Modeling the Census of Stellar Explosions in Galaxies across the Universe

模拟整个宇宙星系中恒星爆炸的普查

• 批准号: 1412449
• 负责人: Ralf Kotulla
• 金额: $ 51.92万
• 依托单位: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-09-01 至 2016-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1412449&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Modeling; Census; Stellar; Explosions; Galaxies

Stellar explosions are a critical component in the evolution of the universe: they influence the evolution of entire galaxies and are the source of all elements heavier than helium, including oxygen, carbon, iron, and all other matter that make up planets like Earth. Many of the processes leading up to these explosions are understood in principle, but much can be learned about the progenitor stars of these explosions by studying how different classes of explosions are distributed across galaxy types, galaxy environments, and cosmic age. The team will build upon the successful Galaxy Evolution (GALEV) stellar population models and study, for a variety of stellar explosions, how each of them depends on the age, mass, and chemical properties of their host galaxy. In addition to advancing our understanding of where most of the vitally important elements come from, this will also greatly benefit the full scientific exploitation of major US investments, such as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope and the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory. A connected public education and outreach effort focuses on demonstrating how astronomers extract scientific insights from "pretty pictures." Supplemented with public talks and stargazing events, this generates enthusiasm amongst young students for the science fields.Explosive transients such as Supernovae and Gamma-Ray Bursts are tracers of the final stage of stellar evolution that shape the evolution of the host galaxy by regulating the gas inflows and outflows and by enriching the interstellar medium with metals. Observationally, recent and future advances in instrumentation -- many with major US support such as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope and Advanced-LIGO -- allow us to gather sizable samples of these rare events across a wide range of host galaxy properties. Though the qualitative theoretical base for most events are well established, current theoretical models cannot yet predict a priori the distribution of events across redshift, galaxy type, galaxy mass, etc. In this project, the team will extend the successful Galaxy Evolution (GALEV) synthesis code to model the rate of events from single- and binary-star progenitors, fully and self-consistently accounting for both the evolution of metallicity and stellar populations in galaxies. This approach allows the researchers to study the host galaxies of explosive transients individually and hence to better constrain the physical processes underlying these events. The team will develop a series of presentations for the Manfred Olson Planetarium aimed at school groups, the campus community, and the general public to illustrate astronomical methods and techniques in an easy-to-understand, audience-appropriate way. Members of the team will also run astronomy shows by taking telescopes to parks and public events in the south-east Wisconsin region to offer stargazing and casual interactions with fellow citizens across all ages and backgrounds.

恒星爆炸是宇宙演化中的关键组成部分：它们影响整个星系的演变，并且是所有元素比氦气重的元素的来源，包括氧气，碳，铁和所有其他构成地球这样的行星的物质。原则上可以理解导致这些爆炸的许多过程，但是通过研究如何在银河类型，星系环境和宇宙时代分布不同类别的爆炸，可以了解这些爆炸的祖细胞星。该团队将建立在成功的星系进化（Galev）恒星种群模型的基础上，并研究各种恒星爆炸，每个人如何依赖于宿主星系的年龄，质量和化学特性。除了促进我们对大多数至关重要的要素的理解外，这还将极大地使对美国主要投资（例如大型Synoptic调查望远镜和高级激光干涉仪重力引力波观测值）的全面科学开发。互联的公共教育和外展工作着重于展示天文学家如何从“漂亮的图片”中提取科学见解。这补充了公众的谈判和观星活动，这在年轻学生中对科学领域产生了热情。示例性瞬态（例如超新星和伽马射线爆发）是恒星进化的最后阶段的示踪剂，可以通过调节汽油易流量和淘汰和多样化的媒介物来塑造宿主星系的进化，并以众多的速度来调节。从观察上讲，仪器的最新和未来进展 - 许多拥有大型Symottic Survey Telescope和Advanced-Ligo等美国支持的许多支持 - 使我们能够在广泛的主机星系属性中收集这些罕见事件的相当大样本。尽管大多数事件的定性理论基础是良好的，但当前的理论模型尚未预测事件在红移，银河类型，星系质量等之间的分布。在这个项目中，团队将扩展银河进化代码（GALEV）综合代码，以模拟单次和二进制型远期和自我启示的事件速率，以建模各种事件的比率星系。这种方法使研究人员可以单独研究爆炸性瞬变的宿主星系，从而更好地限制这些事件的物理过程。该团队将为针对学校团体，校园社区和公众的Manfred Olson天文馆开发一系列演讲，以一种易于理解的，适合观众的方式来说明天文学方法和技术。该团队的成员还将通过将望远镜带到威斯康星州东南部的公园和公共活动来进行天文学展览，以与各个年龄段和背景的同胞提供观星和休闲互动。