RUI: The Unique Microquasar SS 433 - An Optical Program and Contribution to a Multiwavelength Collaborative Study

这项研究的总体目标是更好地了解银河系微类星体SS 433的本质--一个拥有许多类星体特征的天体，如热盘、强盘风、致密天体的证据和相对论喷流。然而，因为它是一个银河系天体，它离我们更近，不会被周围的物质星系遮挡，从而提供了一个探索重要但鲜为人知的物理学的机会。这里的具体目标是确定致密天体INSS 433的性质(它是中子星还是黑洞？)，检查相对论喷流的结构和起源，并准确评估系统的演化状态。这将通过同时使用射电成像和光学加x射线光谱学的多波长活动来实现，以研究SS433中的圆盘和喷流。通过它，可以跟踪相对论喷流的运动，确定喷流破碎的时间和距离尺度，监测光学喷流线的消失，找到喷流的真实空间速度。此外，光学光谱学将被用来研究喷流、质量施主恒星和致密天体。预计施主恒星的质量以及它的演化状态将得到最终确定。最后，观测还应该提供致密天体的质量，从而揭示它是黑洞还是中子星。通过这个奖项，瓦尔帕莱索的研究基础设施将部分通过创造新的学生研究机会而得到改善。参与的学生将在每年夏天的十周时间里担任研究助理，并将接受天文数据获取、还原和分析方面的培训。他们将有机会在国家会议上展示他们的成果，并与他人共同撰写参考期刊文章。希尔维希博士在党卫军433中的工作也出现在许多热门文章中，他将继续通过媒体和公开演讲向公众传播结果。

The overall goal of this research is a better understanding of the nature of the Galacticmicroquasar SS 433 - an object which possesses many of the characteristics of a quasarsuch as a hot disk, a strong disk wind, evidence for a compact object, and relativistic jets.However, because it is a Galactic object, it is closer and is not obscured by a galaxy ofmaterial surrounding it, thereby providing an opportunity to explore important but poorlyunderstood physics. Specific goals here are to identify the nature of the compact object inSS 433 (is it a neutron star or black hole?), to examine the structure and origin of therelativistic jets, and to accurately assess the system's evolutionary state. This will beaccomplished through a multiwavelength campaign using simultaneous radio imagingand optical plus x-ray spectroscopy to study the disk and jet in SS 433. Through this, themotion of the relativistic jet will be followed, the time and distance scale of jetfragmentation determined, the disappearance of optical jet lines monitored, and the truespace velocities of the jets will be found. In addition, optical spectroscopy will be used tostudy the jet, mass donor star, and the compact object. It is expected that the mass of thedonor star will be conclusively determined as well as its evolutionary state. Finally, theobservations should also provide the mass of the compact object thereby revealingwhether it is a black hole or a neutron star.Through this award, the research infrastructure at Valparaiso will be improved in part bycreating new student research opportunities. Participating students will serve as researchassistants during ten weeks each summer and will be trained in aspects of astronomicaldata acquisition, reduction, and analysis. They will have the opportunity to present theirresults at national conferences and to co-author referred journal articles. Dr. Hillwig'swork in SS 433 has also been featured in many popular articles and he will continue topursue public dissemination of the results in the press and through public talks.