An absolute stellar luminosity atlas

The ESR will derive absolute stellar luminosities by using high precision parallaxes, kinematics, photometry and spectroscopic data (the full set of Gaia data). In astrophysical applications, derived quantities like distances, absolute magnitudes and velocities are used instead of the observed quantities, such as parallaxes and proper motions. Since the observed values are affected by random errors and selection effects, a correct statistical treatment is crucial.

The work to be done involves several activities: development of statistical tools for the correct and full exploitation of Gaia data; development of tools for the treatment and analysis of large data samples (data mining); calibration of luminosities: from normal stars to standard candles; re-evaluating the distance scale.

The ESR will be for 3 years at the University of Barcelona and will spend 6 months at the Observatoire de Paris-Meudon to develop a detailed astrometry error modelling and study its impact on distance accuracies and 4 months at the INAF - Astronomical Observatory of Bologna with the calibration of extragalactic distance scale and the statistical analysis of Gaia data in terms of calibration of distance indicators.