Nonlinear Stellar Pulsations

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ABSTRACT AST-9819608Buchler, J. RobertThis research seeks to improve the theoretical understanding of the observed characteristics of periodic and nonperiodic variable stars, whose energy output changes on timescales of days to weeks. Understanding the physics of these types of luminous variable stars impacts areas beyond the field of stellar research. Since their luminosities are related to the type of variability they exhibit, this work contributes directly to calibrating the distances to structures within our Galaxy, and also to the extragalactic distance scale. A detailed set of convective hydrodynamic models, supplemented by semi-analytical computations, will be constructed for classical variables such as Cepheids and RR Lyrae stars. In addition, this code will be applied to more exotic nonperiodic variables such as W Virginis and RV Tauri stars that are often found in the older populations of the Galaxy.Funding for this project was provided by the NSF programs for Stellar Astronomy & Astrophysics (SAA) and the International Programs, Central and Eastern Europe (INT).