The research area of the department includes non stationary phenomena observed in objects belonging to different levels of the hierarchy of the cosmic structure. Studying the non stationary phenomena, revealed in cosmic objects from atomic nuclei to clusters of galaxies, which are usually associated with the presence of excess energy, we try to find qualitative and quantitative similarities between them. These studies allowed one to arrive at a conclusion that the accelerated expansion of the Universe takes place at all scales of space. Moreover, it is not difficult to see that the energy initiating this acceleration also gradually transforms from bearing it substance to the baryonic matter. This conclusion makes a rather good basic to revert again to the cosmogonic concept suggested in Byurakan since the mechanism of energy accumulation in cosmic objects making them non stable becomes obvious.

Comparing aforesaid with the characteristic properties of the baryonic matter, namely, the atomic structure and the mass defect – the key feature, which ensure the complete existence of atomic nuclei is really very important. This allows one arrive at a conclusion that the mass of baryonic object should gradually increase in course of time, and the process of evolution should lead to the growth of relative quantity of low mass objects at all hierarchical levels of cosmic structure.

General regularities manifest themselves at various hierarchical levels according to the physical conditions of the given level. Therefore, we the main research fields of the Byurakan observatory are included into the department scientific directions.

The first one is the study of star formation regions, which allows one to reveal the physical phenomena, taking place at the very early stage star formation. The study of stellar groups in these regions here also takes on special significance. The same concerns the epochal conclusion of Ambartsumian on the positive energy of stellar associations and its examination using the new observational data. Another problem associated with the evolution of binary stars’ dynamics is also linked to this area of studies.

We also consider the forms of instability manifestation by separate stars and stellar objects, especially ones associated with flare stars and Hα objects. Their qualitative comparison with objects exhibiting more powerful activity phenomena is within the scope of interests of the department, and especially it concerns to the various types of flaring phenomena, such as the fuors.

We intend to study the activity of galaxies using the analysis of consequences of their instability, implementing their comparative studies from supergiant cD galaxies down to dwarf ones. In contrast to the dominant viewpoint, we consider the first ones as generators of clusters of galaxies and the second ones – as the ultimate product of the galaxy evolution in our epoch. In addition to the pure statistical studies of the observational data, we are going to begin computer simulation of galaxy formation due to matter decay and mass ejection, taking also into account that the mass of baryonic matter increases during the evolution.

A bit on the side of the rest are the studies of the processes of changes of chemical abundances due to elements’ diffusion in the upper layers of chemically peculiar stars, depending on the physical characteristics of stars.

The department has collaboration with the Meudon Observatory in France and the University of Santiago deCompostella in Spain.

Haik HARUTYUNIAN PhD, Leading Research Associate Head of the Department
Elena NIKOGHOSYAN PhD Leading Research Associate	Naira AZATYAN PhD Research Associate	Derenik ANDREASYAN Junior Research Associate

Arman KHACHATRYAN Assistant Astronomer

Marine TOROSYAN Assistant Astronomer

Arpine TOROSYAN Assistant Astronomer

Georges ALECIAN (Observatoire Paris-Site de Meudon, France) PhD Foreign Consultant

Research Projects

Scientific Publications