Most Massive Stars in the Local Universe

本地宇宙中质量最大的恒星

• 批准号: 0707982
• 负责人: Krzysztof Stanek
• 金额: $ 36.54万
• 依托单位: Ohio State University Research Foundation -DO NOT USE
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-08-01 至 2011-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0707982&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Most; Massive; Stars; Local; Universe

Here Dr. Stanek and collaborators will undertake a systematic study of the most massive stars in the Local Universe, by detecting and observing them in eclipsing binaries in the Milky Way, in Local Group galaxies, and even in some galaxies beyond the Local Group. The strategy involves discovering eclipsing binaries via photometric variability surveys, from which the brightest and thus most massive candidates are selected for spectroscopic follow-up. The goal is to find and measure accurate parameters of the most massive stars in these eclipsing binaries, especially those in nearby galaxies with both high and low abundances of heavy elements. The investigators have already begun monitoring several young Galactic clusters and obtaining follow up spectroscopy of bright eclipsing binaries in Local Group galaxies (LMC, SMC, M31, and M33).The research program is expected to yield accurate fundamental parameters (notably masses and radii) for dozens of massive stars discovered in a variety of environments, and will provide data with which to test stellar atmosphere models, wind models, stellar evolution models for both single and binary stars as a function of composition and the theoretical predictions on the upper limit of the stellar mass. Additionally, it will provide statistics on early-type contact binaries and the binary fraction, thus constraining massive star formation models, and insight into the evolution of open clusters via runaway OB stars that are binaries. As a side product, many new variable stars will also be discovered. Finally, studying the most massive stars will allow new insights into the progenitors of high-mass X-ray binaries, core-collapse supernovae, the connection between supernovae and gamma-ray bursts, and Population III stars.A significant part of the proposed work will be carried out by a graduate student and a postdoctoral researcher, providing extensive training in cutting-edge scientific research. Results from this project will be broadly disseminated by publication in peer reviewed journals, conference proceedings, the popular press and the Web. All the gathered data and results will be freely available via a public WWW site, as to provide other workers in this field, as well as astronomy educators, with full access to these legacy-quality data.

斯坦尼克博士和合作者将通过在当地宇宙中最庞大的恒星进行系统的研究，通过在银河系，当地的星系中甚至在本地集团以外的某些星系中检测和观察它们。该策略涉及通过光度变异性调查发现黯然失色的二进制文件，从中选择最亮，最大的候选者进行光谱随访。目的是在这些黯然失色的二进制文件中找到并测量最大恒星的准确参数，尤其是在附近的星系中，较高元素的含量高和低的星系。研究人员已经开始监测几个年轻的银河系簇，并在当地组的星系中获得明亮黯然失色的二进制谱图（LMC，SMC，M31和M33）的后续光谱。预计该研究计划将产生准确的基本参数（众所周知的群众和雷置），并为各种模型提供了各种模型，并在各种模型中，以及各种模型，以及各种模型，并在各种模型中，并将模型，单恒星和二进制恒星的恒星进化模型，与恒星质量上限上的理论预测有关。此外，它将提供有关早期型接触二进制和二元分数的统计数据，从而限制了巨大的恒星形成模型，并深入了解开放簇通过二进制的失控OB恒星的开放簇演变。作为侧产品，还将发现许多新的变量星。最后，研究最庞大的恒星将使对高质量X射线二元，核心爆发超新星的祖细胞，超新星与伽玛射线爆发之间的联系以及人口III明星之间的联系。拟议的工作的很大一部分将受到研究生学生和研究生的研究人员的研究，并在研究者进行了研究方面进行了广泛的研究。该项目的结果将通过同行评审期刊，会议记录，大众媒体和网络的出版物广泛传播。所有收集的数据和结果将通过公共www网站免费获得，以便为该领域的其他工人以及天文学教育者提供这些遗产质量的数据。