Dr. Raphael Hirschi

Title: Reader
Phone: (+44) 01782 7 33324
Email:
Location: Lennard-Jones 2.09
Role:
Contacting me: Phone, email or come to my room
Hirschi_Raphael

I was appointed as an RCUK Academic Fellow at Keele University in May 2007 and since 2008, I am also a visiting scientist at the www.IPMU.jp , in Tokyo, Japan. Previously I was a Postdoc at the University of Basel in Switzerland (CH). My undergraduate degree (including masters) in Physics was obtained from the EPFL (Federal Institue of Technology in Lausanne, CH) in 1999. In 1999-2000, I did a one-year industrial training with Mitsubishi Electric in Amagasaki (next to Osaka, Japan). I did my PhD at the University of Geneva (CH) in 2004, under the supervision of Profs Maeder and Meynet on the topic: ‘Massive Rotating Stars: the Road to Supernova Explosions’.

With many collaborators (GB, CH, USA, Japan), I study massive stars and related topics like gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), supernovae (SNe) and the origin of elements by performing numerical simulations. Models are being computed at metallicities ranging from solar down to very low metallicities and from the main sequence until the pre-supernova stage. These models are able to predict properties of the star during its evolution (mass, surface composition and position in the HR diagram), long and soft GRB rates coming from single stars and the production of chemical elements in massive stars.

See my personal web page for further information.

Selected Publications

  • Jones S, Hirschi R, Nomoto K, Fischer T, Timmes FX, Herwig F, Paxton B, Toki H, Suzuki T, Martinez-Pinedo G, Lam YH, Bertolli MG. 2013. ADVANCED BURNING STAGES AND FATE OF 8-10 M-circle dot STARS. ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, vol. 772(2), Article ARTN 150. link> doi>
  • Toki H, Suzuki T, Nomoto K, Jones S, Hirschi R. 2013. Detailed beta-transition rates for URCA nuclear pairs in 8-10 solar-mass stars. PHYSICAL REVIEW C, vol. 88(1), Article ARTN 015806. link> doi>
  • Pignatari M, Zinner E, Bertolli MG, Trappitsch R, Hoppe P, Rauscher T, Fryer C, Herwig F, Hirschi R, Timmes FX, Thielemann F-K, Collaboration N. 2013. SILICON CARBIDE GRAINS OF TYPE C PROVIDE EVIDENCE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF THE UNSTABLE ISOTOPE Si-32 IN SUPERNOVAE. ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS, vol. 771(1), Article ARTN L7. link> doi>
  • Yusof N, Hirschi R, Meynet G, Crowther PA, Ekstrom S, Frischknecht U, Georgy C, Kassim HA, Schnurr O. 2013. Evolution and fate of very massive stars. link> doi> link>
  • Cescutti G, Chiappini C, Hirschi R, Meynet G, Frischknecht U. 2013. The s-process in the Galactic halo: the fifth signature of spinstars in the early Universe?. ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, vol. 553, Article UNSP A51. link> doi>

