Advanced Astronomical Instrumentation and Observational Studies of Early Supernovae, Optical Transients and Dwarf Galaxies

我最近在多伦多大学建立了一个积极的仪器项目，专注于开发近红外(NIR)光谱的仪器和技术。我还启动了一项新的雄心勃勃的研究计划，利用提供24小时连续天空覆盖的望远镜网络来研究早期超新星，这也适用于研究其他类型的光学瞬变和矮星系。这些研究工作已经成熟，有望实现向下一阶段的光明过渡。我建议在未来几年开展以先进天文仪器为重点的研究计划，并对早期超新星、光学瞬变和矮星系进行观测研究。“先进的天文仪器”我首先计划探索更多基于偏振光栅(PG)的新光谱技术，以便在可见光--近红外波段实现高通量、宽带光谱。最近在光子学领域的快速发展使得制作能够在宽光谱范围内提供几乎100%的衍射效率的光子晶体成为可能。我们最近在实际的天文观测中表明，在可见光的宽光谱范围内，PGs确实可以达到90%以上的衍射效率。我建议将PG技术扩展到近红外区域，例如同时测量0.6-2.4微米。一旦成功开发，这种新的光栅技术有望极大地提高可见光-近红外波段的光谱观测效率。另一方面，我们的近红外仪器小组正在领导加拿大范围内开发双子座红外多目标光谱仪的努力，我计划为其开发的各个方面做出重大贡献。《观测研究》我是KMTNet(韩国微透镜望远镜网络)超新星计划(KSP)的PI。KMTNet由位于智利、南非和澳大利亚的三个1.6米宽视场(4平方度)光学望远镜组成的网络组成，提供24小时连续的天空覆盖。KSP被优化用于探测早期超新星和快速光学瞬变。该项目始于2015年，现在已经成熟，已经探测到了许多有趣的光学瞬变，包括在爆炸后几个小时到几天内探测到的许多早期超新星，这为理解超新星及其前身如何爆炸提供了新的机会。我建议对KSP的这些瞬变进行观测研究，重点了解超新星爆炸机制及其前身。此外，KSP获得的深堆叠图像已经探测到数百个新的矮星系，我建议研究这些矮星系的性质和起源。最后，利用我最近委托使用的两台近红外光谱仪的观测时间，我计划参与几个有限作用的观测计划。

I have recently established an active instrumentation program at the University of Toronto centered on developing instruments and technologies for near--infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. I also have initiated a new ambitious research program of studying early supernovae using a network of telescopes providing 24-hour continuous sky coverage which is suited for studying other types of optical transients and dwarf galaxies too. These research efforts have come of age and promise bright transitions to the next stages. I propose here to conduct research programs focused on advanced astronomical instrumentation and observational studies of early supernovae, optical transients and dwarf galaxies in coming years. "Advanced Astronomical Instrumentation" I first plan to explore further new spectroscopic techniques based on polarization gratings (PGs) for high-throughput, broadband spectroscopy in the visible--NIR waveband. Recent rapid developments in the field of photonics now make it possible to fabricate PGs that can deliver an almost 100% diffraction efficiency over a broad spectral range. We have recently shown in real astronomical observations that the PGs can indeed achieve higher than 90% diffraction efficiencies over a broad spectral range in the visible. I propose to extend the PG techniques to the NIR regime, e.g., 0.6--2.4 micron simultaneously. Once successfully developed, this new grating technology is expected to dramatically enhance the efficiency of spectroscopic observations in the visible-NIR waveband. On the other hand, our NIR instrumentation group is leading Canada--wide efforts for the development of Gemini Infrared Multi--Object Spectrograph, and I plan to make significant contributions to all aspects of its development. "Observational Research" I am the PI of the KMTNet (Korea Microlensing Telescope Network) Supernova Program (KSP). The KMTNet consists of a network of three 1.6--m wide-field (4 square degrees) optical telescopes located in Chile, South Africa and Australia, providing 24--hour continuous sky coverage. KSP is optimized for detecting early supernovae and rapid optical transients. The program, which started in 2015, has now matured and has detected numerous interesting optical transients, including many early supernovae detected within a few hours to days from the explosion, providing a new opportunity for understanding how supernova explode and their progenitors. I propose to conduct observational research into these transients from KSP, focusing on understanding supernova explosion mechanisms and their progenitors. Additionally, the deep stack images obtained in KSP have detected more than several hundreds of new dwarf galaxies, and I propose to study the properties and origins of these dwarf galaxies. Finally, using the observing time associated with the two NIR spectrographs that I have recently commissioned, I plan to engage in several observing programs assuming a limited role.