Magnetism in massive stars

大质量恒星中的磁性

• 批准号: 249821-2011
• 负责人: Wade, Gregg
• 金额: $ 2.7万
• 依托单位: Royal Military College of Canada
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2015-01-01 至 2016-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=570739
• 关键词: Magnetism; massive; stars

Massive stars represent the hottest and most luminous stellar component of the Universe, and are the crucibles in which the lion's share of the chemical elements are forged. Throughout their lives, matter, energy and momentum are injected into the surrounding interstellar medium by their powerful radiation fields and stellar winds, and by the dramatic supernova explosions that mark their deaths. These rapidly-evolving stars drive the chemistry, structure and evolution of galaxies, dominating the ecology of the Universe with far-reaching consequences. The evolution of a massive star is influenced fundamentally by its rapid rotation and mass loss. Both of these properties are subject to considerable modification in the presence of magnetic fields. Although the existence of magnetic fields in massive stars is no longer in question, our knowledge of the basic statistical properties of massive star magnetism is seriously incomplete. There is a troubling deficit in our knowledge of the scope of the influence of fields on massive star evolution, and almost no empirical basis for understanding how fields modify mass loss. Most remarkably, we have no clear idea how these important magnetic fields originate. The aim of this proposal is to fund research and training within the context of the international Magnetism in Massive Stars (MiMeS) project. Leveraging the commitments of international observatories and over 50 worldwide collaborators, we will complete a comprehensive assay of the magnetic properties of hot, massive stars, including a survey of 200 stars and detailed investigations of the magnetic field topologies and related physics of over 2 dozen prototypical objects. This fundamental observational database will be used to confront and guide development of forefront theoretical models of field generation, mass loss and stellar wind confinement, rotational evolution and stellar interior structure and evolution.

巨大的恒星代表了宇宙中最热，最发光的恒星成分，并且是伪造化学元素所占份额的坩埚。在他们的一生中，物质，能量和动力都被强大的辐射场和恒星风注入周围的星际介质，以及标志着他们死亡的戏剧性超新星爆炸。这些快速发展的恒星推动了星系的化学，结构和演变，并以深远的后果为主导了宇宙的生态。 大型恒星的演变受到其快速旋转和质量损失的根本影响。在存在磁场的情况下，这两种特性都经过相当大的修改。尽管不再存在巨大恒星中磁场的存在，但我们对巨大恒星磁性的基本统计特性的了解严重不完整。我们对田野对大型恒星进化的影响范围的了解存在令人不安的赤字，几乎没有理解田地如何改变质量损失的经验基础。最值得注意的是，我们没有明确的了解这些重要的磁场如何起源。 该提案的目的是在大型恒星（MIMES）项目的国际磁性背景下为研究和培训提供资金。利用国际天文台和50多个全球合作者的承诺，我们将完成对热，大型恒星的磁性的全面测定，包括对200颗恒星的调查以及对磁场拓扑的详细调查以及超过2个原型物质的相关物理学。这个基本观察数据库将用于对抗和指导田间产生，质量损失和恒星风限制，旋转进化和恒星内部结构和进化的最前沿理论模型的发展。