Full Publications List show

Journal Articles

  • Jones S, Hirschi R, Nomoto K, Fischer T, Timmes FX, Herwig F, Paxton B, Toki H, Suzuki T, Martinez-Pinedo G, Lam YH, Bertolli MG. 2013. ADVANCED BURNING STAGES AND FATE OF 8-10 M-circle dot STARS. ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, vol. 772(2), Article ARTN 150. link> doi>
  • Toki H, Suzuki T, Nomoto K, Jones S, Hirschi R. 2013. Detailed beta-transition rates for URCA nuclear pairs in 8-10 solar-mass stars. PHYSICAL REVIEW C, vol. 88(1), Article ARTN 015806. link> doi>
  • Pignatari M, Zinner E, Bertolli MG, Trappitsch R, Hoppe P, Rauscher T, Fryer C, Herwig F, Hirschi R, Timmes FX, Thielemann F-K, Collaboration N. 2013. SILICON CARBIDE GRAINS OF TYPE C PROVIDE EVIDENCE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF THE UNSTABLE ISOTOPE Si-32 IN SUPERNOVAE. ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS, vol. 771(1), Article ARTN L7. link> doi>
  • Yusof N, Hirschi R, Meynet G, Crowther PA, Ekstrom S, Frischknecht U, Georgy C, Kassim HA, Schnurr O. 2013. Evolution and fate of very massive stars. link> doi> link>
  • Cescutti G, Chiappini C, Hirschi R, Meynet G, Frischknecht U. 2013. The s-process in the Galactic halo: the fifth signature of spinstars in the early Universe?. ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, vol. 553, Article UNSP A51. link> doi>
  • Pignatari M, Wiescher M, Timmes FX, de Boer RJ, Thielemann F-K, Fryer C, Heger A, Herwig F, Hirschi R, Collaboration N. 2013. PRODUCTION OF CARBON-RICH PRESOLAR GRAINS FROM MASSIVE STARS. ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS, vol. 767(2), Article ARTN L22. link> doi>
  • Pignatari M, Hirschi R, Wiescher M, Gallino R, Bennett M, Beard M, Fryer C, Herwig F, Rockefeller G, Timmes FX, Collaboration N. 2013. THE C-12+C-12 REACTION AND THE IMPACT ON NUCLEOSYNTHESIS IN MASSIVE STARS. ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, vol. 762(1), Article ARTN 31. link> doi>
  • Muijres L, Vink JS, de Koter A, Hirschi R, Langer N, Yoon S-C. 2012. Mass-loss predictions for evolved very metal-poor massive stars. ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, vol. 546, Article ARTN A42. link> doi>
  • Georgy C, Ekstroem S, Meynet G, Massey P, Levesque EM, Hirschi R, Eggenberger P, Maeder A. 2012. Grids of stellar models with rotation II. WR populations and supernovae/GRB progenitors at Z=0.014. ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, vol. 542, Article ARTN A29. link> doi>
  • Massimi C, Koehler P, Bisterzo S, Colonna N, Gallino R, Gunsing F, Kaeppeler F, Lorusso G, Mengoni A, Pignatari M, Vannini G, Abbondanno U, Aerts G, Alvarez H, Alvarez-Velarde F, Andriamonje S, Andrzejewski J, Assimakopoulos P, Audouin L, Badurek G, Barbagallo M, Baumann P, Becvar F, Belloni F, Bennett M, Berthoumieux E, Calviani M, Calvino F, Cano-Ott D, Capote R, Carrapico C, Carrillo de Albornoz A, Cennini P, Chepel V, Chiaveri E, Cortes G, Couture A, Cox J, Dahlfors M, David