A Leap in Sensitivity for CHARA/CLASSIC Optical Interferometry for Astronomy

天文学 CHARA/CLASSIC 光学干涉测量灵敏度的飞跃

• 批准号: 1909858
• 负责人: Theo ten Brummelaar
• 金额: $ 132.77万
• 依托单位: Georgia State University Research Foundation, Inc.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2019-09-01 至 2024-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1909858&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Leap; Sensitivity; CHARA; CLASSIC; Optical

Optical interferometry uses an array of smaller telescopes connected together to achieve the angular resolution of telescopes many hundreds of meters across. Such interferometers have the resolution of extremely large telescopes but have the sensitivity of small telescopes. They can see stars in exquisite detail but can so far only see relatively bright stars. The main goal of this project is to improve the sensitivity of one of these interferometers called the Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy (CHARA) Array, which is located at Mount Wilson Observatory. Renovations to the camera, optical glass, and data recording will enable studying stars 10 times fainter than currently possible. Such improved sensitivity will enable investigations that may inform whether life may exist elsewhere in the universe, and open up new areas of research. This program will also include new facilities in the CHARA visitor center, which hosts 15,000 visitors each year, and a collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History to display current science bulletins at the CHARA visitor center.The CHARA Array longest baseline yields angular diameter measurements as small as 0.7 mas in K band improving to 0.2 mas at R. CHARA can resolve stellar disks all along the main sequence from O- to M-types, whereas there will be no main sequence stars resolvable by the next generation of single aperture telescopes. The most significant problem in ground based interferometry is sensitivity. This program will increase the limit of the CLASSIC/CLIMB beam combiner by 2 magnitudes in the near infrared. This will be achieved by replacing the 20-year-old PICNIC detector with a modern SELEX MOVPE SAPHIRA based detection system. This upgrade will also include spectral resolution in both H and K bands, simultaneous observation in both bands, and a polarization split. With enhanced sensitivity it will be possible to survey a much broader range of stellar diameters and temperatures, the disks around young stars, winds from massive stars, interacting and detached binary stars, transient events, as well as open up new opportunities for guest observers through the community access program funded by NSF/MSIP. More sensitivity will also vastly expand the ability to observe the cores of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). The CHARA could directly confirm or deny a binary structure in an AGN core for the first time.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

光学干涉测量法使用一系列较小的望远镜连接在一起，以达到望远镜的角度分辨率，远距离分辨率数百米。 这样的干涉仪具有非常大的望远镜的分辨率，但具有小型望远镜的灵敏度。他们可以看到精美的细节，但到目前为止只能看到相对明亮的星星。该项目的主要目标是提高这些干涉仪之一，称为高角度分辨率天文学中心（CHARA）阵列，该阵列位于威尔逊山天文台。对摄像机，光玻璃和数据记录的翻新将使恒星比目前的淡淡10倍。这种提高的敏感性将使调查能够告知宇宙中其他地方是否存在生命，并开放新的研究领域。 This program will also include new facilities in the CHARA visitor center, which hosts 15,000 visitors each year, and a collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History to display current science bulletins at the CHARA visitor center.The CHARA Array longest baseline yields angular diameter measurements as small as 0.7 mas in K band improving to 0.2 mas at R. CHARA can resolve stellar disks all along the main sequence from O- to M-types, whereas there下一代单光圈望远镜将无法分解的主要序列星。地面干涉法中最重要的问题是灵敏度。该程序将在近红外的2个大小上增加经典/攀登光束组合的限制。这将通过使用现代的SELEX MOVPE SAPHIRA检测系统代替20年历史的野餐探测器来实现这一目标。此升级还将包括H和K频段中的光谱分辨率，在两个频段中同时观察以及极化分开。随着灵敏度的增强，可以调查更广泛的恒星直径和温度，年轻恒星周围的磁盘，大量恒星的风，相互作用和独立的二进制恒星，瞬态事件，瞬态事件，以及通过NSF/MSIP资助的社区访问程序为客座观察者提供新的机会。更灵敏度还将大大扩展观察活性银核（AGN）核心的能力。 Chara首次可以直接确认或否认AGN核心中的二进制结构。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并且使用基金会的知识分子优点和更广泛的影响评估标准，被认为值得通过评估来获得支持。