"CAREER: Towards Understanding the Temporal Universe"

摘要- Nemiroff 我们生活的宇宙不断变化，但大多数变化不容易被观察到。计划中的项目将侧重于在容易测量的时间尺度上发生重大变化的少数天文学领域。 对变化的研究可能会带来具有深远意义的线索-从更好地理解暗物质的性质到更好地理解高能环境的性质。 人类对宇宙理解的时间性很适合公共宣传和教育计划。 将开展关于以下主题的方案： 伽马射线暴：将进一步探讨伽马射线暴的时间方面。 在此之前，人们已经成功地探测到了伽玛射线暴（GRB）中时间膨胀的存在。 精确的时间膨胀量然而，仍然是未知的，几乎是1.5倍。 我们的努力将是努力提高这一重要属性的校准精度，包括不同的样本、系统误差以及从校准到最佳拟合宇宙学亮度分布（Log N - Log P）的预期量。 如果引力透镜信号被分离出来，那么伽玛射线暴距离尺度的争论就会出现。 在伽玛射线暴数据中寻找透镜探测的工作将扩大到所有伽玛射线暴数据。 在BATSE数据流中寻找新的硬伽玛暴的工作将得到扩展。 引力微透镜：引力微透镜的时间方面将进一步探索。在此之前，在报告结果之前，成功地量化了微透镜（microlensing，简称MRO）搜索的成功率，并预测了有限源透镜在确定透镜性质方面的有用性。目前，微透镜研究正在进入一个新的时代-一个普通的单透镜，点源事件只有统计价值。更复杂的事件，如涉及双透镜和有限源的事件，变得越来越重要，因为它们提供了质量，速度和到透镜的距离的更直接的证据。这项工作将继续研究如何最好地去卷积质量，距离和速度使用多个透镜和有限的源大小的影响。目前暗示的银河系透镜的质量和密度是有争议的，并且是银河系暗物质问题的核心。这项工作将包括使用计算机模拟，以更好地研究哪些微透镜测量最好地从有限源事件的振幅和持续时间中去卷积质量，预测哪种类型的CAMO调查将产生关于我们银河系晕的密度和组成的最佳信息，并仔细检查公共领域数据的有限源尺寸效应和影响。 天文学争论：天文学前沿的争论也在变化。 两次成功的天文学辩论已经上演。 这些现代辩论为天文学学科的教学和公众宣传提供了一个自然的平台。计划再进行三次辩论。 每日天文图片（APOD）：随着宇宙每天都在变化，APOD也在变化。每天APOD都会在万维网上展示一张不同的天文学图片沿着大量的超链接描述。在一年半的时间里，APOD已经获得了成千上万的读者，并受到了包括《纽约客》在内的杂志的赞扬。APOD的档案中现在包含了许多最著名的天文图片。APOD在教育中的使用表现在它在天文学类主页中的普及，以及它在商业领域的高访问率上的推广潜力。APOD将扩大，为合作的美国大学创建一个外展计划，并直接将学生实习生纳入APOD的日常工作。

Abstract - Nemiroff The universe we live in changes continually, but most changes are not easily observed. The planned projects will have a focus on some of the few areas of astronomy where significant change occurs on easily measurable time scales. The study of change may brings clues which have far reaching implications - from the better understanding of the nature of dark matter to the better understanding of the nature of high energy environments. The temporal nature of humanity's understanding of our universe lends itself nicely to public outreach efforts and educational programs. Programs on the following topics will be carried out: Gamma Ray Bursts: The temporal aspects of gamma-ray bursts will be further explored. Previously, there was the successful detection of the existence of time-dilation in gamma ray bursts (GRBs). The precise amount of time-dilation. however, is still unknown by almost a factor of 1.5. The effort will be to work toward increasingly accurate calibration of this important attribute with regard to different samples, systematic errors, and the amount expected from calibration to best-fit cosmological brightness distributions (Log N - Log P). Definitive resolution of the GRB distance scale debate would occur were a gravitational lensing signature isolated. The search for lens detection in GRB data will be extended to all GRB data as it becomes available. The search for new hard GRBs in the BATSE data stream will be extended. Gravitational Microlensing: The temporal aspects of gravitational microlensing will be further explored. Previously, there was success in quantifying the success rate of microlensing (MACHO) searches before results were reported, and predicting the usefulness of finite source lenses in determining the nature of the lenses. Currently, the microlensing searches are entering a new era - one where common single lens, point source events have only statistical value. More complex events, such as those involving binary lenses and finite sources, have become increasingly important as they give more direct evidence of the mass, velocity, and distance to the lens. The effort will continue to study how best to deconvolve mass, distance, and velocity using multiple lens and finite source size effects. The mass and density of Galactic lenses currently implied is controversial and goes to the heart of the Galactic dark matter problem. The effort will include the use of computer simulations to better study which microlensing measurements best deconvolve mass from the amplitude and duration of finite source events, predict which type of MACHO surveys would yield best information about the density and composition of our Galactic halo, and scrutinize public domain data for finite source size effects and implications. Astronomical Debates: Disputes at the forefront of astronomy also change. Two successful astronomical debates have been staged. These modern debates act a natural platform for the teaching of astronomical subjects and for public outreach. Three more debates are planned. Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD): As the universe changes daily, so does APOD. Each day APOD will display a different astronomically oriented picture on the World Wide Web along with a heavily hyperlinked description. In its 1.5 year existence, APOD has acquired many thousands of readers and has been praised by magazines including The New Yorker. APOD' s archive now contains many of the most famous astronomy pictures. APOD's use in education is shown by it popularity in astronomy class home pages, and its outreach potential by the high access rate from the businesses domain. The APOD's will be expanded, to create an outreach program for cooperating U.S. universities, and to directly incorporate student interns in APOD's daily routine.