Magnetism in massive stars

大质量恒星中的磁性

• 批准号: 249821-2011
• 负责人: Wade, Gregg
• 金额: $ 2.7万
• 依托单位: Royal Military College of Canada
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2015-01-01 至 2016-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=570739
• 关键词: Magnetism; massive; stars

Massive stars represent the hottest and most luminous stellar component of the Universe, and are the crucibles in which the lion's share of the chemical elements are forged. Throughout their lives, matter, energy and momentum are injected into the surrounding interstellar medium by their powerful radiation fields and stellar winds, and by the dramatic supernova explosions that mark their deaths. These rapidly-evolving stars drive the chemistry, structure and evolution of galaxies, dominating the ecology of the Universe with far-reaching consequences. The evolution of a massive star is influenced fundamentally by its rapid rotation and mass loss. Both of these properties are subject to considerable modification in the presence of magnetic fields. Although the existence of magnetic fields in massive stars is no longer in question, our knowledge of the basic statistical properties of massive star magnetism is seriously incomplete. There is a troubling deficit in our knowledge of the scope of the influence of fields on massive star evolution, and almost no empirical basis for understanding how fields modify mass loss. Most remarkably, we have no clear idea how these important magnetic fields originate. The aim of this proposal is to fund research and training within the context of the international Magnetism in Massive Stars (MiMeS) project. Leveraging the commitments of international observatories and over 50 worldwide collaborators, we will complete a comprehensive assay of the magnetic properties of hot, massive stars, including a survey of 200 stars and detailed investigations of the magnetic field topologies and related physics of over 2 dozen prototypical objects. This fundamental observational database will be used to confront and guide development of forefront theoretical models of field generation, mass loss and stellar wind confinement, rotational evolution and stellar interior structure and evolution.

大质量恒星代表了宇宙中最热、最明亮的恒星成分，也是锻造大部分化学元素的坩埚。在它们的一生中，物质、能量和动量通过它们强大的辐射场和恒星风以及标志着它们死亡的剧烈超新星爆炸注入到周围的星际介质中。这些快速演化的恒星驱动着星系的化学、结构和演化，主导着宇宙的生态，产生了深远的影响。 大质量恒星的演化从根本上受到其快速自转和质量损失的影响。在磁场存在的情况下，这两种特性都会发生相当大的改变。尽管大质量恒星中磁场的存在不再受到质疑，但我们对大质量恒星磁性的基本统计特性的了解严重不完整。我们对场对大质量恒星演化的影响范围的了解存在着令人不安的缺陷，而且几乎没有经验基础来理解场如何改变质量损失。最值得注意的是，我们不清楚这些重要的磁场是如何产生的。 该提案的目的是资助国际大质量恒星磁力 (MiMeS) 项目范围内的研究和培训。利用国际天文台和全球 50 多个合作者的承诺，我们将完成对炽热大质量恒星磁性的全面分析，包括对 200 颗恒星的调查以及对 20 多个原型天体的磁场拓扑和相关物理的详细研究。这个基础观测数据库将用于对抗和指导场生成、质量损失和恒星风限制、旋转演化以及恒星内部结构和演化等前沿理论模型的发展。