The Structure of Galaxies and Quasars

俄亥俄州立大学的Christopher Kochanek博士将利用北半球和南半球的望远镜，继续他对大约25个引力透镜系统的变异性监测项目。将研究三个独特的主题：(1)利用引力透镜的时间延迟测量早期星系的暗物质晕的结构；(2)透镜星系中星体对类星体的微透镜效应计算透镜星系中星体的平均质量；(3)类星体吸积盘的空间结构，利用引力透镜类星体的微透镜效应测量吸积盘大小随波长的函数关系。该项目将显著提高吸积盘尺寸测量的数量和精度，从而为严格测试吸积盘结构模型提供所需的数据。该项目将有助于研究生和本科生的教学和培训。研究结果将通过在档案期刊和联机档案上的出版物广泛传播。通过珀金斯天文台（位于俄亥俄州）的当地讲座项目、全国性的新闻发布会，以及与哥伦布市的大型科学博物馆科学与工业中心共同开发的中学生/教师培训项目，这些研究的总体结果正被更广泛地用于教育公众。

Dr. Christopher Kochanek of the Ohio State University will continue his variability-monitoring program of approximately 25 gravitational lens systems, using telescopes in both northern and southern hemispheres. Three unique subjects will be studied: (1) The structure of dark matter halos of early-type galaxies, using measurements of time delays in gravitational lenses; (2) The mean stellar mass in lens galaxies, using the microlensing of quasars by the stars in the lens galaxy; and (3) The spatial structure of quasar accretion disks, using the microlensing of gravitationally lensed quasars to measure disk sizes as a function of wavelength. The project will significantly expand the number and accuracy of accretion disk size measurements, thereby providing the data needed to rigorously test models of accretion disk structure.The project will contribute to teaching and training of students at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. The results will be broadly disseminated through publication in both archival journals and on-line archives. The general results are being used more broadly to educate the public through local lecture programs at the Perkins Observatory (in Ohio), national press releases, and a middle school student/teacher training program being developed with the Center of Science and Industry, the large science museum in Columbus.