Bulletin of the American Physical Society
2013 Annual Meeting of the California-Nevada Section of the APS
Volume 58, Number 14
Friday–Saturday, November 1–2, 2013; Rohnert Park, California
Session H4: Astrophysics II |
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Chair: Lynda Williams, Santa Rosa Junior College Room: Darwin 38 |
Saturday, November 2, 2013 2:00PM - 2:12PM |
H4.00001: Testing Charge Coupled Devices for use in the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope Jordan Dudley The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) will require a camera that is very fast, while still having great detail and contrast for imaging the night sky. The research group at UC Davis will test multiple Charge Coupled Devices (CCDs) in order to determine their ability to meet the requirements of this camera. Because of the uniqueness of the LSST, previous CCD testing has been unable to confirm the behavior of CCDs in this environment. For our tests, we will create a realistic illumination identical to the LSST f/1.2 camera beam. This will allow us to confirm that the CCDs that are installed in the LSST will be able to provide the data that is necessary for the LSST project. As a result, we will be able to observe a much larger section of the night sky, in great detail, much more frequently, than has ever been done before. [Preview Abstract] |
Saturday, November 2, 2013 2:12PM - 2:24PM |
H4.00002: Aperture Photometry at Sonoma State using GORT Amandeep Gill, Kevin McLin The study of active galactic nuclei (AGN) is important to the understanding of the evolution of the universe. One type of radio-quiet AGN are quasi-stellar objects (QSOs). Taking QSO observations over many nights enables one to establish a baseline luminosity and to search for variability. Over the summer of 2013 I conducted research supported by SSU's Hichwa Assistantship award studying known QSOs to search for variability. My photometric observations used the NASA-funded GLAST Optical Robotic Telescope (GORT) at the Pepperwood Preserve. GORT is a 14'' aperture telescope that is fully computer controlled, with a CCD and filter wheel. For my project, I used the visual, red, and infrared filters. The images taken by the CCD were stacked and reduced to correct for biases, dark levels, and the respective flat fields for each filter. The goal was to track the same few objects all summer and determine trends for each quasar's brightness. As I continue to work on this project during the fall semester I will shift to different target objects and continue the photometric data acquisition and analysis. [Preview Abstract] |
Saturday, November 2, 2013 2:24PM - 2:36PM |
H4.00003: KAPAO I: Natural Guide Star Adaptive Optics and Software for Control, Calibration, and Data Analysis Joseph Long KAPAO is a multi-institution collaboration to develop an adaptive optics (AO) instrument for the Pomona College Table Mountain 1-meter telescope. Astronomical adaptive optics allows observers to combat distortion from atmospheric turbulence when imaging distant stars. I will provide background on adaptive optics, including the limitations of ground-based observatories and how AO systems measure and correct turbulence with optical components and computer controlled elements. I will cover software for operating the instrument and measuring its performance. This includes real-time control software, IDL routines for diagnostics and telemetry analysis, and Python-based tools that I have developed to analyze science images. One tool developed for our instrument compares science images to an ideal point source computed for our telescope. By applying this tool to the camera image time-series we provide a Strehl ratio, a metric that allows users to monitor the performance of the instrument over an observing run. Looking forward to the long-term operation of KAPAO for a multi-institution population of users, I will discuss improvements to the observer interface and the creation of data reduction tools that can simplify common instrument-specific tasks. [Preview Abstract] |
Saturday, November 2, 2013 2:36PM - 2:48PM |
H4.00004: KAPAO II: Assembly and Operation of a Natural Guide Star Adaptive Optics System Jonathan Wong KAPAO is a natural guide star Adaptive Optics instrument for the 1-meter telescope at Table Mountain Observatory (TMO). The system has been a four-year, multi-institutional effort, with four distinct phases: design, prototype testing, facility instrument assembly, and science operation. The design and prototype testing phases were presented at last year's APS meeting. Here, we focus on the assembly of the final facility instrument and discuss in-lab system calibration. Integral to the assembly of the final system is the precise alignment of multiple off-axis-parabolic (OAP) mirror relays that minimize instrument-based static aberrations. Custom OAP relays are a key upgrade from the prototype that serves to properly integrate the tip-tilt mirror and deformable mirror and feed the wavefront sensor and science cameras. We present performance results from in-lab tests that simulates atmospheric turbulence using an active phase screen. [Preview Abstract] |
Saturday, November 2, 2013 2:48PM - 3:00PM |
H4.00005: KAPAO III: First-Light Observations and On-Sky Data Katherine Badham KAPAO is an Adaptive Optics (AO) instrument attached to Pomona College's 1-meter telescope at Table Mountain Observatory (TMO). This project is a collaborative effort of faculty and students from undergraduate institutions Sonoma State University, Pomona College, and Harvey Mudd College with Caltech providing the real-time control software. I present the third and final presentation about the KAPAO project at this meeting, which will include a discussion of integration of the multiple camera systems, optical alignment methods, and both in-lab calibration and on-sky implementation. I will describe the characterization of the NIR camera sensitivity using software tools developed in IDL, wavefront sensing alignment techniques, and in-lab operation. Finally, I will present first-light observations of the star Beta Pegasi and on-sky performance results from late-summer 2013. [Preview Abstract] |
Saturday, November 2, 2013 3:00PM - 3:12PM |
