WFU Physics Colloquium

TITLE: The Galactic FS CMa type stars: discovery of a new phenomenon

SPEAKER: Professor Anatoly Miroshnichenko,

TIME: Wednesday October 3, 2012 at 4:00 PM

PLACE: Room 101 Olin Physical Laboratory

Cosmic dust is very important for the evolution of the Universe, because it is used for creation of planets and ultimately life. It is partially produced in the interstellar space, but also in the immediate environments of stars. Until recently, only cool stars and very luminous hot stars were considered to be dust producers. I found a new large group of Galactic hot stars with moderately low luminosities that seem to produce even more dust than the luminous hot stars. I will review known types of stars that produce dust and describe properties of the newly discovered group. Hypotheses about the origin and evolutionary state of this group will be presented.