RUI: Chemical Abundances of Galactic Compact Planetary Nebulae

研究人员研究银河系中恒星产生的元素。所有恒星的核心都是通过将轻元素融合成重元素来产生能量的。当一颗恒星的核心耗尽了用于聚变的轻元素时，它就会在自身重量的作用下收缩。坍缩使外层重新加热，使恒星变成红巨星。这个阶段是不稳定的，并以外层被完全抛弃而结束。这些元素在恒星生命周期结束时从恒星中释放出来。研究人员将使用光学望远镜来测量元素的丰度。这些元素在行星状星云中可见，行星状星云是由这类恒星喷出的美丽的电离气体壳。本科生将协助研究。将向学生介绍科学和工程研究的技术。从恒星产生的元素的图像中，研究人员了解到这些恒星中发生的核反应的类型。从这些反应中，研究人员了解到这些恒星的质量以及它们的寿命。有些元素穿过恒星的核火焰时没有改变。通过匹配这些元素，他们可以追踪恒星诞生的分子云的类型。使用新的方法，结合行星状星云的高精度光学和红外光谱，以及更新、更精确的距离测量，他们将研究整个银河系的恒星形成和化学富集的历史。西肯塔基大学的本科生将在这项工作的各个方面发挥积极作用。学生将为在科技领域的职业生涯做好更好的准备。调查人员在该国最需要这类工作的地区工作。

The investigators study the elements produced in stars in our galaxy. All stars generate energy in their cores by fusing light elements into heavier ones. When the core of a star runs out of light elements to fuse, its contracts under its own weight. The collapse reheats the outer layers, turning the star into a red giant. This phase is unstable and ends with the outer layers being thrown off entirely. These elements are released from the stars at the end of their life cycle. The investigators will use optical telescopes to measure the element abundances. The elements are visible in planetary nebulae, which are beautiful ionized gaseous shells ejected by such stars. Undergraduate students will help with the research. The students will be introduced to the techniques of scientific and engineering research.From images of the elements created by the stars, the investigators learn the types of nuclear reactions that went on in these stars. From the reactions, the investigator learns how massive the stars were and how long they lived. Some elements pass through the star's nuclear fires unchanged. By matching these elements, they can trace the type of molecular clouds where the stars were born. Using new methods combining high-precision optical and infrared spectra of planetary nebulae with newer, more accurate distance measurements, they will examine the history of star formation and chemical enrichment throughout our Galaxy. Undergraduate students at Western Kentucky University will take active roles in all aspects of this work. The students will become better prepared for careers in scientific and technical fields. The investigator is working in a region of the country where such jobs are most needed.