A Complete Census of the Deaths of Massive Stars

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。该项目将对本地宇宙中大质量恒星的死亡进行独特、广泛和系统的研究，包括超新星、失败的超新星及其前身的性质。第一部分是使用双8.4米大型双筒望远镜（LBT）监测附近星系大质量恒星的新调查。这是第一个通过没有超新星的大质量恒星消失（即失败的超新星）来探测黑洞形成的实用方法。第二种是对附近超新星（大约在1亿光年内）的新搜索，使用正在运行的全天自动巡天（ASAS）。一个系统的和完整的调查对于发现更多的超新星，在所有类型的星系中更早地发现它们，识别它们的前身，以及计算正确的局部速率是必不可少的。最后是一项新的努力，利用LBT和ASAS的数据，并在斯皮策卫星的中红外数据的基础上，将特定的超新星和类超新星瞬变现象与它们的大质量恒星祖先联系起来。LBT数据将提供未来超新星祖先的光曲线历史，与中红外调查一起，构成了对即将死亡的特征的搜索，这个问题有观测暗示，但没有系统的研究。该研究将由研究生和一名博士后进行，系统地收集到的超新星、大质量恒星和局域星系的数据，将成为未来超新星研究的宝贵资源。该团队将继续利用已建立的有效平台，与儿童、教师和公众分享他们的科学成果。

AST-0908816KochanekThis award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).This project will undertake a unique, wide-ranging, and systematic study of the deaths of massive stars in the local universe, including supernovae, failed supernovae, and the properties of their progenitors. The first part is a new survey to monitor massive stars in nearby galaxies using the twin 8.4m Large Binocular Telescope (LBT). This is the first practical means of detecting black hole formation through the disappearance of a massive star without a supernova, that is, a failed supernova. Second is a new search for nearby supernovae (within about a hundred million light years), using the operating All-Sky Automated Survey (ASAS). A systematic and complete survey is essential to finding more supernovae, to finding them earlier and in all types of galaxy, to identifying progenitors, and to calculating correct local rates. Last is a new effort to connect specific supernovae and supernova-like transients to their massive-star progenitors, using the LBT and ASAS data, and building on pioneering work using mid-infrared data from the Spitzer satellite. The LBT data will provide light curve histories of future supernova progenitors that, with the mid-IR investigations, constitute a search for signatures of imminent death, a question for which there are observational hints but no systematic studies.A very significant part of the research will be carried out by graduate students and a postdoctoral researcher, and the systematically collected data on the supernovae, massive stars, and galaxies of the local volume, will be a valuable resource for future supernova studies. The team will continue to use established effective platforms to share their science with children, teachers and members of the public.