Most Massive Stars in the Local Universe

在这里，Stanek博士和合作者将对本地宇宙中最大质量的恒星进行系统的研究，通过在银河系，本星系群星系，甚至本星系群以外的一些星系中的食双星中检测和观察它们。该战略包括通过光度变化调查发现食双星，从中选择最明亮，因此质量最大的候选者进行光谱跟踪。目标是找到并测量这些食双星中最大质量恒星的精确参数，特别是那些在附近星系中具有高和低丰度重元素的恒星。研究人员已经开始监测几个年轻的星系团，并获得本星系群中明亮的食双星的后续光谱（LMC，SMC，M31和M33）。研究计划预计将产生准确的基本参数（特别是质量和半径），并将提供数据，以测试恒星大气模型，恒星风模型，恒星演化模型的单星和双星作为一个功能的组成和理论预测的恒星质量的上限。此外，它还将提供早期接触双星和双星分数的统计数据，从而限制大质量星星的形成模型，并通过失控的OB星双星洞察疏散星团的演变。作为副产品，许多新的变星也将被发现。最后，研究最大质量的恒星将使人们对高质量X射线双星的祖先、核心坍缩超新星、超新星和伽马射线爆发之间的联系以及第三星族恒星有新的认识。拟议工作的一个重要部分将由一名研究生和一名博士后研究员进行，为尖端科学研究提供广泛的培训。该项目的成果将通过在同行评审的期刊、会议记录、大众媒体和网络上发表广泛传播。所有收集的数据和结果将通过一个公共万维网网站免费提供，以便为该领域的其他工作者以及天文学教育工作者提供充分访问这些遗产质量数据的机会。

Here Dr. Stanek and collaborators will undertake a systematic study of the most massive stars in the Local Universe, by detecting and observing them in eclipsing binaries in the Milky Way, in Local Group galaxies, and even in some galaxies beyond the Local Group. The strategy involves discovering eclipsing binaries via photometric variability surveys, from which the brightest and thus most massive candidates are selected for spectroscopic follow-up. The goal is to find and measure accurate parameters of the most massive stars in these eclipsing binaries, especially those in nearby galaxies with both high and low abundances of heavy elements. The investigators have already begun monitoring several young Galactic clusters and obtaining follow up spectroscopy of bright eclipsing binaries in Local Group galaxies (LMC, SMC, M31, and M33).The research program is expected to yield accurate fundamental parameters (notably masses and radii) for dozens of massive stars discovered in a variety of environments, and will provide data with which to test stellar atmosphere models, wind models, stellar evolution models for both single and binary stars as a function of composition and the theoretical predictions on the upper limit of the stellar mass. Additionally, it will provide statistics on early-type contact binaries and the binary fraction, thus constraining massive star formation models, and insight into the evolution of open clusters via runaway OB stars that are binaries. As a side product, many new variable stars will also be discovered. Finally, studying the most massive stars will allow new insights into the progenitors of high-mass X-ray binaries, core-collapse supernovae, the connection between supernovae and gamma-ray bursts, and Population III stars.A significant part of the proposed work will be carried out by a graduate student and a postdoctoral researcher, providing extensive training in cutting-edge scientific research. Results from this project will be broadly disseminated by publication in peer reviewed journals, conference proceedings, the popular press and the Web. All the gathered data and results will be freely available via a public WWW site, as to provide other workers in this field, as well as astronomy educators, with full access to these legacy-quality data.