S, Dillmann I, Dolfini R, Domingo-Pardo C, Dridi W, Duran I, Eleftheriadis C, Embid-Segura M, Ferrant L, Ferrari A, Ferreira-Marques R, Fitzpatrick L, Frais-Koelbl H, Fujii K, Furman W, Goncalves I, Gonzalez-Romero E, Goverdovski A, Gramegna F, Griesmayer E, Guerrero C, Haas B, Haight R, Heil M, Herrera-Martinez A, Herwig F, Hirschi R, Igashira M, Isaev S, Jericha E, Kadi Y, Karadimos D, Karamanis D, Kerveno M, Ketlerov V, Konovalov V, Kopecky S, Kossionides E, Krticka M, Lampoudis C, Leeb H, Lederer C, Lindote A, Lopes I, Losito R, Lozano M, Lukic S, Marganiec J, Marques L, Marrone S, Martinez T, Mastinu P, Mendoza E, Milazzo PM, Moreau C, Mosconi M, Neves F, Oberhummer H, O'Brien S, Oshima M, Pancin J, Papachristodoulou C, Papadopoulos C, Paradela C, Patronis N, Pavlik A, Pavlopoulos P, Perrot L, Pigni MT, Plag R, Plompen A, Plukis A, Poch A, Praena J, Pretel C, Quesada J, Rauscher T, Reifarth R, Rockefeller G, Rosetti M, Rubbia C, Rudolf G, Salgado J, Santos C, Sarchiapone L, Sarmento R, Savvidis I, Stephan C, Tagliente G, Tain JL, Tarrio D, Tassan-Got L, Tavora L, Terlizzi R, Vaz P, Ventura A, Villamarin D, Vlachoudis V, Vlastou R, Voss F, Walter S, Wendler H, Wiescher M, Wisshak K, Collaboration NTOF. 2012. Resonance neutron-capture cross sections of stable magnesium isotopes and their astrophysical implications. PHYSICAL REVIEW C, vol. 85(4), Article ARTN 044615. link> doi>
  • Bennett ME, Hirschi R, Pignatari M, Diehl S, Fryer C, Herwig F, Hungerford A, Nomoto K, Rockefeller G, Timmes FX, Wiescher M. 2012. The effect of C-12+C-12 rate uncertainties on the evolution and nucleosynthesis of massive stars. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, vol. 420(4), 3047-3070. link> doi>
  • Frischknecht U, Hirschi R, Thielemann F-K. 2012. Non-standard s-process in low metallicity massive rotating stars. ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, vol. 538, Article ARTN L2. link> doi>
  • Ekstroem S, Georgy C, Eggenberger P, Meynet G, Mowlavi N, Wyttenbach A, Granada A, Decressin T, Hirschi R, Frischknecht U, Charbonnel C, Maeder A. 2012. Grids of stellar models with rotation I. Models from 0.8 to 120 M-circle dot at solar metallicity (Z=0.014). ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, vol. 537, Article ARTN A146. link> doi>
  • Suda T, Hirschi R, Fujimoto MY. 2011. STELLAR EVOLUTION CONSTRAINTS ON THE TRIPLE-alpha REACTION RATE. ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, vol. 741(1), Article ARTN 61. link> doi>
  • Chiappini C, Frischknecht U, Meynet G, Hirschi R, Barbuy B, Pignatari M, Decressin T, Maeder A. 2011. Imprints of fast-rotating massive stars in the Galactic Bulge. NATURE, vol. 472(7344), 454-457. link> doi>
  • Herwig F, Pignatari M, Woodward PR, Porter DH, Rockefeller G, Fryer CL, Bennett M, Hirschi R. 2011. CONVECTIVE-REACTIVE PROTON-C-12 COMBUSTION IN SAKURAI'S OBJECT (V4334 SAGITTARII) AND IMPLICATIONS FOR THE EVOLUTION AND YIELDS FROM THE FIRST GENERATIONS OF STARS. ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, vol. 727(2), Article ARTN 89. link> doi>
