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Diverse Areas of Research
SIM Lite is a versatile instrument capable of making contributions to very diverse areas of research. Multi-discipline studies add to the research already planned (S. Shaklan, S. Kulkarni, R. Allen). In addition, a wide variety of potential science investigations are being studied to broaden further SIM Lite's science return (SIM book Chapter 13).
Recent reports are listed below, along with the originally accepted key projects and recent community science studies.
Researchers inspired to see what SIM light can do on their own selection of targets can use the SIM Lite Time and Performance Estimator (TaPE) now to explore the performance of SIM Lite.
Key Projects
Community Science Studies
Gaia–SIM Lite Legacy Project
Guillem Anglada-Escude (DTM/Carnegie Institution of Washington)
According to current plans, the NASA SIM Lite mission with be launched just after the end of operations of the ESA Gaia mission. This is a new situation that enables long-term astrometric projects that could not be achieved by either mission alone. In some cases, it may increase the science value of SIM Lite targets with a much smaller effort than originally assumed. This SIM science study will be the first to analyze in detail this new situation and try to explore the benefits that can be obtained by both communities (NASA and ESA) by combining both data sets. A few particular science targets will be analyzed in great detail to prove with examples the capabilities of long-term astrometric coverage. Before any attempt at combining both data sets, several issues must be addressed, such as the reference frame used and the precise coordinate definition of the observable quantities in both missions.
Effect of Photocenter Contamination on the Estimation of Reflex Motions and
Dynamical Orbits for Interacting Binaries
Dawn Gelino (NExScI)
We propose to investigate how SIM Lite can best be utilized to attain accurate masses for the primary and secondary stars in interacting binary systems. Currently, there are two SIM Lite Key Programs to measure the masses of black holes and neutron stars in binary systems. Accurate and precise orbital solutions are needed across the full mass spectrum of interacting binaries in order to fully understand the secular evolution of binary systems. A more complete picture of stellar evolution requires the inclusion of lower-mass degenerate stars. These interacting binaries are complex, including a degenerate primary star, a main sequence or giant secondary star, and accretion material flowing from the secondary to the primary. We propose to investigate many systems in each interacting binary class spanning the entire range of primary component masses in order to study the effects of multiple luminosity components on the apparent photocenter of the system and its apparent motion. This work will allow us to quantify the effect of photocenter determination, extract true orbital parameters, and determine masses of the interacting binary stellar components. Photocenter contamination is an issue that affects all interacting binaries, including those sources already selected by SIM Lite for study. Our work will benefit the entire SIM Lite community.
Sizes and Shapes of Kuiper Belt Objects and Centaurs with SIM
Marc Kuchner (GSFC)
We propose to study and plan a SIM Lite survey of giant Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs) and Centaurs, their dynamical relatives. This survey will measure precise sizes and shapes of these newly discovered primordial objects, constraining their compositions, material strengths, and other properties in a way no other technique can. We will use Hapke models of rotating bodies combined with light curve data and thermal measurements to model the visibilities of these targets and select an optimal observing strategy. We will investigate non-sidereal tracking and the use of the co-linear guide interferometer baseline to do visibility science.
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