Development of Survey and Follow-up System for Transient Astronomical Objects

这项研究旨在通过对“瞬变天文物体”的观测研究来理解天文学中活跃现象的物理学，这些物体包括伽马射线爆发的光学对应物、含有黑洞的X射线瞬变和激变变星。这些天体表现出非常迅速(几十秒到几天)的变化，并正在成为当代天体物理学感兴趣的问题。近年来，这些天体被证明即使在光学光线下也表现出意想不到的变化。在这项研究中，我们采取了一种综合的方法来开发专门的瞬变天体观测系统，建立分析技术，并保持全球网络(VSNET)作为瞬变天体天文学的世界中心的地位。我们在京都大学安装了一个自动穹顶，在九州大学安装了一个25厘米的望远镜和一台CCD摄像机。结合现有仪器，我们成功地产生了丰富的科学成果，并发表了大量的S…具有代表性的科学成果包括：(1)我们在V4641SGR中发现了巨大的快速光学变化，这是一种黑洞X射线瞬变，其独特性质首次被我们在1999年发现的巨大光学爆发所认识。该系统中快速光学变化的发现为直接“看到”黑洞附近带来了可能。(2)我们在“自然”杂志上发表了一篇关于伽玛暴030329的论文，这篇论文在国内外新闻材料中得到了广泛的传播。这次爆发给现代伽马射线暴研究带来了一个重大转折点。通过VSNET的早期观测和信息的快速发布极大地促进了伽玛暴观测策略的全球提升。(3)我们在《日本天文学会》上出版了一期特刊(在VSNET上)。本期包括一篇关于创建VSNET的历史、科学成就和新战略的综述论文。本期还收录了多篇原创研究论文。这是瞬变物体研究史上划时代的一篇论文，将被相关研究人员广泛参考。较少

This research aims to understand the physics of active phenomena in astronomy, through observational study of "transient astronomical objects", which include optical counterparts of gamma-ray bursts, X-ray transients harboring black holes, and cataclysmic variables. These objects show very rapid (tens of seconds to days) variations and are becoming a matter of contemporary astrophysical interest.In recent years, these objects have been shown to exhibit unexpected variations even in the optical light. In this research, we undertook a comprehensive approach to develop a dedicated observing system for transient objects, to establish the analysis technique, and to maintain the world-wide network (VSNET) as a world center for transient object astronomy. We installed an automated dome in Kyoto University, and a 25-cm telescope and a CCD camera in Kyushu University. In combination with the existing apparatus, we succeeded to produce a rich scientific outcome, and published a great number of s … More olid papers.Representative scientific results include:(1) We discovered giant, rapid optical variations in V4641 Sgr, the black-hole X-ray transient whose unique nature was first recognized by our discovery of a giant optical outburst in 1999. The discovery of rapid optical variations in this system has brought a possibility to directly "see" the neighborhood of a black hole.(2) We published a Nature paper on GRB 030329, which was widely communicated in, domestic and international press materials. This burst brought a major turning point in modern research of gamma-ray bursts. The early observation and rapid release of information via VSNET greatly contributed to globally enhance the observation strategies of GRBs.(3) We published a special issue (on VSNET) of the Publication of Astronomical Society of Japan. This issue included a review paper on the history, scientific achievements, and novel strategies to create VSNET. The issue also includes many original research papers. This is an epoch-making publication in the research history of transient objects, and will widely be referenced by the relevant researchers. Less