H4.00006: Comparative Analysis of Different Light Detectors for the Cherenkov Effect Zachary Wedel, Rexavalmar Niduaza Recently, the multi-pixel photon counters (MPPC) has found much application in various avenues of research in astro-particle physics and particle physics. In an effort to evaluate the MPPC detector, we constructed a modular experimental setup to determine its implementation as a possible detector for weak Cherenkov light. As a prototype Cherenkov detector, we made use of a 16-inch tall acrylic cylinder filled with distilled water as the light producing medium. For initial testing, we performed extensive experiments to evaluate our detector utilizing a 3-inch photomultiplier tube (PMT) and a 1-inch PMT coupled to wavelength shifting fibers both employing cosmic rays. In this talk, we would present results from our experimental findings comparing the various detectors in coincidence with the MPPC. [Preview Abstract] |
Saturday, November 2, 2013 3:12PM - 3:24PM |
H4.00007: Implementation of Silicon Photomultipliers in Cosmic Ray Detection Marcus Wade, Jaime Vasquez A cosmic ray detector has been constructed which uses the silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) rather than the standard photomultiplier (PMT). Two scintillators have been cut and polished with grooves embedded into them. The design utilizes optical fibers, which are planted into the grooves, to collect light emitted from the scintillator and transmit them to the surface of the SiPM. One goal of this project is to determine the differences in performance of the photomultiplier and the silicon photomultiplier. Once construction is completed, data will be taken which compares the frequency of counts, the output gains, cost of the setup, etc. of the two detectors. The second goal is to create a manual with a detailed description of the construction so that it will be easily replicable to students or professionals, reduce the cost of the construction of the cosmic ray detector, which will make this device more useful to anyone interested in duplicating this design. [Preview Abstract] |
Saturday, November 2, 2013 3:24PM - 3:36PM |
H4.00008: The Development of a 3P PocketQube Kevin Zack, J. Garrett Jernigan, Lynn Cominsky MagPocketQube is a first generation 3P (size 5 cm x 5 cm x 15 cm) PocketQube which flies instrumentation. The project is a collaboration between undergraduate universities Moorehead State (MSU) in Kentucky and Sonoma State (SSU). The purpose of this project is to develop a platform for future space-based science experiments. This first 3P satellite is one of the smallest, stand-alone satellites to send both a radio beacons and instrumentation telemetry. MagPocketQube is scheduled for a November 2013 launch into a polar low-earth orbit. Flight software is written in the programming language MicroLogo (ulogo) which makes this satellite the ideal platform for experimental space science. Commands in the form of new ulogo code can be created, uplinked and executed in real time. Additionally, a safe mode protects the health of the battery and reboots the flight code every 25 hours, saving the satellite from coding errors or single-event upsets. This work is the precursor stage for a next generation PocketQube, which will fly a Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride (CZT) array to detect hard cosmic X-Rays and particles while measuring properties of the Earth's magnetosphere. [Preview Abstract] |
Saturday, November 2, 2013 3:36PM - 3:48PM |
H4.00009: Dark Matter's Impaction Model Explains of Seasonal Extinctions on Earth Dayong Cao There is large amount of dark matter around stars and galaxies. The stellar is a positive Einstein’s model. The dark matter is a negative Einstein's model. (http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2010.SES.FC.9) Both of them build up a Dynamic Steady Universal Balance Model-TaiJi model. A new observation of a microwave background radiation of the universe is alike the Chinese ``TaiJi'' model's map. The Sun and dark hole build up this TaiJi balance system. The dark hole has a space-time center. The Oort Cloud with quantum effect and the unobserved dark comets belt are around the dark hole. Their structures are alike the Atomic Electron Cloud and the atomic Electrons belt's structures. The model of Sun and dark hole are alike the one of Electron Cloud and electron hole cloud of P-N Junction. Sun's companion-dark hole seasonal took its dark comets belt, dark lives, and pressed asteroids belt to impact near our earth. The dark hole, dark comet and dark live are made of the dark matter, so this impaction is dark matter's impaction. 1) These impactions caused seasonal extinctions and produced new species. Because this TaiJi model decides the gene model and spirit model of the earth's life. 2) By many dark comets and asteroids impacting, so it is a high probability impaction model; 3) The impaction would not change the orbit of the invisible dark hole, so it could keep accurate periodicity impactions. [Preview Abstract] |
Saturday, November 2, 2013 3:48PM - 4:00PM |
H4.00010: Electric Field as the Basic Component of All Matter and Energy in the Universe Huiyi Jiang, Yutao Jiang The properties of any type of matter are determined by its components. Once we know the basic components of a material, we can determine its other behavior or properties. Physicists interpret the pair production experiment as field converting to particles or energy converting to mass, but chemists view the experiment as a process of change in material. Combined with other phenomenon such as nuclear reactions and the Christian Beck and Michael Mackey experiments on dark energy, we can see that the material in our world is made up of a single component: electric field. This conclusion contradicts modern physics in many ways, but with this new interpretation, we can see how field can form particles. We can also answer most questions and barriers blocking modern physics research. It is then possible to explain basic concepts such as force, charge, and energy and answer questions such as: Why does a body move? Is movement relative or absolute? Why do electrons in atoms or photons keep moving without losing energy? Why do materials move in a wave-like manner? Is space curved or not? What is the relationship between time, space, and material? [Preview Abstract] |
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