  • Frischknecht U, Hirschi R, Meynet G, Ekstroem S, Georgy C, Rauscher T, Winteler C, Thielemann F-K. 2010. Constraints on rotational mixing from surface evolution of light elements in massive stars. ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, vol. 522, Article ARTN A39. link> doi>
  • Crowther PA, Schnurr O, Hirschi R, Yusof N, Parker RJ, Goodwin SP, Abu Kassim H. 2010. The R136 star cluster hosts several stars whose individual masses greatly exceed the accepted 150 M-circle dot stellar mass limit. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, vol. 408(2), 731-751. link> doi>
  • Meynet G, Hirschi R, Ekstrom S, Maeder A, Georgy C, Eggenberger P, Chiappini C. 2010. Are C-rich ultra iron-poor stars also He-rich?. ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, vol. 521, Article ARTN A30. link> doi>
  • Hirschi R and Maeder A. 2010. The GSF instability and turbulence do not account for the relatively low rotation rate of pulsars. ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, vol. 519, Article ARTN A16. link> doi>
  • Abu Kassim H, Yusof N, Hirschi R, Eggenberger P. 2010. Effects of new nuclear reaction rates on the solar neutrino fluxes. ASTROPHYSICS AND SPACE SCIENCE, vol. 328(1-2), 163-166. link> doi>
  • Pignatari M, Gallino R, Meynet G, Hirschi R, Herwig F, Wiescher M. 2008. THE s-PROCESS IN MASSIVE STARS AT LOW METALLICITY: THE EFFECT OF PRIMARY N-14 FROM FAST ROTATING STARS. ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS, vol. 687(2), L95-L98. link> doi>
  • Ekstroem S, Meynet G, Chiappini C, Hirschi R, Maeder A. 2008. Effects of rotation on the evolution of primordial stars. ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, vol. 489(2), 685-698. link> doi>
  • Eggenberger P, Meynet G, Maeder A, Hirschi R, Charbonnel C, Talon S, Ekstroem S. 2008. The Geneva stellar evolution code. ASTROPHYSICS AND SPACE SCIENCE, vol. 316(1-4), 43-54. link> doi>
  • Chiappini C, Ekstroem S, Meynet G, Hirschi R, Maeder A, Charbonnel C. 2008. A new imprint of fast rotators: low C-12/C-13 ratios in extremely metal-poor halo stars. ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS, vol. 479(1), L9-L12. link> doi>
  • HIRSCHI R. 2007. Very low-metallicity massive stars: Pre-SN evolution models and primary nitrogen production. Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 461(2), 571-583. doi>
  • HIRSCHI R, Maeder A, Meynet G. 2005. Stellar evolution with rotation:XIII. Predicted GRB rates at various Z. Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 443(2), 581-591. doi>
  • HIRSCHI R, Maeder A, Meynet G. 2005. Yields of rotating stars at solar metallicity. Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 433, 1013-1022. doi>
  • HIRSCHI R, Meynet G, Maeder A. 2004. Stellar evolution with rotation. XII, Pre-supernova models. Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 425(2), 649-670. doi>

