Supernova 1987A: Versatile Astrophysical Tool & Unique Opportunity to Study SNR Formation

超新星1987A是近四个世纪以来观测到的距离最近的超新星，也是被研究得最深入的超新星，它正在迅速变成超新星遗迹，因为爆炸的喷出物现在击中了过去100万年中恒星脱落的星周包层。在这个项目中，这个过程将使用档案、光学、红外和紫外线程序，以及基于空间的研究相结合。克罗茨博士之前对三维结构、速度、密度和组成的观察将确定爆炸前星云的性质和形成它的质量损失过程，而对碰撞中产生的x射线和极端紫外线流对该星云的激发的新观察将使克罗茨博士能够再次对其进行重新分析。除了对超新星遗迹的研究之外，克罗茨博士还将继续利用超新星爆炸的光回波来探索剑鱼座30恒星形成区域的星际介质，研究超新星冲击爆发时紫外线脉冲穿过祖先恒星表面的回波，并准确确定到大麦哲伦星云的距离——这是银河系外距离阶梯上的一个基本梯级。Crotts博士还将探索他的图像差分软件在生物医学成像中的应用，特别是用于跟踪超新星回声外观变化的图像处理算法如何跟踪其他数据集的变化，特别是用于早期检测癌症生长的ct扫描染料测试。光回波数据也将用于效果图和动画，作为几个由光回波揭示的迷人结构的公共访问演示的一部分。

Supernova 1987A, the closest supernova seen in nearly four centuries, and the most intensely studied, is rapidly turning into a supernova remnant as the ejecta from the explosion now strikes the circumstellar envelope shed by the star over the last million years. In this project, this process will be followed using a combination of archival, optical, infra-red and ultra-violet programs, plus space-based studies. Previous observations taken by Dr. Crotts of the three dimensional structure, velocities, density and composition will establish the nature of the pre-explosion nebula and the mass loss processes that created it, while new observations of the excitation of this nebula by the X-ray and extreme ultra-violet flux created in the collision will enable Dr. Crotts to re-analyze it once more. In addition to this study of a supernova remnant, Dr. Crotts will continue to use light echoes from the supernova explosion to explore the interstellar medium in the 30 Doradus star-formation region, to study the echo of the ultra-violet pulse from supernova shock breakout through the progenitor star's surface, and accurately to determine the distance to the Large Magellanic Cloud - a fundamental rung on the extragalactic distance ladder. Dr. Crotts will also explore the application of his image differencing software to biomedical imaging - specifically how the image processing algorithms used to trace changes in the appearance of supernova echoes can track changes in other data sets, prominently CT-scan dye tests used for early detection of cancerous growths. The light echo data will also be used in renderings and animations as part of several public-access demonstrations of the fascinating structures revealed by light echoes.