Support for Astrophysics from the CHARA Array

格鲁吉亚州立大学？美国高角分辨率天文学中心（CHARA）是一个光学/近红外干涉望远镜阵列，位于加州的威尔逊山。CHARA阵列有六个1米直径的望远镜以Y形放置，让天文学家使用Y形的不同望远镜组合在一起来观察不同的天文物体。 这些望远镜的数量和大小，这些望远镜线的长度，覆盖的波长范围，以及它在天文学中成像目标的能力，使CHARA成为其类型中最强大的望远镜设施之一。 自2005年以来，当CHARA开始定期运行时，使用CHARA的科学家已经取得了重大的科学成果。 这些科学家现在正在向其他机构的天文学家开放CHARA望远镜阵列。该项目通过支持一个独特的望远镜系统来促进对多个不同天文物体的研究，推动天文学的进步，从而为国家利益服务。 GSU将为他们的入门和高级本科课程开发CHARA相关的实践经验。 位于威尔逊山的展览厅讲述了CHARA的故事。CHARA小组的出版物包括一颗星星（牵牛星），星星（Gamma And）上的星点，相互作用的双星（Beta Lyr）和新星（Nova Del 2013）的膨胀火球的第一张直接图像。 在目前的许多应用中，CHARA仪器测量恒星角直径、恒星形状、绘制表面特征图、探测星周盘和包层，并分辨双星以确定恒星质量和探测相互作用系统演化的不同阶段。随着六台望远镜中每一台都采用自适应光学技术，CHARA阵列的观测范围将扩大到年轻恒星周围的原行星盘、双星星星系统（包括新星、共生星和微类星体）以及一些活动星系核中的吸积盘。这些应用中的每一个都可以以高光谱和高空间分辨率来完成。

Georgia State University?s Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy (CHARA) is an optical/near-infrared interferometric telescope array located on Mount Wilson, California. The CHARA Array has six 1-meter diameter telescopes placed in the shape of a Y, letting astronomers use different lines of telescopes grouped together from the Y to look at different astronomical objects. The number and size of the telescopes, the lengths of these telescope lines, the range of wavelengths covered, and its ability to image targets in astronomy, make CHARA one of the most powerful telescope facilities of its type. Since 2005, when CHARA started operating regularly, the scientists using CHARA have had significant scientific results. These scientists are now opening the CHARA telescope array to astronomers from other institutions. This project serves the national interest by supporting a unique telescope system to promote the study of multiple, different astronomical objects, advancing the progress of astronomy. GSU will develop CHARA-related hands-on experiences for their introductory and advanced undergraduate classes. Located on Mount Wilson, the Exhibit Hall telling the story of CHARA?s operation and successes will also be updated for the public.The CHARA group publications include the first direct images of a single, main-sequence star (Altair), starspots on a giant star (Gamma And), an interacting binary (Beta Lyr), and the expanding fireball of a nova (Nova Del 2013). Among many current applications, CHARA instruments measure stellar angular diameters, stellar shapes, map surface features, detect circumstellar disks and envelopes, and resolve binary stars to determine stellar masses and probe different stages of the evolution of interacting systems. With the introduction of adaptive optics at each of the six telescopes, CHARA Array observations will extend to protoplanetary disks around young stars, binary star systems (including novae, symbiotic stars, and microquasars), as well as the accretion disks in some active galactic nuclei. Each of these applications can be done with both high spectral and high spatial resolution.