Other

  • Suda T, Hirschi R, Fujimoto MY. 2012. Triple-alpha Reaction Rate Constrained by Stellar Evolution Models. ORIGIN OF MATTER AND EVOLUTION OF GALAXIES 2011 (vol. 1484, pp. 263-268). link> doi>
  • Frischknecht U, Hirschi R, Meynet G, Ekstroem S, Georgy C, Rauscher T, Winteler C, Thielemann F-K. 2010. Boron depletion in 9 to 15 M(circle dot) stars with rotation. LIGHT ELEMENTS IN THE UNIVERSE (vol. 5, pp. 421-422). link> doi>
  • Meynet G, Hirschi R, Ekstrom S, Maeder A, Georgy C, Eggenberger P, Chiappini C. 2010. Nucleosynthesis in Rotating massive stars and Abundances in the Early Galaxy. CHEMICAL ABUNDANCES IN THE UNIVERSE: CONNECTING FIRST STARS TO PLANETS (vol. 5, pp. 98-105). link> doi>
  • Hirschi R, Meynet G, Maeder A, Ekstroem S, Georgy C. 2010. Stellar Evolution in the Upper HR Diagram. HOT AND COOL: BRIDGING GAPS IN MASSIVE-STAR EVOLUTION (vol. 425, pp. 13-22). link>
  • Bennett ME, Hirschi R, Pignatari M, Diehl S, Fryer C, Herwig F, Hungerford A, Magkotsios G, Rockefeller G, Timmes F, Wiescher M, Young P. 2010. The effect of C-12+C-12 rate uncertainties on s-process yields. NUCLEAR PHYSICS IN ASTROPHYSICS IV (NPAIV 2009) (vol. 202). link> doi>
  • Suda T, Hirschi R, Fujimoto MY. 2010. The Effect of the Triple-alpha Reaction Rate on Stellar Evolution at Low-Metallicity. TOURS SYMPOSIUM ON NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS - VII (vol. 1238, pp. 122-125). link> doi>
  • Ekstroem S, Meynet G, Maeder A, Chiappini C, Georgy C, Hirschi R. 2010. Theoretical stellar Delta Y/Delta O in the early Universe. LIGHT ELEMENTS IN THE UNIVERSE (vol. 5, pp. 447-452). link>
  • Meynet G, Hirschi R, Ekstrom S, Maeder A, Georgy C, Eggenberger P, Chiappini C. 2010. What helium and lithium can tell us about CEMP stars?. LIGHT ELEMENTS IN THE UNIVERSE (vol. 5, pp. 141-146). link> doi>
  • Meynet G, Chiappini C, Georgy C, Pignatari M, Hirschi R, Ekstroem S, Maeder A. 2009. Evolution and chemical and dynamical effects of high-mass stars. GALAXY DISK IN COSMOLOGICAL CONTEXT, PROCEEDINGS OF THE 254TH SYMPOSIUM OF THE IAU (vol. 4, pp. 325-336). link> doi>
  • Chiappini C, Ekstroem S, Meynet G, Hirschi R, Maeder A. 2009. HUNTING FOR THE IMPRINTS OF THE FIRST STARS. XII IAU REGIONAL LATIN AMERICAN MEETING (vol. 35, pp. 207-208). link>
  • Hirschi R, Ekstroem S, Georgy C, Meynet G, Maeder A. 2009. Stellar evolution models at the Magellanic Cloud metallicities. MAGELLANIC SYSTEM: STARS, GAS, AND GALAXIES (vol. 4, pp. 337-342). link> doi>
  • Meynet G, Ekstroem S, Georgy C, Maeder A, Hirschi R. 2008. Massive star evolution: from the early to the present day Universe. ART OF MODELLING STARS IN THE 21ST CENTURY (vol. 4, pp. 317-327). link> doi>
  • Ekstroem S, Meynet G, Hirschi R, Maeder A. 2008. Powerful explosions at Z=0?. LOW-METALLICITY STAR FORMATION: FROM THE FIRST STARS TO DWARF GALAXIES (vol. 4, pp. 194-198). link> doi>
  • Meynet G, Ekstroem S, Maeder A, Hirschi R, Chiappini C, Georgy C. 2008. SPINSTARS at low metallicities. FIRST STARS III (vol. 990, pp. 212-216). link> doi>
  • Hirschi R, Frischknecht U, Thielemann F-K, Pignatari M, Chiappini C, Ekstroem S, Meynet G, Maeder A. 2008. Stellar Evolution in the Early Universe. LOW-METALLICITY STAR FORMATION: FROM THE FIRST STARS TO DWARF GALAXIES (vol. 4, pp. 297-304). link> doi>
  • Chiappini C, Ekstroem S, Meynet G, Maeder A, Hirschi R. 2008. Were the first stars fast rotators?. FIRST STARS III (vol. 990, pp. 325-329). link>
  • Hirschi R, Maeder A, Meynet G, Chiappini C, Ekstroem S. 2007. Evolution of the first stellar generations. CRAL-2006 Chemodynamics: From First Stars to Local Galaxies (vol. 24, pp. 263-268). link> doi>
