RUI: The Unique Microquasar SS 433 - An Optical Program and Contribution to a Multiwavelength Collaborative Study

RUI：独特的微类星体 SS 433 - 光学程序和对多波长合作研究的贡献

• 批准号: 0607432
• 负责人: Todd Hillwig
• 金额: $ 10.11万
• 依托单位: Valparaiso University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-06-15 至 2010-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0607432&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Unique; Microquasar; SS; 433

The overall goal of this research is a better understanding of the nature of the Galacticmicroquasar SS 433 - an object which possesses many of the characteristics of a quasarsuch as a hot disk, a strong disk wind, evidence for a compact object, and relativistic jets.However, because it is a Galactic object, it is closer and is not obscured by a galaxy ofmaterial surrounding it, thereby providing an opportunity to explore important but poorlyunderstood physics. Specific goals here are to identify the nature of the compact object inSS 433 (is it a neutron star or black hole?), to examine the structure and origin of therelativistic jets, and to accurately assess the system's evolutionary state. This will beaccomplished through a multiwavelength campaign using simultaneous radio imagingand optical plus x-ray spectroscopy to study the disk and jet in SS 433. Through this, themotion of the relativistic jet will be followed, the time and distance scale of jetfragmentation determined, the disappearance of optical jet lines monitored, and the truespace velocities of the jets will be found. In addition, optical spectroscopy will be used tostudy the jet, mass donor star, and the compact object. It is expected that the mass of thedonor star will be conclusively determined as well as its evolutionary state. Finally, theobservations should also provide the mass of the compact object thereby revealingwhether it is a black hole or a neutron star.Through this award, the research infrastructure at Valparaiso will be improved in part bycreating new student research opportunities. Participating students will serve as researchassistants during ten weeks each summer and will be trained in aspects of astronomicaldata acquisition, reduction, and analysis. They will have the opportunity to present theirresults at national conferences and to co-author referred journal articles. Dr. Hillwig'swork in SS 433 has also been featured in many popular articles and he will continue topursue public dissemination of the results in the press and through public talks.

这项研究的总体目标是更好地了解银河系微类星体SS 433的性质--该天体具有类星体的许多特征，如热盘、强盘风、致密天体的证据和相对论喷流。然而，由于它是银河系天体，它离我们更近，没有被周围的星系物质所遮蔽，从而提供了一个探索重要但不为人知的物理学的机会。这里的具体目标是确定SS 433中紧凑物体的性质（它是中子星星还是黑洞？），来检验相对论性喷流的结构和起源，并准确评估系统的演化状态。这将是通过一个多波长的活动，同时使用无线电成像和光学加X射线光谱学研究磁盘和射流在SS 433。通过这一过程，将跟踪相对论喷流的运动，确定喷流碎裂的时间和距离尺度，监测光学喷流线的消失，并确定喷流的真实空间速度，此外，还将利用光谱学研究喷流、质量施主星星和致密天体。预计施主星星的质量将最终确定，以及它的演化状态。最后，观测还应该提供致密物体的质量，从而揭示它是黑洞还是中子星星。通过这一奖项，瓦尔帕莱索的研究基础设施将在一定程度上通过创造新的学生研究机会得到改善。参与的学生将在每年夏天的十周内担任研究助理，并将接受天文数据采集，还原和分析方面的培训。他们将有机会在国家会议上介绍他们的成果，并共同撰写被引用的期刊文章。希尔维格博士在SS 433的工作也被许多流行的文章所报道，他将继续通过媒体和公开演讲来公开传播研究结果。