Research Experiences for Undergraduates
Summer 2008

Vanderbilt University
Physics & Astronomy

Research Projects: Astrophysics

Galaxies and Dark Matter Halos
(Prof. Andreas Berlind)
We will study the properties of galaxies and galaxy groups/clusters in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and connect them to the properties of dark matter halos. The goal is to constrain galaxy formation physics as well as cosmological parameters. Projects available for REU students will include analyzing SDSS data to measure galaxy clustering, as well as data from large cosmological N-body simulations to study dark matter halos.

Computational Simulations of Black Hole Formation
(Prof. Kelly Holley-Bockelmann)
We will use high resolution N-body simulations and numerical models to understand how black holes grow within galaxies. Projects for REU students will include calculating the gravitational wave signal from merging supermassive black holes, modeling black holes in triaxial galaxies, and studying the effect of isolation on black hole growth.

Evolution of Stellar X-ray Activity Using Young Stars
(Prof. David James)
A recently completed photometric survey of the young (30-50 million years) open cluster IC 4665 has yielded precise luminosities and temperatures for its member solar-type stars. Using extant X-ray surveys of these stars, and those of both younger and older clusters, we will investigate the evolution of X-ray activity during the late pre-main sequence and early main sequence. REU students will participate in collating the optical and X-ray catalogs for IC 4665 to establish objects common to both. They will subsequently determine Lx/Lbol ratios for each photometric member, and assess activity levels. Using extant datasets for older and younger clusters, she/he will further contrast and compare the X-ray properties for the solar type stars of IC 4665 to those of similar mass, younger and older stars in an effort to investigate magnetic activity evolution.

Star Formation
(Prof. Keivan Stassun)
Observational studies of stellar rotation period distributions among very young stars will be performed and numerical models of angular momentum evolution in young solar-type stars will be constructed. Pre-main-sequence eclipsing binaries will be studied in order to precisely measure stellar masses and thereby calibrate modern premain- sequence stellar evolution models. Projects available for REU students will include spectroscopic measurement of precise stellar radial velocities, processing of CCD time-series data to light curves, developing techniques for modeling eclipsing binary light curves, and Monte Carlo modeling of stellar rotation evolution. An observing run in Chile is likely.

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Program details:

Application deadline:
March 15, 2008

Program dates:
May 26 - July 26