Collaborative Research:The Supernova Rate and Delay Time Distribution in the Local Group

合作研究：本星系群中的超新星发生率和延迟时间分布

• 批准号: 1412980
• 负责人: Laura Chomiuk
• 金额: $ 26.86万
• 依托单位: Michigan State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-09-15 至 2019-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1412980&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Supernova; Rate; Delay

Supernovae are violent stellar explosions that can briefly outshine the cumulative light from all the stars in a galaxy. Supernovae are important because they return heavy elements to the empty space in the galaxy, thus seeding the next generation of stars and planets. The rate at which supernovae occur is crucial to our understanding of the evolution of galaxies and the Universe as a whole. This proposal will investigate two important quantities related to supernovae by observing the objects that are left behind after a supernova explosions and modeling the brightness of these supernova remnants.The goal of this proposal is to investigate the supernova (SN) rate and the delay time distribution (DTD) of supernovae (SNe). The DTD is a quantity that describes how the SN rate varies with the age of a stellar population. The project will impact our understanding of two key questions regarding SNe, namely: What are the progenitors of Type Ia SNe?, and What is the range of masses for progenitors of core collapse SNe? The PIs propose an innovative approach to determining the SN rate and DTD that involves: (1) compiling a deep sample of SN remnants from four galaxies in the Local Group, (2) measuring the density and distribution of the interstellar medium in these galaxies, and (3) using calibrated models for the luminosity of the SN remnants to determine the SN rate and DTD. The study of the properties (i.e. size and luminosity) of supernova remnant populations will be broadly relevant to questions of galaxy evolution and cosmic ray origins.The project will communicate its results to the general public through lectures and hands-on astronomy activities for audiences of all ages. Both PI's are heavily involved in the education and training of graduate and undergraduate students, and the proposed work will further strengthen the students' exposure to astronomical research into supernovae.

超新星是剧烈的恒星爆炸，可以短暂地超过星系中所有恒星的累积光。 超新星之所以重要，是因为它们将重元素送回星系中的真空，从而为下一代恒星和行星播下种子。 超新星发生的速率对于我们理解星系和整个宇宙的演化至关重要。 该计划将通过观测超新星爆炸后留下的物体并模拟这些超新星遗迹的亮度来研究与超新星有关的两个重要量，其目标是研究超新星（SN）速率和超新星（SNe）的延迟时间分布（DTD）。 DTD是一个描述SN速率如何随恒星年龄变化的量。 该项目将影响我们对SNe的两个关键问题的理解，即：Ia型SNe的祖先是什么？核心坍缩SNe的前身的质量范围是多少？ PI提出了一种确定SN速率和DTD的创新方法，包括：（1）从本星系群的四个星系中收集SN残留物的深层样本，（2）测量这些星系中星际介质的密度和分布，以及（3）使用SN残留物光度的校准模型来确定SN速率和DTD。 对超新星遗迹群的性质（即大小和光度）的研究将与星系演化和宇宙射线起源问题广泛相关，该项目将通过面向所有年龄段观众的讲座和天文学实践活动向公众宣传其结果。 这两个PI都积极参与研究生和本科生的教育和培训，拟议的工作将进一步加强学生对超新星天文学研究的接触。