Master's Research
Our star, the Sun, is constantly ringing within its interior, and we are able to detect these "sounds" the Sun produces by observing the light we receive from the Sun. The name given to this field of study is known as helioseismology. For my master's thesis work I investigated the relationship between the sounds, or global oscillations, and 31 powerful solar flare events. The data used for the analysis were retrieved from the Global Oscillations Network Group (GONG) and GOES online data archives. The plot to the right is one of several figures shown in the peer reviewed paper here. Collectively, my co-authors and I interpreted that the data showed little to no relationship between the Sun's global oscillations and highly energetic solar flares.
Figure: Solar oscillation power spectrum at four ranges of spherical harmonic degree L (color plots) and soft x-ray flux (plots along left edge).
Experimental Astrophysics: Hunting for Cosmic Ray Air Showers
Figure: Front view image of DRS4 evaluation board. Image and evaluation board made by Paul Scherrer Institut.
My first introduction to the world of cosmic ray studies was during an internship at the University of Chicago under the leadership of Dr. Paolo Privitera. I was in search of a PhD research project in the field of experimental astrophysics, and Dr. Privitera provided me with the perfect chance to get a taste of what experimental astrophysics is all about. The image to the left is the DRS4 evaluation board and it has many applications. Dr. Christopher Williams, senior PhD student at the University of Chicago at the time, utilized the evaluation board for the purposes of data acquisition. However, prior to putting the board in use I assisted him in programming the evaluation board's FPGA to trigger upon detecting signatures of cosmic ray air showers.
The multi-panel figure of plots to the right shows the recorded signals of 25 triggered events observed at the Green bank telescope. As the observed signal has two different polarizations, each figure shows two traces, red and blue curves, for a single event. The events seen here were determined to not be due to cosmic ray air showers. I unfortunately was unable to be present for the observing run; Nonetheless, it was very exciting experience, and I learned a lot about coding and some of the processes behind testing equipment for experimental astrophysics.
Figure: Plots of microwave signals observed at the Green Bank Telescope. Produced by Dr. Christopher Williams while attempting to observe microwave emission from extensive air showers.