"CAREER: Towards Understanding the Temporal Universe"

摘要-纳米罗夫我们生活的宇宙在不断变化，但大多数变化并不容易观察到。计划中的项目将把重点放在天文学少数几个领域中的一些领域，这些领域的重大变化发生在易于测量的时间尺度上。对变化的研究可能带来具有深远影响的线索--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。人类对我们宇宙的理解具有时代性，这很适合公共宣传努力和教育项目。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。此前，人们成功地探测到伽马射线暴(GRB)中存在时间膨胀现象。时间膨胀的精确数值。然而，仍然是未知的，几乎是1.5倍。这项工作将致力于针对不同的样本、系统误差以及从校准到最适合的宇宙学亮度分布(Log N-Log P)预期的量，对这一重要属性进行更准确的校准。如果引力透镜信号被孤立，伽马射线暴距离尺度的争论将会出现最终的解决方案。在GRB数据中搜索透镜检测将扩展到所有可用的GRB数据。将扩大对BATSE数据流中新的硬伽玛暴的搜索。重力微透镜：将进一步探讨重力微透镜的时间方面。以前，在报告结果之前，已经成功地量化了微透镜(MACHO)搜索的成功率，并预测了有限来源晶状体在确定晶状体性质方面的有用性。目前，微透镜搜索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的时代。更复杂的事件，如涉及双透镜和有限源的事件，已经变得越来越重要，因为它们给出了更直接的证据，证明了透镜的质量、速度和距离。这项工作将继续研究如何使用多镜头和有限源大小的效应来最好地去卷积质量、距离和速度。目前所暗示的银河系透镜的质量和密度是有争议的，并且直指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来更好地研究哪种微透镜测量最好地从有限源事件的幅度和持续时间中解卷出质量，预测哪种类型的MACHO测量将获得关于我们银河晕密度和组成的最佳信息，以及仔细审查公共领域数据以寻找有限源大小的影响和影响。天文争论：天文学前沿的争论也发生了变化。两场成功的天文辩论已经上演。这些现代辩论为天文学科的教学和公众宣传提供了一个天然的平台。还计划再进行三场辩论。每日天文图片(APOD)：随着宇宙的日新月异，APOD也是如此。每天，APOD将在万维网上显示一张不同的面向天文的图片，并带有大量超链接的描述。在其存在的一年半中，APOD已经获得了成千上万的读者，并受到了包括《纽约客》在内的杂志的称赞。APOD的S档案馆现在收藏了许多最著名的天文照片。APOD在教育中的应用体现在它在天文课程主页上的受欢迎程度，以及它在商业领域的高访问率所带来的推广潜力。APOD将扩大，为合作的美国大学创建一个外展计划，并将学生实习生直接纳入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.