Cool stars like the Sun are surrounded by a corona, a million degree plasma extending far beyond the visible photosphere. The stellar wind is ionized gas ejected from the outer portions of the corona at speeds of hundreds of km/sec. SSP scientists are world leaders in applying spectroscopy to study the physical conditions of stellar coronae and winds and in developing theoretical models to explain these observations.

Project Links

Astrophysical Plasma Emission Database (APED)
Kurucz Database & Model Atmospheres
Pandora Non-LTE Model Atmosphere Program

People

Andrea Dupree, Nancy S. Brickhouse, Steven R. Cranmer, Larry D. Gardner, Margarita Karovska, John Kohl, Massimo Marengo, Peter Schuller, Leonard Strachan, Adriaan van Ballegooijen