  • Hirschi R, Chiappini C, Meynet G, Ekstrom S, Maeder A. 2007. Mass loss and very low-metallicity stars. UNSOLVED PROBLEMS IN STELLAR PHYSICS (vol. 948, pp. 397-404). link>
  • Thielemann F-K, Froehlich C, Hirschi R, Liebendoerfer M, Dillmann I, Mocelj D, Rauscher T, Martinez-Pinedo G, Langanke K, Farouqi K, Kratz K-L, Pfeiffer B, Panov I, Nadyozhin DK, Blinnikov S, Bravo E, Hix WR, Hoflich P, Zinner NT. 2007. Production of intermediate-mass and heavy nuclei. PROGRESS IN PARTICLE AND NUCLEAR PHYSICS VOL 59, NO 1 (vol. 59, pp. 74-93). link> doi>
  • Hirschi R, Meynet G, Maeder A. 2006. GRB progenitors at low metallicities. NUOVO CIMENTO DELLA SOCIETA ITALIANA DI FISICA B-GENERAL PHYSICS RELATIVITY ASTRONOMY AND MATHEMATICAL PHYSICS AND METHODS (vol. 121, pp. 1183-1187). link> doi>
  • Meynet G, Hirschi R, Ekstrom S, Maeder A. 2006. Evolution of rotating stars at very low metallicity. Stellar Evolution at Low Metallicity: Mass Loss, Explosions, Cosmology (vol. 353, pp. 49-62). link>
  • Meynet G, Hirschi R, Maeder A, Ekstroem S. 2006. Nucleosynthesis from massive rotating stars. Stars and Nuclei: A Tribute to Manuel Forestini (vol. 19, pp. 85-100). link> doi>
  • Hirschi R. 2006. Rotating massive stars @ very low Z: High C & N production. Origin of Matter and Evolution of Galaxies (vol. 847, pp. 71-76). link>
  • Maeder A, Meynet G, Hirschi R, Ekstroem S. 2006. Rotational mixing in massive stars and its many consequences. Chemical Abundances and Mixing in Stars in the Milky Way and Its Satellites (pp. 308-313). link> doi>
  • Hirschi R and al E. 2006. Stellar evolution of massive stars at very low metallicities (With 10 Figures). In S. Roeser (Ed.). Reviews in Modern Astronomy (vol. 19, p. 101-+).
  • Hirschi R, Meynet G, Maeder A. 2005. Rotating massive stars: Pre-SN models and stellar yields at solar metallicity. NUCLEAR PHYSICS A (vol. 758, pp. 234C-237C). link> doi>
  • Thielemann FK, Argast D, Brachwitz F, Fisker JL, Frohlich C, Hirschi R, Kolbe E, Mocelj D, Rauscher T. 2005. Nuclear physics: A key ingredient in astrophysical modeling. NUCLEAR PHYSICS A (vol. 751, pp. 301C-326C). link> doi>
  • Maeder A, Meynet G, Hirschi R. 2005. Chemical abundances and yields from massive stars. Cosmic Abundances as Records of Stellar Evolution and Nucleosynthesis in Honor of David L. Lambert (vol. 336, pp. 79-92). link>
  • Meynet G, Hirschi R, Maeder A. 2005. Effects of rotation on pre-supernova models. 1604-2004: Supernovae as Cosmological Lighthouses (vol. 342, pp. 99-104). link>
  • Maeder A, Meynet G, Hirschi R. 2005. Evolution of the most massive stars. Fate of the Most Massive Stars, Proceedings (vol. 332, pp. 3-13). link>
  • Hirschi R, Meynet G, Maeder A. 2005. Massive rotating stars: Pre-supernova evolution at solar metallicity. 1604-2004: Supernovae as Cosmological Lighthouses (vol. 342, pp. 131-132). link>
  • Hirschi R, Meynet G, Maeder A, Goriely S. 2005. Pre-supernova evolution of rotating massive stars. COSMIC EXPLOSIONS (vol. 99, pp. 209-213). link>
  • Hirschi R, Maeder A, Meynet G. 2004. Dynamical shear instability. STELLAR ROTATION (pp. 510-511). link>
  • Meynet G, Hirschi R, Maeder A. 2004. Mixing and rotation. FUTURE ASTRONUCLEAR PHYSICS: FROM MICROSCOPIC PUZZLES TO MACROSCOPIC NIGHTMARES (vol. 11, pp. 77-96). link> doi>
  • Meynet G, Maeder A, Hirschi R. 2003. Stellar yields in CNO from rotating stellar models. CNO IN THE UNIVERSE (vol. 304, pp. 293-301). link>
  • SASP lectures on "Molecular Theory" and "Quantum and Astrophysics