NSF Young Investigator: Magnetic Activity in M Dwarf Stars

小行星9457455 低质量恒星磁活动的观测数据可以作为研究恒星形成、演化、内部发电机和大气结构以及可能的年龄的工具。 将开展一项协调一致的方案，通过两次大型观测调查和一次重大的理论建模工作，调查低质量恒星的恒星活动。 调查将集中在疏散星团和我们银河系领域的低质量恒星，并将包括光度和光谱观测。 从观测星团获得的数据中，可以获得给定年龄（和演化状态）的活动快照，而活动与质量（和内部结构）之间的关系最好在场星中进行研究。 为了进一步开展观测工作，将设计和开发一台新的密歇根州立大学（MSU）光谱仪，并用于观测。 它将采用光栅和中阶梯光栅模式，分别适用于低分辨率和高分辨率光谱研究。 几名学生将参与设计阶段，该阶段应于1994年或1995年完成。 最后，建模工作采用复杂的非LTE辐射传输方法以及对从日冕到光球的星星整个大气的自洽描述来制作星星的模型。观测和理论的结合有望为低质量恒星磁活动的物理过程和演化提供新的见解。 这个奖项是为了表彰一位杰出的年轻教师在科学和工程。 该奖项将通过为研究和教育活动提供灵活的支持来提高教师的职业生涯。 鼓励与支持研究和教育的行业和机构合作。

9457455 Hawley The data from the observations of the magnetic activity in low mass stars can be used as a tool to study the formation, evolution, the interior dynamo and atmospheric structure, and possibly the age of the stars. A concerted program will be carried out to investigate stellar activity in low mass stars through two large observational surveys and a major theoretical modelling effort. The surveys will focus on low mass stars in open clusters and in the field of our Galaxy, and will comprise both photometric and spectroscopic observations. From the data obtained by observing the stellar clusters, a snapshot of the activity at a given age (and evolutionary state) is obtained, while the relationship between activity and mass (and internal structure) is best studied in the field stars. To further the observational effort, a new Michigan State University (MSU) optical spectrograph will be designed and developed and used for the observations. It will employ both a grating and an echelle mode, suitable for low and high resolution spectroscopic studies, respectively. Several students will be involved in the design phase which should be completed in 1994 or 1995. Finally, the modelling effort employs a sophisticated non-LTE radiative transfer method together with a self-consistent description of the entire atmosphere of a star from corona to photosphere to make models of the stars. The combination of observation and theory promises to give new insight into the physical processes and evolution of magnetic activity in low mass stars. This award is to recognize an outstanding young faculty member in science and engineering. This award will enhance the career of the faculty member by providing flexible support for research and educational activities. Cooperation with industry and institutions that support research and education is encouraged.