CAREER: Nucleosynthesis in Degenerate Stars

致密的恒星导致了宇宙中一些最强大的爆炸。例如，白矮星在它们作为超新星的生命结束时会爆炸，当时它们会点燃失控的核反应。这些爆炸可以在很远的地方看到，对于测量宇宙的膨胀很重要。这些热爆炸将电离的铁、镍和其他金属排入太空，留下致密的中子星。中子星也可以通过两颗中子星的合并而爆炸。这次爆炸非常不同，会产生非常重的元素，比如金和钡。最近，美国国家科学基金会资助的激光干涉仪引力波天文台(LIGO)发现了中子星的合并。研究人员将通过对附近星系中的钡、铁和其他金属的数量进行灵敏的观测来估计中子星合并的速度。研究人员的目标是了解哪些类型的爆炸产生了在地球和整个宇宙中发现的元素。高中生将在夏季参与这项研究。调查员将通过提供津贴来鼓励新的学生群体的加入。调查人员还计划实施分层指导。教师将指导博士后，博士后将指导研究生。研究生将指导本科生，本科生将指导高中生。这一策略已被证明鼓励年轻学生从事研究事业。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Dense stars cause some of the most powerful explosions in the Universe. For example, white dwarf stars explode at the end of their lives as Supernovae, when they ignite a runaway nuclear reaction. These explosions can be seen at great distances and are important for measuring the expansion of the Universe. These hot explosions expel ionized iron, nickel and other metals into space, leaving behind dense neutron stars. Neutron stars can also explode by merger of two neutron stars. This explosion is very different, and creates very heavy elements, like gold and barium. Neutron star mergers have recently been discovered with the NSF-funded Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO). The investigator will estimate the rate of neutron star mergers by sensitive observations of the amounts of barium, iron and other metals in nearby galaxies. The investigator's goal is to understand which types of explosions have created the elements found on Earth and throughout the Universe.High school students will participate in this research during the summer. The investigator will encourage the inclusion of new groups of students by offering stipends. The investigator also plans to implement tiers of mentoring. Faculty will mentor postdocs, who will mentor graduate students. The graduate students will mentor undergraduate students, who will mentor high school students. This strategy has been shown to encourage younger students to pursue research careers.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.