account for (some of) the effects currently attributed to “dark
matter” (Nottale)
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Prospects (2)
 Modelling of CoRoT targets with rotational mixing. (Zahn)
 Tidal evolution of extrasolar systems (Zahn)
 3D-modelling of element distribution in magnetic atmospheres (Alecian)
 The numerical challenge of time-dependent diffusion stellar atmospheres
(Alecian)
 Development of ATER :
 ellipsoidal container to be installed on ATER (cf LGIT- Grenoble).
 Kinematical dynamo including cyclonic vortices (with R. Laguerre, ULB and SFEMaNS code).
 Simulations of rotating flows with shear (Ivan Delbende, LIMSI and M. Rossi, UP6)
 + JAR prospects
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