Applying basic physics to astrophysical fundamental questions: 1) Can random field theory explain the universality of the stellar initial mass function (IMF)? 2) Can statistical thermodynamics explain (at least part of) the dark energy?
by
Tsung-Dao Lee Institute
Host: Dong Lai
Location: TDLI, Open Area (4F-SW)
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Meeting ID: 927369158 (no password）
Abstract:
The origin of the stellar initial mass function (IMF) and its observed universality over different environments remains a major question in astrophysics. We will examine how applying the theory of random fields to gravo-turbulent media can shed light on this problem. Similarly, the nature of dark energy in the universe is undoubtedly the key question today in cosmology. We will examine how basic statistical thermodynamics can contribute answering this question.
Biography:
Professor Gilles Chabrier graduated in theoretical physics. He did his PhD at the International Center for Theoretical Physics, in Trieste, Italy and in Paris. He switched to astrophysics as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Rochester (USA). He is the Founder and the Head of the astrophysics group of Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon (France) and a professor at the University of Exeter (UK).
Professor Chabrier received several national and international awards, Johann Wempe Prize (2004), Silver Medal of CNRS (2006), Grand Prix Jean Ricard of the French Physical Society (2010), Eddington Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society (2011), Grand Prix Ampère of the Académie des Sciences (2014), Fred Hoyle Medal and Prize of the Institute of Physics (IOP) (2019) and Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society (2024). He has been elected Fellow of the Institute of Physics (FInstP).
His research ranges from dense matter physics to stellar and planetary physics, star formation and galactic astronomy.
