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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Vanderbilt Physics and Astronomy
Vanderbilt
University is located near downtown Nashville.
Program details:
-
Ten weeks
-
Stipend $3,600
-
Travel, housing, meals provided
Application
deadline:
March 27, 2009
Program dates:
May 26 - July 31