Modeling the Census of Stellar Explosions in Galaxies across the Universe

恒星爆炸是宇宙演化的关键组成部分：它们影响整个星系的演化，是比氦更重的所有元素的来源，包括氧、碳、铁和组成地球等行星的所有其他物质。许多导致这些爆炸的过程在原则上是可以理解的，但通过研究不同类别的爆炸是如何在星系类型、星系环境和宇宙年龄之间分布的，可以对这些爆炸的前身恒星有更多的了解。该团队将在成功的星系演化(Galev)恒星人口模型的基础上，研究各种恒星爆炸，研究每一次恒星爆炸是如何取决于其所在星系的年龄、质量和化学性质的。除了提高我们对大多数至关重要的元素来自哪里的理解外，这也将极大地有利于充分科学地利用美国的重大投资，如大型天气观测望远镜和先进激光干涉仪引力波天文台。一项相互关联的公共教育和外展工作重点展示了天文学家如何从“美丽的图片”中提取科学见解。伴随着公开演讲和观星活动，这激发了年轻学生对科学领域的热情。爆炸性瞬变，如超新星和伽马射线暴，是恒星演化的最后阶段的踪迹，通过调节气体流入和流出，并通过用金属丰富星际介质，塑造了宿主星系的演化。从观测上看，最近和未来在仪器设备方面的进展--许多得到了美国的重大支持，如大型天文观测望远镜和Advanced-LIGO-使我们能够收集这些罕见事件的大量样本，涉及广泛的宿主星系属性。尽管大多数事件的定性理论基础已经建立得很好，但目前的理论模型还不能先验地预测事件在红移、星系类型、星系质量等方面的分布。在这个项目中，该团队将扩展成功的星系演化(Galev)合成代码，以模拟来自单星和双星前体的事件速率，完全和自洽地考虑星系中金属丰度和恒星数量的演化。这种方法使研究人员能够单独研究爆炸瞬变的宿主星系，从而更好地约束这些事件背后的物理过程。该团队将为曼弗雷德·奥尔森天文馆开发一系列针对学校团体、校园社区和普通公众的演示文稿，以简单易懂、适合观众的方式说明天文方法和技术。团队成员还将通过携带望远镜到威斯康星州东南部地区的公园和公共活动中进行天文表演，与不同年龄和背景的公民进行观星和休闲互动。

Stellar explosions are a critical component in the evolution of the universe: they influence the evolution of entire galaxies and are the source of all elements heavier than helium, including oxygen, carbon, iron, and all other matter that make up planets like Earth. Many of the processes leading up to these explosions are understood in principle, but much can be learned about the progenitor stars of these explosions by studying how different classes of explosions are distributed across galaxy types, galaxy environments, and cosmic age. The team will build upon the successful Galaxy Evolution (GALEV) stellar population models and study, for a variety of stellar explosions, how each of them depends on the age, mass, and chemical properties of their host galaxy. In addition to advancing our understanding of where most of the vitally important elements come from, this will also greatly benefit the full scientific exploitation of major US investments, such as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope and the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory. A connected public education and outreach effort focuses on demonstrating how astronomers extract scientific insights from "pretty pictures." Supplemented with public talks and stargazing events, this generates enthusiasm amongst young students for the science fields.Explosive transients such as Supernovae and Gamma-Ray Bursts are tracers of the final stage of stellar evolution that shape the evolution of the host galaxy by regulating the gas inflows and outflows and by enriching the interstellar medium with metals. Observationally, recent and future advances in instrumentation -- many with major US support such as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope and Advanced-LIGO -- allow us to gather sizable samples of these rare events across a wide range of host galaxy properties. Though the qualitative theoretical base for most events are well established, current theoretical models cannot yet predict a priori the distribution of events across redshift, galaxy type, galaxy mass, etc. In this project, the team will extend the successful Galaxy Evolution (GALEV) synthesis code to model the rate of events from single- and binary-star progenitors, fully and self-consistently accounting for both the evolution of metallicity and stellar populations in galaxies. This approach allows the researchers to study the host galaxies of explosive transients individually and hence to better constrain the physical processes underlying these events. The team will develop a series of presentations for the Manfred Olson Planetarium aimed at school groups, the campus community, and the general public to illustrate astronomical methods and techniques in an easy-to-understand, audience-appropriate way. Members of the team will also run astronomy shows by taking telescopes to parks and public events in the south-east Wisconsin region to offer stargazing and casual interactions with fellow citizens across all ages and backgrounds.