Dr. Arūnas Kučinskas

Prof. Dr. Arūnas Kučinskas

Phone: +370 522 34 671

E-mail: 

Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy (ITPA)

Physical sciences, Astronomy

Chief researcher, professor

Chemodynamical evolution of oldest stellar populations in the Milky Way and Local Group galaxies, numerical modelling and observational Investigations of stellar atmospheres, non-equilibrium radiative transfer in stellar atmospheres,

1. Kučinskas, A.,, Korotin, S., Abundance of beryllium in the Sun and stars: The role of non-local thermodynamic equilibrium effects // Astronomy & Astrophysics, A&A 657, L11 (2022), https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202142789

2. Bonifacio, P., Caffau, E., Ludwig, H.-G., Steffen, M., Castelli, F., Gallagher, A. J., Kučinskas, A., Prakapavičius, D., Cayrel, R., Freytag, B., Plez, B., Homeier, D., Using the CIFIST grid of CO5BOLD 3D model atmospheres to study the effects of stellar granulation on photometric colours. I. Grids of 3D corrections in the UBVRI, 2MASS, HIPPARCOS, Gaia, and SDSS systems // Astronomy & Astrophysics, 611, 68 (2018), https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201732232

3. Klevas, J., Kučinskas, A., Steffen, M., Caffau, E., Ludwig, H.-G., Lithium spectral line formation in stellar atmospheres. The impact of convection and NLTE effects // Astronomy & Astrophysics, 586, 156 (2016), https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201526403

4. Steffen, M., Prakapavičius, D., Caffau, E., Ludwig, H.-G., Bonifacio, P., Cayrel, R., Kučinskas, A., Livingston, W. C., The photospheric solar oxygen project. IV. 3D-NLTE investigation of the 777 nm triplet lines // Astronomy & Astrophysics, 583, 57 (2015), https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201526406

5. Kučinskas, A., Dobrovolskas, V., Bonifacio, P., Galactic globular cluster 47 Tucanae: new ties between the chemical and dynamical evolution of globular clusters? // Astronomy & Astrophysics Letters, 568, 4 (2014), https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201424200

6. Dobrovolskas, V., Kučinskas, A., Bonifacio, P., Korotin, S. A., Steffen, M., Sbordone, L., Caffau, E., Ludwig, H.-G., Royer, F., Prakapavičius, D., Abundances of lithium, oxygen, and sodium in the turn-off stars of Galactic globular cluster 47 Tucanae // Astronomy & Astrophysics, 565, A121 (2014), https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201322868

7. Kučinskas, A., Steffen, M., Ludwig, H.-G., Dobrovolskas, V., Ivanauskas, A., Klevas, J., Prakapavičius, D., Caffau, E., Bonifacio, P., Three-dimensional hydrodynamical CO5BOLD model atmospheres of red giant stars. II. Spectral line formation in the atmosphere of a giant located near the RGB tip // Astronomy & Astrophysics, 549, A14 (2013), https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201220240

8. Ludwig, H.-G., Kučinskas, A., Three-dimensional hydrodynamical CO5BOLD model atmospheres of red giant stars. I. Atmospheric structure of a giant located near the RGB tip // Astronomy and Astrophysics, 547, A118 (2012), https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201220264

9. Kučinskas, A., Hauschildt, P. H., Brott, I., Vansevičius, V., Lindegren, L., Tanabé, T., Allard, F., Broad-band photometric colors and effective temperature calibrations for late-type giants. II. Z 0.02 // Astronomy & Astrophysics, 452, 1021 (2006), https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20054431

10. Kučinskas, A., Hauschildt, P. H., Ludwig, H.-G., Brott, I., Vansevičius, V., Lindegren, L., Tanabé, T., Allard, F., Broad-band photometric colors and effective temperature calibrations for late-type giants. I. Z = 0.02 // Astronomy & Astrophysics, 442, 281 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20053028

● “Chemical Elements as Tracers of the Evolution of the Cosmos: Infrastructures for Nuclear Astrophysics” (2021–2025, 5 000 000 Eur, EC Horizon 2020 program), project executive board member, leader of the Work Package 5 “Astronuclear Abundances”

● “Chemical Elements as Tracers of the Evolution of the Cosmos” (2017–2021, 560 000 Eur, EU COST program), extended core team member, leader of the Task 3.3 “Astronomical Observations”

● “Towards realistic model atmospheres: magnetic fields, molecules, and non-equilibrium radiative transfer in stellar atmospheres” (2015-2018, 99 108 Eur, Lithuanian Research Council), project leader

