Supernova Remnants, Superbubbles, and Feedback in Disk Galaxies

对一些附近星系的热气体的x射线观测揭示了x射线超级气泡和最近恒星形成地点之间的紧密空间相关性。Eric Wilcots博士（威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校）将对这些星系进行灵敏的射电连续观测，以探测大量的射电超新星遗迹（SNRs），并将它们的能量和空间分布与观测到的x射线超级气泡联系起来。结果将是对超级气泡追踪最近超新星爆炸分布的命题的直接测试，以及对宇宙射线能量追踪超级气泡热能的程度的测量。这套新的射电连续体观测也将导致迄今为止最灵敏的信噪比搜索，并将为每个星系提供一个定义良好的信噪比光度函数和光谱指数分布。这个科学项目是一项广泛的努力，旨在了解信噪比、超级气泡和盘状星系中星际介质的整体演化之间的关系。该程序的结果将显示信噪比和x射线超泡在空间和能量上的相关程度，并准确描述具有一系列恒星形成速率的盘状星系样本的信噪比光度函数。除了研究目标之外，该项目还将在其持续时间内支持培训一名全日制研究生和约6至10名本科生。该项目还将为威斯康星大学空间中心（天文系校外外展中心）的外展活动提供关键支持。

X-ray observations of hot gas in a number of nearby galaxies have revealed a tight spatial correlation between X-ray superbubbles and sites of recent star formation. Dr. Eric Wilcots (University of Wisconsin-Madison) will obtain sensitive radio continuum observations of these same galaxies in order to detect large numbers of radio supernova remnants (SNRs) and correlate their energies and spatial distribution with the observed X-ray superbubbles. The result will be a straightforward test of the proposition that superbubbles trace the distribution of recent supernova explosions, as well as a measure of the extent to which the cosmic ray energy traces the thermal energy of the superbubble. The new set of radio continuum observations will also result in the most sensitive searches for SNRs to date and will yield a well defined SNR luminosity function and spectral index distribution for each galaxy. This scientific program is a broad effort to understand the relationships between SNRs, superbubbles, and the overall evolution of the interstellar medium in disk galaxies. The results of this program will show the extent to which SNRs and X-ray superbubbles are spatially and energetically correlated, and accurately depict the SNR luminosity function for a sample of disk galaxies with a range of star formation rates.In addition to the research goals, this program will support the training of one full time graduate student and some 6 to 10 undergraduates over the course of its duration. This program will also provide key support of the outreach activities associated with University of Wisconsin Space Place, the off-campus outreach center of the Department of Astronomy.