Université Paris Cité receives 2 grants from Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions programme !

Projet OCEANS : Overcoming challenges in the evolution and nature of massive stars, Sylvain Chaty

Massive stars are the cornerstone of the dynamic and chemical evolution of the universe. They enrich it as they evolve, with some of their matter ejected by energetic winds. Despite their importance, the evolution of massive stars, from their birth to their death in spectacular supernova explosions, still hides many mysteries. This is due to crucial gaps in our knowledge, particularly of the physical processes taking place inside stars and their atmospheres, as well as the mutual influence of paired stars, i.e. stars orbiting each other. The ultimate goal of the OCEANS project, coordinated by Professor Sylvain Chaty at Université Paris Cité, is to elucidate the physical properties and evolution of massive stars, as well as their contribution to the emission of gravitational waves generated by the merger of neutron stars and/or black holes. The results obtained will not only provide a better understanding of the evolution of massive stars, but will also produce major advances in related fields such as galaxy evolution and the evolution of the universe.

To achieve this, the OCEANS project is setting up a multidisciplinary, international network of researchers on the European and American continents, with expertise in various disciplines and experience in theory and observations.

“We will exploit public data archives and develop machine-learning algorithms to detect massive stars in binary and multiple systems,” says Sylvain Chaty. “The aim is to classify them, and create statistically significant samples at various stages of their evolution,” continues the project coordinator.

In OCEANS, researchers, PhD students and post-docs will develop signal processing methods for analyzing stellar properties, and numerical codes to reveal the impact of stellar interaction and matter ejection on the evolution of stars.

Most of the work will be carried out by doctoral and post-doctoral students, trained in modern observation and data analysis techniques, machine learning algorithms and high-performance computing techniques. In particular, the project will aim to equip them with excellent skills for their future careers.

“We will organise schools, workshops and educational activities aimed at sharing knowledge and disseminating our results, while making major breakthroughs and broadening Europe’s leadership role in fundamental research,” explains Sylvain Chaty.

Project  QCOMICAL – Quantum Computing and its Calculi, Delia Kesner

Quantum computers are based on the principles of quantum mechanics, and use quantum bits (qbits) rather than bits as the basic unit of information. Like Schrödinger’s cat, each quantum bit can be in a superposition of 0 and 1 at the same time.  Using quantum properties such as superposition and entanglement, quantum computers and quantum algorithms can perform complex calculations. Quantum computers are more powerful than traditional computers, but also more difficult to programme.

The QCOMICAL project aims to investigate the theory, principles and formalisms needed to design quantum programming languages to ensure that quantum programs work as intended. In addition, the project will study real-world models of linear photonic quantum computing, which allow information to be transmitted via photons. QCOMICAL aims to encourage new developments in the theory of quantum programming languages. The project aims to foster new interactions between participants and achieve substantial advances beyond the current state of knowledge in quantum computing.

The consortium includes partners from Argentina (Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Universidad de Buenos Aires), Uruguay (Universidad de la República), France (Aix-Marseille Université, Université de Lorraine, Université Grenoble Alpes, Université Paris-Est Créteil, Université Paris-Saclay) and Italy (Università di Pisa, Università degli Studi di Urbino Carlo Bo, Università degli Studi di Cagliari).

Did you know?

Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions Staff Exchanges programme finances collaborative projects and promotes staff mobility between consortium members. The calls are “bottom-up”; all research themes are eligible. In addition to the OCEANS & QCOMICAL projects, Université Paris Cité is coordinating Guillaume Patanchon’s CMB-Inflate project.

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