Sergey B. Popov

                   Research experience


 My research interests and activity are centered around two fields
of astrophysics: star formation and evolution and physics of compact objects. 

 My research work on the population synthesis
of binary stars was done in the Department of Relativistic astrophysics
under supervision of Prof. Lipunov. 
The work used large-scale code, called ``Scenario Machine'', which
simulates evolution of stars in binary systems. 
I have completed two projects on this topic:  modelling of a
starformation burst in the Galactic Center (the modelling included 
spatial distribution of burst products)
and study of the effects of stellar Initial Mass Function
on the population of X-ray binaries after the starformation burst.

On the other side of my research interests is 
magneto-rotational evolution of neutron stars. The topics of my studies
include effects of the magnetic field decay of neutron stars, 
spatial distribution of neutron stars and black holes in the Galaxy, 
and initial parameter space studies (spin periods, magnetic field,
velocities), neutron stars in SNRs.
Now I work on the project concerning the type distribution of isolated
neutron stars in the Galaxy (in context of the observations made with the
ROSAT satellite). Results of the first part of the project are submitted to
Astrophysical journal. The project is done in collaboration with italian
colleagues.
And I spent 3 weeks in January 1999 at the  University of Milan 
and plan to
spend 2 weeks at the Universities of Milan and Padova in October 1999.

 The two sides of my research are closely connected because
population synthesis of binary X-ray sources requires modeling of formation
and evolution of neutron stars and black holes.
The results were published in a series of papers and reported at conferences
(see the attached list of publications).

 In the future I would like to work on the evolution of isolated
and binary neutron stars, accreting isolated neutron stars and young
neutron stars in SNRs.


 As far as compact objects form a significant part of the stellar content of
our Galaxy these investigations are of great interest. In additions to my
previous studies I plan to colloborate with scientists of the University of
British Columbia in exploration of the Galactic population of white dwarfs.

 Future observations of X-ray sources by satellites of the next generation
make all studies of compact objects (binary or isolated) very important.
Most part of these studies should be numerical. And strong computer
facilities of the University of British Columbia can help me to produce
computer simulations on a new (for my explorations) technical level.