Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Helioseismic Diagnostics Of Active Regions And Their Magnetic Fields, John T. Stefan

Dissertations

While two and a half decades of nearly constant observation by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) and the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) spacecraft have yielded key insights into the structure and dynamics of active regions, it is still unclear if active regions can be identified before emerging on the solar surface and, once emerged, whether the subsurface structure of an active region’s magnetic field can be measured. Regarding the dynamical processes associated with active regions, the height and mechanism of sunquake excitation remains poorly understood. To answer these questions, a comprehensive survey of active region magnetic fields and their …

Model-Based Cross-Correlation Search For Gravitational Waves From The Low-Mass X-Ray Binary Scorpius X-1 In Ligo O3 Data, R. Abbott, H. Abe, Fausto Acernese, Teviet Creighton, Mario C. Diaz, Francisco Llamas, Soma Mukherjee, Gaukhar Nurbek, Volker Quetschke, Wenhui Wang

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications and Presentations

We present the results of a model-based search for continuous gravitational waves from the low-mass X-ray binary Scorpius X-1 using LIGO detector data from the third observing run of Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo. This is a semicoherent search that uses details of the signal model to coherently combine data separated by less than a specified coherence time, which can be adjusted to balance sensitivity with computing cost. The search covered a range of gravitational-wave frequencies from 25 to 1600 Hz, as well as ranges in orbital speed, frequency, and phase determined from observational constraints. No significant detection candidates were …

Two Substellar Survivor Candidates; One Found And One Missing, T. Von Hippel, N. Walters, J. Farihi, T.R. Marsh, E. Breedt, P.W. Cauley, J.J. Hermes

Publications

This study presents observations of two possible substellar survivors of post-main sequence engulfment, currently orbiting white dwarf stars. Infrared and optical spectroscopy of GD 1400 reveal a 9.98 h orbital period, where the benchmark brown dwarf has 𝑀2 = 68 ± 8 MJup, 𝑇eff ≈ 2100 K, and a cooling age under 1 Gyr. A substellar mass in the lower range of allowed values is favoured by the gravitational redshift of the primary. Synthetic brown dwarf spectra are able to reproduce the observed CO bands, but lines below the bandhead are notably overpredicted. The known infrared excess towards PG 0010+281 …

Black Holes, Disk Structures, And Cosmological Implications In E-Dimensional Space, Subhash Kak, Menas C. Kafatos

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

We examine a modern view of the universe that builds on achieved successes of quantum mechanics, general relativity, and information theory, bringing them together in integrated approach that is founded on the realization that space itself is e-dimensional. The global and local implications of noninteger dimensionality are examined, and how it may have increased from the value of zero to its current value is investigated. We find surprising aspects that tie to structures in the universe, black holes, and the role of observations.

The Analysis Of Radio And X-Ray Energetics Of Fast Radio Bursts, Emily Huerta

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Here, we analyze the graphs and figures presented in Laha et al. (2022) and compare their slopes to our figures. Laha et al. (2022) includes two graphs, one that shows a comparison between radio fluence vs. x-ray fluence and radio energy vs. x-ray energy. In these graphs, the slopes are anywhere from 3.3e-14 to 2e-5, which are much less than unity. Our figures are consistent with these values, also providing slopes anywhere between the same range. Strong limits on this ratio between radio and x-ray energetics can either support the magnetar progenitor model, or completely dismiss it. Since we found …

3-D Visualizations Of Terrestial Exoplanet Interiors Generated With Magrathea In Blender, Tristan Benally, David Rice

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

There has been significant progress in simulating exoplanet interiors in the past decade. With the discovery of the TRAPPIST-1 system in the last few years, there have been many publications presenting models to best characterize specific aspects of exoplanets in study. However, with more parameters and considerations for different characteristics of an exoplanet there will be a need to represent many findings into a comprehensive model in the future. We extend the capabilities of MAGRATHEA from a planet interior solver to start incorporating multi-faceted functions starting with generating 3-D terrestrial planetary visualizations using a 3-D open-source computer graphic software called …

Interdisciplinary Convergence To God: A Supplement To The Big Bang & God– An Astro-Theology, Theodore Walker

Perkins Faculty Research and Special Events

Here is a December 2022 supplement to the 2015 book—The Big Bang and God: An Astro-Theology wherein an astronomer and a theologian offer a study of interdisciplinary convergences with natural theology both in the scientific researches of Sir Fred Hoyle and in the philosophical researches of Charles Hartshorne and Alfred North Whitehead, thereby illustrating a constructive postmodern trend (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2015) by Theodore Walker Jr. and Chandra Wickramasinghe, with editing and co-authoring by Alexander Vishio.

