Bulletin of the American Physical Society
Joint Fall 2011 Meeting of the Texas Sections of the APS, AAPT, and Zone 13 of the SPS
Volume 56, Number 7
Thursday–Saturday, October 6–8, 2011; Commerce, Texas
Session D6: Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Station I |
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Chair: Kurtis Williams, Texas A&M University--Commerce Room: Science Building 122 |
Friday, October 7, 2011 1:40PM - 1:52PM |
D6.00001: How deep does a pulsar crust go? Using terrestrial experiments to explore the outer layers of a neutron star William Newton The composition of the inner neutron star crust has a number of observational consequences via its impact on the mechanical, thermal and hydrodynamic properties of the crustal matter. Based on the nuclear liquid drop model, we examine our knowledge of the crustal composition resulting from our current experimental and theoretical constraints on the nuclear equation of state, focusing on the crust-core boundary layer's density and pressure, proton and free neutron fraction, and nuclear geometry. [Preview Abstract] |
Friday, October 7, 2011 1:52PM - 2:04PM |
D6.00002: Coagulation of dust particles in plasma Lorin Matthews, Jorge Carmona-Reyes, Victor Land, Qianyu Ma, Kristen Deline, Jonathan Perry, Brandon Doyle, Truell Hyde Dusty plasmas are found in numerous astrophysical environments. Coagulation of the charged dust changes their interaction with the plasma and affects the subsequent dynamics and evolution of the system. The complex microphysics underlying these processes depends on parameters specific to the ambient environment and the grains themselves. Different charging processes can yield populations of grains which are all charged negatively or charged with opposite polarities. The charge on an aggregate distributes itself over the aggregate's surface which can be approximated theoretically by assuming a multipole distribution. The dipole-dipole charge interactions between aggregates lead to rotations of the colliding grains. Other grain properties also influence the coagulation process, such as the monomer shape or the presence of magnetic material. The morphology of the resultant aggregates affects subsequent coagulation. Porous fluffy aggregates are more strongly coupled to the gas, leading to reduced collisional velocities, and greater collisional cross sections. An overview of the numerical and experimental methods used to study dust coagulation at CASPER will be given. [Preview Abstract] |
Friday, October 7, 2011 2:04PM - 2:16PM |
D6.00003: The viscous interaction during the Whole Heliosphere Interval, one solar rotation Robert Bruntz, Ramon Lopez, Shree Bhattarai, Yue Deng, Yanshi Huang The Whole Heliosphere Interval (WHI) was a period of intense, coordinated observation and simulation of the Sun and solar system, lasting for one complete Carrington Rotation, March 20 -- April 16, 2008. We ran the Lyon-Fedder-Mobarry (LFM) magnetohydrodynamic simulation of the near-Earth space (the magnetosphere), using the complete solar wind data from the WHI, as well as solar wind data with no interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). With no magnetic field, the solar wind-magnetosphere interaction occurs only through the viscous interaction. We will compare the results of the simulation with the full solar wind and the results for no IMF to study the influence of the viscous interaction and the influence of the interplanetary magnetic field. [Preview Abstract] |
Friday, October 7, 2011 2:16PM - 2:28PM |
D6.00004: Variable Star Search Using ROTSE3 Data Farley Ferrante I present results of a variable star search using data from the Robotic Optical Transient Search Experiment 3 (ROTSE3) telescopes. Variable stars vary in apparent magnitude as seen from Earth due either to changes in the star's luminosity or to changes in the amount of the star's light that reaches Earth. My research is focused on analysis of the time variation of optical light output as recorded in ROTSE 3 images. Specifically, I am attempting to identify short-period variable candidates such as delta Scuti stars, eclipsing binary stars, and contact binary stars. The ROTSE3 telescope sensitivity holds the promise of significantly extending our reach to dimmer objects than previous searches. [Preview Abstract] |
Friday, October 7, 2011 2:28PM - 2:40PM |
D6.00005: Asteroid Analysis Using Lightcurve Photometry Jessica Zimmerman During the summer of 2011 data was taken of asteroid 3807 Pagels, a mid-sized asteroid located in the main asteroid belt in order to identify its rotational period. The asteroid 3807 Pagels is a poorly studied main belt asteroid that has little information recorded about its physical features. Time-series photometry of 3807 Pagels was obtained with a 16-inch telescope connected to a CCD camera located at the Texas A{\&}M University - Commerce Observatory. CCD images were taken continuously with five minute exposure times through the standard broadband V filter. The data was then analyzed using the MPO Canopus program which utilized comparison stars within each CCD image to determine differential photometry and then generate a lightcurve for the asteroid. The final lightcurve did not show a complete rotational period for the asteroid. Thus, additional observations are needed in order to precisely determine 3807 Pagels rotational period. This research is the first steps of a long process of determining more information about the many mid-sized asteroids located in the asteroid belt for the potential of being able to classify these asteroids by their physical characteristics. [Preview Abstract] |
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