Collaborative Research: The Weirdest Stars in the Universe: Illuminating the Origins and Evolution of Thorne-Zytkow Objects

合作研究：宇宙中最奇怪的恒星：阐明索恩-齐特科天体的起源和演化

• 批准号: 2305225
• 负责人: Philip Massey
• 金额: $ 16.87万
• 依托单位: Lowell Observatory
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-09-01 至 2026-08-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2305225&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Weirdest; Stars; Universe

Some of the weirdest stars in the universe are called Thorne-Zytkow objects, or TZOs. They represent a completely new model for how the insides of stars can work, a new possible fate for binary star systems, and a new way to produce heavy elements. This research program will carry out an in-depth study of TZOs. The investigators will run computer simulations of the binary star systems that might form TZOs and use some of the planet's largest telescopes to search for TZOs. In addition to learning more about these mysterious stars, this research will transform our understanding of cold and massive stars and explain how they evolve, die, and enrich the chemistry of our universe. The investigators will work closely with high school students on short research projects that can be presented at regional or state science fairs. Thorne-Zytkow objects combine the outward appearance of red supergiants - cold and luminous massive stars - with strange neutron cores supported not by standard stellar fusion, but by extreme quantum physics. The formation and evolution of a TZOs is key for understanding this novel model of supporting a cool luminous exterior with a neutron degenerate interior. Terminal TZO scenarios, which could include mass-loss-driven dissipation of their outer layers, a supernova-like explosion, or direct collapse to a black hole, are crucial for understanding how TZOs contribute to enrichment and add to the population of compact objects. The merger of a red supergiant and neutron star to form a TZO is notably different from the standard scenario assumed for massive binaries, where both stars produce compact objects and eventually merge to generate a gravitational wave transient. Neglecting TZO formation and evolution will lead to incorrect predictions for heavy element enrichment and an over-prediction of gravitational wave transients. Using high-resolution spectroscopy, advanced stellar atmosphere models tailored for cool stars, and archival light curves of these stars, the investigators will determine whether potential TZO candidates have the distinctive surface abundance signatures predicted. As an integral part of this research program, the investigators will work annually with high school students on short research projects suitable for presentation at regional or state science fairs and develop infrastructure for use by other potential project mentors across the field of astronomy.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.

宇宙中一些最奇怪的恒星被称为索恩-齐特科天体，或TZO。它们代表了恒星内部如何工作的一个全新模型，一个新的可能的双星星系统的命运，以及一种产生重元素的新方法。本研究计划将对TZO进行深入研究。研究人员将对可能形成TZO的双星星星系统进行计算机模拟，并使用地球上一些最大的望远镜来寻找TZO。除了更多地了解这些神秘的恒星外，这项研究还将改变我们对寒冷和大质量恒星的理解，并解释它们如何进化，死亡和丰富我们宇宙的化学物质。研究人员将与高中生密切合作，进行短期研究项目，这些项目可以在地区或州科学博览会上展示。索恩-齐特科夫天体联合收割机结合了红超巨星--冷而明亮的大质量恒星--的外观和奇怪的中子核心，这些中子核心不是由标准的恒星聚变支持的，而是由极端的量子物理学支持的。TZO的形成和演化是理解这种新模型的关键，这种新模型支持一个冷的发光的外部与中子简并的内部。终端TZO场景，其中可能包括质量损失驱动的外层耗散，超新星般的爆炸或直接坍缩到黑洞，对于理解TZO如何有助于富集和增加紧凑物体的数量至关重要。红超巨星和中子星星合并形成TZO与大质量双星的标准假设明显不同，在大质量双星中，两颗恒星都产生紧凑的物体，最终合并产生引力波瞬变。忽略TZO的形成和演化将导致对重元素富集的错误预测和对引力波瞬变的过度预测。利用高分辨率光谱学、为冷恒星量身定制的先进恒星大气模型以及这些恒星的档案光变曲线，研究人员将确定潜在的TZO候选者是否具有预测的独特表面丰度特征。作为这项研究计划的一个组成部分，研究人员每年将与高中生合作，开展适合在地区或州科学博览会上展示的短期研究项目，并开发基础设施，供天文学领域其他潜在的项目导师使用。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查进行评估，被认为值得支持的搜索.