● „Connection between the chemical and dynamical evolution of Galactic globular clusters“ (2013-2015, 101 367 Eur, Lithuanian Research Council), project leader

● “Convection ad radiative transfer in stellar atmospheres: connections between 3D hydrodynamical effects and non-equilibrium radiative transfer” (2013–2014, 11 516 + 5776 Eur, Lithuanian-French Programme “Gilibert” for Bilateral Cooperation, Lithuanian Research Council and Campus France), project leader

● „The role of turbulence in stellar atmospheres“ (2012–2013, 14 481 Eur, Lithuanian Research Council), project leader „Galactic globular clusters – indicators of the early evolution of the Universe”( 2011–2012, 39 041 Eur, Lithuanian Research Council), project leader

● „Abundances of light elements and neutron-capture elements in the atmospheres of red giants in globular clusters as probes of stellar evolution of harboring clusters” (2009–2010, 55 607 Eur, Lithuanian Research Council and The State Studies Foundation), project leader

● “Towards an improved physical understanding of giant stars: 3D model atmospheres versus observations of late-type giants” (2007–2008, 11 264 Eur, Lithuanian-French Programme “Gilibert” for Bilateral Cooperation, Lithuanian Research Council and Egide France) , project leader

Eight invited talks at international conferences during 2013-2022.

Supervisor of 6 PhD students:

● V. Dobrovolskas (2008–2013), “Effects of convection and non-equilibrium radiation transfer in stellar atmospheres”, defended on 13-12-2013.

● D. Prakapavičius (2010–2014), “Oxygen in stellar atmospheres: spectral line formation and abundances”, defended on 18-04-2017.

● J. Klevas (2012–2016), “The influence of convection and non-local radiative field on spectral line formation in stellar atmospheres”, defended on 26-09-2017.

● A. Černiauskas (2012–2017), "Chemical and kinematical properties of Galactic globular cluster 47 Tucanae", defended on 27-04-2018.

● E. Kolomiecas (2016–2023), "Chemical evolution of oldest Galactic stars".

● R. Skorulskienė (2020-2024), "Chemical evolution of stellar populations in Galactic globular clusters".

Supevisor of 1 postdoctoral student:

● J. Klevas (2020-2022), "Evolution of barium and strontium in the atmospheres of metal-poor stars as indicator of heavy element nucleosynthesis".

Bachelor program at the Faculty of Physics, Vilnius University:

● "Physics of stars and planets" (2020-present)

● "Stars" (2010-2019)

Master program at the Faculty of Physics, Vilnius University:

● "Stellar atmospheres" (2020-present)

● "Stellar evolution" (2006-present)

● "Selected topics in astrophysics" (2006-present)

● "Theoretical astrophysics" (2006-2019)

PhD program at the Faculty of Physics, Vilnius University:

● „Stellar physics and evolution“ (2010-present)

Supervisor of 12 Bachelor and Master Theses at Vilnius University, 1 Bachelor Thesis at the Lithuanian University of Educology, co-advisor of 1 Master Thesis at the Liverpool John Moores University.

Participation in the national/international governing bodies, commissions, committees, boards etc.

International:

● member of the Board of Directors of the International Journal Astronomy and Astrophysics (since 2010);
● member of the Executive Committee of the International Journal Astronomy and Astrophysics (since 2021);
● member of the Open Access Working group of the International Journal Astronomy and Astrophysics (2019-2021);
● National Contact Point of the International Astronomical Union (IAU);
● National Representative at the European Astronomical Society (EAS);
● member of the Organising Committee of ChETEC-INFRA SNAQ schools.

National:

● vice-chair/member of the Council of the Faculty of Physics, Vilnius University (2017-2021/2021-present);
● member of the Central Appellation Commission of the Senate of Vilnius University (2018-present);
● member of Master Study Program Committee "Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics" of the Faculty of Physics, Vilnius University (2018-present)
● member of the Bachelor Study Program Committee "Physics" of the Faculty of Physics, Vilnius University (2021-present)
● member of the Bachelor Study Program Committee "Computer Physics" of the Faculty of Physics, Vilnius University (2017-2021)
● president and board member of the Lithuanian Astronomical Society (2019-present);
● vice-president and board member of the Lithuanian Astronomical Society (2012-2019);

Referee of international astronomical journals "Astronomy & Astrophysics", "Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan", "Astronomische Nachrichten".

Numerous interviews on astronomical topics to various national TV and radio programs, media outlets.