Institute of Astronomy

ContactPiwnice k. Torunia, 87-148 Łysomice
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Astrophysical masers

The formation of high-mass stars is a complex process, being far less understood than it is for low-mass stars. Gas accretion, molecular outflows and shock waves are among the first phenomena indicating star-forming activity that can be studied by mean of radio molecular lines. In the environment of massive stars the radiation of molecules is sometimes amplified by the maser mechanisms and it can be easily detectable with a medium size radio telescope. Furthermore, the maser radiation is observed from deeply embedded protostars and distance galaxies without being distorted by the interstellar medium. Studies with the use of the 32m telescope concerns the search for high-mass stars in the very early stages of evolution.


Group members:

  • prof. dr hab. Marian Szymczak
  • dr hab. Anna Bartkiewicz
  • dr Paweł Wolak
  • mgr Mateusz Olech
  • mgr Rafał Sarniak
  • lic. Michał Durjasz

Newest publications:

  • Szymczak M., Olech M., Sarniak R., Wolak P., Bartkiewicz A. (2018) Monitoring observations of 6.7 GHz methanol masers, MNRAS 474, 219
  • Szymczak M., Olech M., Wolak P., Bartkiewicz A., Gawroński M. (2016) Discovery of periodic and alternating flares of the methanol and water masers in G107.298+5.639, MNRAS 459, L56
  • Bartkiewicz A., Szymczak M., van Langevelde H. J. (2016) European VLBI Network imaging of 6.7 GHz methanol masers, A&A 587, A104
  • Szymczak M., Wolak P., Bartkiewicz A. (2015) Discovery of four periodic methanol masers and updated light curve for a further one, MNRAS, 448, 2284