Following the Chemical History of Stellar Ejecta through Molecular Observations and Laboratory Spectroscopy

通过分子观测和实验室光谱学追踪恒星喷射物的化学历史

基本信息

批准号：
1515568
负责人：
Lucy Ziurys
金额：
$ 39.59万
依托单位：
University of Arizona
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
Standard Grant
财政年份：
2015
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2015-09-15 至 2019-08-31
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1515568&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
Following Chemical History Stellar Ejecta

项目摘要

This project seeks to unravel how matter in our Galaxy is transferred from stars, which create the majority of the chemical elements, to interstellar space. The PI and her students and collaborators will examine the chemical composition of material that eventually will create new solar systems. This will provide insight into what becomes of the elements ejected from stars, including elements that are essential for life. The research is highly interdisciplinary, involving both observational and laboratory studies that interrelate astronomy, chemistry, planetary science, and physics. This research will be almost entirely conducted by graduate students, and this lab has been a fruitful training ground for future scientists. The PI is also involved in the development of interdisciplinary courses in the physical sciences. Mass loss from circumstellar envelopes of evolved stars and the more advanced, planetary nebulae (PNe) stage, is a major avenue by which the interstellar medium (ISM) is enriched in gas, dust, and the heavier elements. The chemical and physical characteristics of circumstellar shells and subsequent PNe thus have major impact on the overall life cycle of dense material in the ISM. The goals of this project are (1) to probe the physical and chemical properties of circumstellar envelopes and planetary nebulae to determine the extent of their molecular composition, and (2) to examine their morphological structures through radio/millimeter-wave astronomical observations. A further aim is to identify new molecules in these objects, in particular refractory species possibly linked to dust grains such as TiOH or FeC2, using laboratory spectroscopy followed by additional observations. The O-rich circumstellar shells to be studied include those of the supergiant S Persei and the Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars TX Cam and R Cas, which will be investigated using the highly sensitive ALMA-type receivers at the Sub-millimeter Telescope (SMT) of the Arizona Radio Observatory (ARO), and the new ARO 12 meter ALMA-prototype antenna. Other molecules will be sought with the ARO facilities, with the purpose of examining the revolutionary concept that diffuse clouds are being populated with remnant molecular material from PNe.

该项目试图揭示我们的星系中的重要性，从创建大多数化学元素的恒星转移到星际空间。 PI和她的学生和合作者将检查最终将创建新太阳系的材料的化学组成。这将提供有关从星星弹出的元素的洞察力，包括对生命必不可少的元素。这项研究是高度跨学科的，涉及与天文学，化学，行星科学和物理学相关的观察和实验室研究。这项研究几乎全部由研究生进行，这项实验室是未来科学家的富有成果的培训场所。 PI还参与了物理科学中跨学科课程的发展。不断发展的恒星和更先进的行星星云（PNE）阶段的质量损失是一个主要途径，星际培养基（ISM）富含气体，灰尘和较重的元素。因此，壳壳的化学和物理特征以及随后的PNE对ISM中致密材料的整体生命周期产生了重大影响。该项目的目标是（1）探测与偶间信封和行星星云的物理和化学特性，以确定其分子组成的程度，以及（2）通过无线电/毫米波天文观测来检查其形态结构。进一步的目的是使用实验室光谱法，然后进行其他观察结果，以鉴定这些物体中的新分子，特别是与TiOH或FEC2等尘埃谷物相关的难治性物种。要研究的富含OCH的壳外壳包括超级巨人S Persei和渐近巨型分支（AGB）恒星TX CAM和R CAS，将使用亚利桑那州观测值（ARO）和新的Alma Alma the Arizona Radiovoration Subillimeter望远镜（SMT）上的高敏感的Alma型接收器进行研究。 ARO设施将寻求其他分子，目的是研究革命性的概念，即弥漫性云正在用PNE的残留分子材料填充。