Prof. Ene ERGMA

Education

Studies in Physics and Astronomy (M.Sc.) (Tartu University, Moscow University (cum laude), 1962 - January 1969 PhD in Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Moscow University Astronomical Institute, 1972 Dr Sci in Mathematical and Physical Science, Institute of Cosmic Research, 1984.

Career/employment

• Institute of Physics and Astronomy Estonian Academy of Science, 1972-1974, junior research associate
• Astronomical Council Academy of Science USSR, Junior research associate, executive secretary, senior and leading research associate,1974-1988
• 1988 Tartu University, Professor of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics (1988-92), Professor of Astrophysics (1992-) Head of Theoretical Physics Institute (1993-96), Head of Physics Department (1993-1998).
• 1999- Vice-President of Estonian Academy of Sciences,
• Amsterdam University invited professor ( 1997)
• Helsinki University invited researcher ( 2000)

1. Main field: Astrophysics, Stellar evolution, High Energy Astrophysics
2. Other fields: X-ray Astronomy Physics of Neutron Stars and Black Holes, especially in binary systems
3. Current Research Interests:
• Formation and evolution of neutron stars and black holes, especially in binary systems
• Formation Millisecond Pulsars
• Evolution of low-mass helium white dwarf

Publications

Published about 100 scientific and several popularising papers, of which some important are:

1. Ergma E., Paczynski B. Carbon burning with convective URCA neutrino. Acta Astron. 1974, 24, 1-16.
2. Ergma E., Tutukov A.V. Hydrogen and helium flashes in the envelope of an accreting neutron stars. Astron. Astrophys. 1980, 84, 123.
3. D’Antona F., Ergma E. Evolution of binaries with low-mass component immerged in a radiation field. I Effect of irradiation by a millisecond pulsar companion. Astron. Astrophys. 1993, 269, 219.
4. Ergma E., Lundgren S.C., Cordes J.M. A millisecond pulsar progenitor to an ultracompact LMXB. ApJ 1997, 475, L29.
5. Ergma E., van den Heuvel E.P.J. On the initial progenitor masses of stellar mass black holes and neutron stars AA, 1998, 331, L29
6. Ergma E., Fedorova A.V. Yungelson L.R. Is KPD 1930+2752 a good candidate type Ia Supernova progenitor? 2001, AA 376, L9

Member of the International Astrophysical Union
Member of the European Astronomical Union
Member of the Estonian Astronomical Committee
Member of Tartu Observatory Science Council
Member of Council of faculty of Physics and Chemistry and Physics Department
Member of Council of Tartu University
Expert of the Estonian Science Foundation (1990-96)
Chairman of Estonian Science Foundation Committee and member of Estonian Science Foundation Council (1997-)
Member of the Estonian Physical Society Committee
Member of the Estonian Academy of Science (1997)
Executive secretary of the Editorial Board of journal "Soviet Astronomy Letters" (1982-1988)
Member of Estonian Scientific Award Committee (1996-)
Estonian Scientific Award in exact sciences (2001)
Royal Society temporary review committee member (2001-2002)
Member of ALLEA committee "Science and Ethics" (2000-)
Member of Euroscience (1998-)
Associate member of Royal Astronomical Society (2001)
Göttingen Academy of Science - Gauss invited professor (1994)
White star award (IY class)
Finnish Academy expert

Supervised several Ph and M.Sc. theses and B.Sc. works.

Participated in numerous IAU conferences, colloquiums, NATO schools, and seminars. Has been as visitor (long term) in CAMK (Poland), NORDITA (Denmark), Observatory of Helsinki University, Göttingen University Observatory and Amsterdam University Astronomical Institute.

Languages: Estonian, Russian, English, Polish and German