Presenter: Christian Ikechukwu Eze 

Affiliations: University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria and Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland 

Abstract: 

Massive stars occur mostly in binaries or multiples, with some hosting pulsating components. Just as the sound of a guitar is produced when its strings excite resonances in the guitar body at natural frequencies, the energy trapped within a star causes it to oscillate at its natural eigenfrequencies. These pulsations cause the outer layers of the star to vary in brightness as it expands and contracts. These rare systems, where massive stars both pulsate and orbit in eclipsing binaries, offer an unparalleled laboratory for probing the internal physics of high-mass stars. The combination of precise photometric and spectroscopic data from eclipses with asteroseismic signals gives new insights into stellar interiors, including core structure, rotational profiles, and mixing processes. Leveraging data from space-based missions such as Kepler and TESS, alongside ground-based campaigns, this seminar explores how the interplay between stellar pulsations and binary interactions enables precise constraints on fundamental stellar parameters and evolutionary pathways of massive stars. Join us as we decode the rhythmic pulses of the cosmos and uncover the hidden symphony within these extraordinary stellar duets.
 

Biography

Christian Ikechukwu Eze is a Nigerian astrophysicist and lecturer at the Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). He is also a doctoral researcher at the Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center (CAMK) in Warsaw, Poland and currently on a three-month research visit (funded by Bekker NAWA fellowship programme) to the Institute of Astronomy, KU Leuven, Belgium. His doctoral research focuses on the asteroseismology of massive stars in eclipsing binaries, contributing to the OPUS research project funded by the Polish National Science Center (NCN). Eze's major research interests encompass asteroseismology, stellar variability and spectroscopy. He has published several articles in reputable journals and received outstanding academic awards. Beyond his academic pursuits, Eze has been actively involved in international collaborations. He served as a Consortium Board member and UNN Local Contact Person for the Pan African Planetary and Space Science Network (PAPSSN). Currently, he is a member of the consortium and the leader of Task 3.1 of Work Package 3 in the Focus on Africa Space Science and Technology for Future Development (FAST4Future). Eze is affiliated with professional organizations such as the African Astronomical Society (AfAS) and the Astronomical Society of Nigeria (ASN), reflecting his commitment to advancing astrophysical research and education.