Infrared Detection and Spectroscopy of Embedded Supernovae in Actively Star Forming Galaxies

奖项：AST-0607737PI：迈克尔·斯克鲁茨基获奖：弗吉尼亚大学主校区TITLE：活跃恒星形成星系中嵌入的超新星的红外探测和光谱研究摘要巨型恒星可能是驱动恒星爆发和相互作用的星系的能量来源，因此应该是频繁发生超新星事件的宿主。然而，与预期相反的是，对这类星系中的超新星的调查已经确定了与在更正常和/或更孤立的星系中观察到的超新星的比率相当的速度。然而，这些调查的大部分也是在可见波长进行的，与恒星形成和核流竞争相关的尘埃的遮挡可能会导致观测者“错过”超新星。这里将在近红外(Ks波段，2.17米)实施一个超新星搜索计划，在那里尘埃的消光将显著减少，超新星本身将更加明亮。这项调查将在弗吉尼亚大学的扇山天文台进行，使用31英寸的望远镜和夏威夷1号红外相机(由NSF重大研究仪器基金开发)。50个计划星系，30个红外光度超过2x1010LSun且在32Mpc以内的星系，以及20个最近的星系，亮度超过1x1010LSun，将成为超新星的目标并每月进行观测。探测到的超新星将被送入位于山上的PAIRITEL自动1.3米望远镜。亚利桑那州霍普金斯，用于同时进行J、H和Ks波段成像，以确定光曲线。更亮的超新星还将触发使用阿帕奇点天文台3.5米望远镜的Triplespects近红外光谱仪进行的机会目标光谱观测。红外光谱和光曲线将允许将超新星归类为与环境有关的功能，这反过来将允许对前身种群进行表征。总体目标是更好地估计局部超新星的比率，更广泛地观测光谱特征、诊断包层结构以及与周围介质的相互作用。这项工作将支持培训一名研究生，该研究生将负责TripleSpec的调试后科学计划，该研究生将使用来自成像调查的数据进行培训，该学生也将领导这项工作。这名学生将深入参与TripleSpec的最终组装和测试，以及在望远镜上的调试。弗吉尼亚大学的本科生将参加扇山天文台的数据采集工作，希望培养除了天文观察者之外的新仪器专家。

AWARD NO: AST-0607737PI: Michael SkrutskieINSTITUTION: University of Virginia Main CampusTITLE: Infrared Detection and Spectroscopy of EmbeddedSupernovae in Actively Star Forming GalaxiesABSTRACTMassive stars are the likely energy sources powering starburst and interacting galaxieswhich therefore should be hosts to frequent supernova events. Yet, contrary toexpectations, surveys for supernovae among such galaxies have established rates whichare comparable to supernovae rates observed in more normal and/or isolated galaxies.However, the bulk of these surveys are also conducted at visible wavelengths whereobscuration by dust associated with star formation and competition from nuclear fluxmay result in observers "missing" supernovae. Here a supernova search program will beimplemented in the near infrared (Ks-band, 2.17 m) where the extinction by dust will besignificantly reduced and the supernovae themselves will be brighter. The survey will becarried out at the University of Virginia's Fan Mountain Observatory using the 31-inchtelescope and HAWAII-1 infrared camera (developed through an NSF Major ResearchInstrumentation grant). Fifty program galaxies, 30 with infrared luminosities in excess of 2x 1010LSun and within 32 Mpc, and 20 of the nearest galaxies more luminous than 1 x1010LSun, will be targeted and observed monthly for supernovae. Detected supernovaewill be fed to the PAIRITEL automated 1.3-meter telescope at Mt. Hopkins, AZ forsimultaneous J-, H-, and Ks-band imaging to determine light curves. Brighter supernovaewill also trigger target-of-opportunity spectroscopic observations with the TripleSpecnear-infrared spectrograph at the Apache Point Observatory 3.5-meter telescope. Theinfrared spectra and light curves will allow the classification of the supernovae as afunction of environment, which will in turn allow the progenitor populations to becharacterized. The overall goals are a better estimate of the local supernovae rate andmore extensive observations of spectroscopic signatures diagnostic of envelope structureand interaction with the surrounding medium.This work will support the training of a graduate student who will be responsible for thepost-commissioning science program with TripleSpec using data from the imagingsurvey which the student will also lead. This student will be deeply integrated into thefinal assembly and testing of TripleSpec and its commissioning at the telescope.Undergraduates from the University of Virginia will take part in the acquisition of data atthe Fan Mountain Observatory with hope of cultivating new instrumentalists in additionto astronomical observers.