Astrophysical Origins of Carbon

The 4-day workshop aims to bring together specialists interested in stellar observations,  nucleosynthesis, and chemical enrichment, with a particular emphasis on Carbon - as an element critical for studies of stellar structure and the chemical evolution of galaxies.  Our immediate focus is on nuclear aspects and astrophysical constraints enabled by better observations, models, and reaction rates. 

We will cover new data analysis techniques to increase the accuracy of the measurements, such as the non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) and molecular data, the role of multi-dimensionality in theoretical stellar modeling (structure and atmospheres), nuclear yield predictions, stellar-population synthesis, and the Galactic chemical evolution of C and its isotopes. 

Among the key goals, we will also address the main nuclear reactions and the accuracy of their cross-sections, specifically focussing on those that define the evolution of low, intermediate and massive stars and for which recent advances in nuclear theory have been made. This includes the critical yet difficult to constrain C12+alpha, C12+C12, and C13+alpha reactions, among others, which have implications for stellar structure, light and n-capture nucleosynthesis, white dwarf cooling tracks, but also for the still poorly understood transition between SN II explosions and implosion to a BH. 

We aim to discuss, develop, and promote a more easily accessible virtual framework, in order to make the data and models more easily accessible and interpretable by the community. Our focus will primarily be on ancient stellar populations in the Galaxy and in extragalactic systems, but we will also explore Galactic chemical enrichment across time scales probed by the stellar populations near and far.