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The importance of computer science in astrophysical research has increased tremendously over the past 15 years. Indeed, as observational facilities and missions are constantly pushing their precision limit, theorists need to provide observers with more and more realistic numerical models. These models need to be verified, validated, and their uncertainties must be assessed. In this talk, I will present the results of two independent numerical studies aiming at solving some fundamental problems in stellar astrophysics. First, I will explain how we have used different 3D hydrodynamics codes to simulate stellar mergers. In particular I will focus on the verification and validation steps, and describe a new algorithm to compute self-gravity that I have developed and implemented in a grid-based code. Then, I will introduce the concept of a ‘stellar evolution' code which models the full evolution of a star, from its birth until its death. I will present a code comparison of several such codes widely used by the astrophysical community, and assess their systematic uncertainties. These modeling uncertainties must be taken into account by observers if they wish to derive observed parameters more reliably.
Jean-Claude Passy (University of Bonn)
Postdoc
Jean-Claude Passy is postdoctoral researcher in the Stellar Physics Group at the Argelander-Institut fur Astronomie in Bonn, Germany. Prior to this, he completed his Ph.D. at the University of Victoria and the American Museum of Natural History, under the joined supervision of Orsola De Marco, Falk Herwig, and Mordecai-Mark Mac Low. His research interests include stellar evolution, and the theory and modeling of binary interactions. He particularly enjoys using hydrodynamical and stellar evolution codes.