Modeling long-period variability in evolved stars for Rubin-LSST

Low- to intermediate-mass stars evolve to the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) phase during which they display pulsation over months- to years-long time scales as long-period variables (LPVs). This process is crucial to understanding the late evolution and death of these stars, their stellar winds and the resulting pollution of the interstellar medium, as well as their compact remnants and the initial-final mass relation. Our knowledge of LPVs and related phenomena, as well as their astrophysical applications such as measuring stellar distances and ages, will benefit enormously from the LSST program thanks to its long planned duration. The full exploitation of such observations requires solid theoretical grounds. During this talk I will cover a number of recent developments in our work involving the modeling of pulsation in evolved stars and the simulation of variability properties of populations of LPVs, part of our in-kind contribution to Rubin-LSST. I will also discuss a number of parallel projects, related to this topic, that are being carried out among our group and are expected to be of interest for the Rubin community.