Research to Acquire 0.4-4.8 Micron Spectroscopy of Classical Novae for Analysis and in Support of SIRTF Observations

经典新星在高度不同的条件下形成的光谱，即从极高的密度到极低的密度和光学深度，从剧烈的流出到更安静的气体。此外，新星光谱经常显示分子发射和来自不寻常原子种类的谱线。因此，对经典新星的观测不仅与新星本身的研究有关，而且为诸如活动星系中的线形成和发射线恒星等各种主题提供了有用的约束。这里的项目在测量新星光谱方面是独一无二的。新颖的方面是使用一个组合的光学-红外分光光度计，同时测量整个0.4-4.8微米的光谱通过相同的狭缝，避免了在不同的设施协调观测的需要，消除了在不同的条件下，在不同的时代，比较不同的波长区域所固有的不确定性。这为这些化学物质提供了一套统一的谱线比，它们的发射谱线出现在一个很宽的波长范围内。通过国际天文学联合会的通告和在网站上发布快速浏览光谱，可以立即获得初步结果，从而促使其他观测者对当前新星进行后续测量。该程序免费提供光谱仪开发和详细的数据分析。这项工作扩展了利克天文台的一个成功项目，该项目在过去十年中提供了参考天文学文献中报道的近红外新星光谱的很大一部分。更广泛的影响：对新星发射线形成过程的研究将有助于对其他具有发射线的天文来源的研究。此外，经典新星是星际介质中某些同位素的主要来源，在性质上可能与Ia型超新星的前体非常相似。结果及时发表在天文学文献上。这项工作促进了工业（航空航天公司）和学术科学家（加利福尼亚大学和明尼苏达大学）之间的合作，并支持学生研究这些重要对象。

AST 0455402PI PuetterSpectra from classical novae form under highly diverse conditions, i.e., from extremely high to low densities and optical depths, and from violent outflows to more quiescent gas. In addition, novae spectra often show molecular emission and lines from unusual atomic species. Hence observations of classical novae are not only relevant to the study of novae themselves, but provide useful constraints on such diverse topics as line formation in active galaxies and emission line stars. The program here is unique in its ability to measure novae spectra. The novel aspect is the use of a combined optical-IR spectrophotometer that simultaneously measures the entire 0.4-4.8 micron spectrum through the same slit, obviating the need for coordinated observations at separate facilities and eliminating the uncertainties inherent in comparing separate wavelength regions observed at different epochs under different conditions. This provides a unified set of line ratios for those chemical species, whose emission lines appear, over a wide wavelength range. Follow-up measurements of current novae by other observers are spurred by making preliminary results available immediately through IAU circulars and posting quick-look spectra on a website. The spectrometer development and detailed data analysis are provided free to this program. This effort expands on a successful program at Lick Observatory that has provided a significant fraction of the near-infrared nova spectra reported in the refereed astronomical literature during the past decade. Broader Impact: The investigations of emission line formation processes in novae will benefit studies of other astronomical sources with emission lines. In addition, classical novae are the prime source of certain isotopes in the interstellar medium and are probably very similar in nature to the precursors of type Ia supernovae. Results are published in a timely manner in the astronomical literature. This work fosters collaborations between industrial (Aerospace Corporation) and academic scientists (Universities of California and Minnesota) and involves support of a student in the study of these important objects.