Collaborative Research: The Aspherical Nature and Evolution of Supernovae

该奖项将支持对所有类型的超新星进行长期全面的光谱偏振调查。 这项工作的主要目标是通过关注可观察到的演变，提高对超新星爆炸中不对称性的特征和重要性的认识。 偏振测量法允许人们探测超新星的空间尺度，这些尺度无法通过地球或太空的直接成像来解决。 分光偏振法通过揭示可能由光学深度相关几何形状引起的波长相关变化来进一步增强该技术的能力。 近年来，越来越多的证据表明，几乎所有的超新星都表现出偏离球形对称的现象。 这些结果，加上计算能力的进步，使全三维建模，揭示了不对称性不仅是超新星的可观察后果的可能性，但实际上可能是爆炸机制本身的必要性。 研究人员将获得最亮的核心坍缩和热核反应的重复分光偏振测量。 这些数据将通过光度测量和高分辨率光谱学得到补充。随着偏振测量的诊断能力不断提高，特别是在巨型望远镜和时变天文学时代，该项目预计将对天体物理学产生影响。 该项目还将支持每个机构的一些外联和教育工作，并将促进本科生和研究生的教育和培训。 此外，霍夫曼博士将继续领导丹佛大学的天体物理学合作研究（CORA）项目。 这一方案的依据是，研究表明，参与集体研究项目可以增加女生在科学和技术要求高的专业中的保留率。

This award will support a long-term comprehensive spectropolarimetric survey of all types of supernovae. The principal goal of this effort is to improve the understanding of the characteristics and importance of asymmetries in supernova explosions by focusing on the observable evolution. Polarimetry allows one to probe spatial scales in a supernova that cannot be resolved through direct imaging from earth or space. Spectropolarimetry further enhances the power of this technique by revealing wavelength dependent variations that may result from optical depth dependent geometries. In recent years, evidence has grown that nearly all supernovae exhibit departures from spherical symmetry. These results, together with advances in computing power that enable full three dimensional modeling, are exposing the possibility that asymmetries are not just observable consequences of supernovae, but may in fact be a necessity of the explosion mechanism itself. The investigators will obtain repeat spectropolarimetry of the brightest core collapse and thermonuclear. These data will be augmented with both photometry and high-resolution spectroscopy. The project is expected to have an impact on astrophysics as the diagnostic power of polarimetry continues to advance, especially in the era of giant telescopes and time-variable astronomy. This project will also support a number of outreach and education efforts at each institution and will contribute to the education and training of undergraduate and graduate students. In addition, Dr. Hoffman will continue her leadership of the Collaborative Research in Astrophysics (CORA) program at the University of Denver. This program is based on studies that show that participation in group research projects increases retention of female students in scientifically and technically demanding majors.