The Space Interferometry Mission:
Taking the Measure of the Universe

Final Report of the
Space Interferometry Science Working Group
April 5, 1996

• Membership:
  Space Interferometry Science Working Group
• Executive Summary
• Contents
• Introduction
• History of Working Group: Documents and Recommendations Already Produced
• The Science Enabled by the Space Interferometry Mission
  • General Relativity
  • Reference Frames
  • Planetary Searches
  • Stellar Studies
    • Stellar Evolution
    • Galactic Constituent Studies
  • Galactic Questions
  • Cosmological Constituents
  • Cosmological Questions
    • The Age of the Universe
    • Primordial Helium Abundance
    • Is the Universe Open or Closed?
    • Age of Globular Clusters vs. the Age of the Universe
    • Distance Scale
  • Conclusion
• The Strawman Science Proposal: An Astrometric Science Sampler
  • Introduction
  • Evolution of Interacting Binary Systems
    Chris Martin and Charles Bailyn,
    Space Interferometry Science Working Group
    • Motivation
    • Science Program
    • Observing Program
  • Stellar Luminosities
    Steve Ridgway,
    Space Interferometry Science Working Group
    • Massive stars
    • Novae
    • Nova-like Variables
    • Planetary Nebulae
    • Cepheids
    • Observing program
  • Trigonometric Parallaxes and the Cluster-Universe Age Problem
    Paul Hemenway,
    Space Interferometry Science Working Group
    • Motivation
    • Science Program
    • Globulars Themselves
    • Field RR Lyrae calibration
    • The field subdwarfs
    • Observing Program
  • Dynamics of Small Stellar Systems
    Jeremy Mould and S. George Djorgovski,
    Space Interferometry Science Working Group
    • Cluster dynamics experiment
    • Spectroscopic binaries experiment
    • Dwarf spheroidal galaxy experiment
    • Summary
  • Stellar Dynamics of the Galaxy
    Stefano Casertano,
    Space Interferometry Science Working Group
    • Spiral arms: density waves or not?
    • Dark matter within the disk: the Oort limit
    • The rotation curve outside the solar circle
    • Kinematics of the outer halo
    • Summary
  • Astrometry of AGNs
    Mitch Begelman,
    Space Interferometry Science Working Group
    • Internal Structure of AGNs
    • Proper Motions of AGNs
    • Microlensing of Blazars
    • Summary
  • Rotational Parallaxes: Distances to Nearby Galaxies
    Deane Peterson,
    Space Interferometry Science Working Group
    • Motivation
    • Technique
    • A - F Supergiants as Rotational Probes
    • The Observing Program
    • Observations Required
• Synthesis Imaging With SIM: An Imaging Science Sampler
  Ronald Allen,
  Space Interferometry Science Working Group
  • Introduction
  • Science at the Resolution limit of the Hubble Space Telescope
  • The Significance of a Factor of 8 Improvement in Resolution
  • The Expected Sensitivity of SIM
  • Three Candidate Imaging Programs
    • Symbiotic Systems
    • Young Stellar Objects
    • Black Hole Candidates in Virgo Cluster Galaxies: A Unique Opportunity
• Added Capabilities with SIM: Nulling
  • Introduction
    • Binary Systems
    • Stellar Winds
    • Active Galactic Nucleii
    • Gravitational Lenses
• The European Astrometric Satellite, GAIA, and SIM
• Technology Issues and the Technology Plan
  • OSI Certification
  • The Technology Plan
  • Potential Modifications to the OSI Baseline Design
• Conclusions
• Acknowledgements
• About this document ...