CAREER: A multi-faceted investigation of the astromineralogy and evolution of dust around low- and intermediate mass evolved stars

职业：对低质量和中等质量恒星周围尘埃的天体矿物学和演化的多方面调查。Speck将研究低质量和中等质量恒星（LIMS）周围尘埃颗粒的精确性质，因为（1）这是尘埃在被驱逐到星际介质（ISM）并参与许多其他天体物理过程之前的起源，因此，知道它的初始状态将允许更准确地预测它在ISM中的命运和对ISM及以后的影响，以及（2）大多数LIMS周围的环境相对温和，因此简化了化学过程，这有助于理解正在进行的过程。Speck博士将使用一系列技术，包括光谱学，成像和建模，结合新的实验室数据，并考虑到理论模型和陨石研究，以提供LIMS周围形成的尘埃性质的知识。 这项研究还将评估尘埃形成如何随着恒星演化而变化。通过这种方式，可以确定化学和密度对尘埃形成的影响，从而可以测试和改进现有的尘埃形成和演化模型，并可以应用于许多天体物理环境。研究星周尘埃的主要问题之一是它包含了许多明显不同的物理科学（物理学，天文学，地质学和化学）。 为了提供这种知识的背景和框架，斯佩克博士将介绍一个宇宙化学的高级/研究生天体物理学课程，该课程也将向其他部门的学生开放。 斯派克博士的研究是专门设计的，涉及各级学生（本科，硕士和博士），因此分解成模块块。通过这种方式，所进行的研究也允许在这些不同层次的学生的培训。 斯佩克博士将继续努力招募和指导女研究生以及其他代表性不足的群体的学生。

CAREER: A multi-faceted investigation of the astromineralogy and evolution of dust around low- and intermediate mass evolved starsAbstractAST-0642991PI: Angela K SpeckDr. Speck will study the precise nature of dust grains around low- and intermediate-mass stars (LIMS) because (1) this is where the dust originates before being expelled into the interstellar medium (ISM) and participating in many other astrophysical processes, and thus knowing its initial states will allow for a more accurate prediction of its fate in and effect on the ISM and beyond and (2) the environment around most of these LIMS is relatively benign and thus has simplified chemistry, which facilitates the understanding of the processes in play. Dr. Speck will use a range of techniques including spectroscopy, imaging and modeling, incorporating new laboratory data and taking into account theoretical models and meteoritic studies to provide knowledge of the nature of dust forming around LIMS. This study will also assess how dust formation changes with stellar evolution. In this way, the effect of chemistry and density on dust formation can be determined, allowing testing and refinement of existing models for dust formation and evolution and which can be applied to many astrophysical environments.One of the major problems in investigating circumstellar dust is that it incorporates so many apparently disparate aspects of the physical sciences (physics, astronomy, geology, and chemistry). In order to provide a background and framework for such knowledge, Dr. Speck will introduce an upper level/graduate astrophysics course in cosmochemistry that will be open to students from other departments as well. Dr. Speck's research is specifically designed to involve students at all levels (undergraduate, masters and doctoral) and therefore breaks down into modular chunks. In this way the research undertaken also allows for training of students at these various levels. Dr. Speck will continue her effort to recruit and mentor female graduate students as well as students from other underrepresented groups.This award is funded by the NSF Division of Astronomical Sciences