Biology, astronomy, astrobiology, cosmology, and theology converge when the word “God” refers to “that than which none greater can conceived” (St. Anselm), …

Multifrequency Scintillation In The Polar Caps, Tate Colby

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

In the ionosphere, plasma density structures with scales sizes ranging from a few centimeters to hundreds of kilometers are capable of modifying the phase and amplitude of a radio signal in a rapid random manner in a process called scintillation. The Coherent Electromagnetic Radio Tomography (CERTO) and the Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Network (CHAIN) are two different networks of scintillation receivers, each with a station in Resolute Bay, Canada. CERTO measures amplitude and phase signals in VHF and UHF while CHAIN measures amplitude and phase signals in the L-band. Through these measurements we can calculate the scintillation indexes, S_4 and …

Galaxy And Mass Assembly (Gama): The Dependence Of Star Formation On Surface Brightness In Low-Redshift Galaxies, S Phillipps, S Bellstedt, M N. Bremer, R De Propris, P A. James, S Casura, J Liske, B W. Holwerda

Faculty Scholarship

The star-formation rate in galaxies is well known to correlate with stellar mass (the ‘star-forming main sequence’). Here, we extend this further to explore any additional dependence on galaxy surface brightness, a proxy for stellar mass surface density. We use a large sample of low-redshift (z ≤ 0.08) galaxies from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly survey which have both spectral energy distribution (SED) derived star-formation rates and photometric bulge-disc decompositions, the latter providing measures of disc surface brightness and disc masses. Using two samples, one of galaxies fitted by a single component with Sérsic index below 2 and one …

The Planets, Reimagined: Translating Science Into Music, Kaitlyn Wincup

Honors Projects

Inspired by Gustav Holst’s The Planets, this project analyzed the qualitative properties of the planets in our Solar System and translated them into a composition, created by Connor Gibbs, to represent an overall aural depiction of each planet. Where Holst created an astrological depiction of each of the planets, this piece is an astronomical depiction that broadens the perspectives of its listeners.

Stabilization Of Zero-Energy Skin Modes In Finite Non-Hermitian Lattices, Cem Yuce, Hamidreza Ramezani

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications and Presentations

The zero energy of a one-dimensional semi-infinite non-Hermitian lattice with nontrivial spectral topology may disappear when we introduce boundaries to the system. While the corresponding zero-energy state can be considered as a quasi-edge state for the finite lattice with a long survival time, any small disruption (noise) in the initial form of the quasi-edge state can significantly shorten the survival time. Here, by tailoring the couplings at one edge we form an exceptional point allowing for a topological phase transition and the stabilization of the quasi-edge state in a finite-size lattice with open edges. Such a small modification in the …

Core-Collapse Supernova Simulations With Spectral Two-Moment Neutrino Transport, Ran Chu

Doctoral Dissertations

The primary focus of this dissertation is to develop a next-generation, state-of-the-art neutrino kinetics capability that will be used in the context of the next-generation, state-of-the-art core-collapse supernova (CCSN) simulation frameworks \thornado\ and \FLASH.\index{CCSN} \thornado\ is a \textbf{t}oolkit for \textbf{h}igh-\textbf{or}der \textbf{n}eutrino-r\textbf{ad}iation hydr\textbf{o}dynamics, which is a collection of modules that can be incorporated into a simulation code/framework, such as \FLASH, together with a nuclear equation of state (EOS)\index{EOS} library, such as the \WeakLib\ EOS tables. The first part of this work extends the \WeakLib\ code to compute neutrino interaction rates from~\cite{Bruenn_1985} and produce corresponding opacity tables.\index{Bruenn 1985} The processes of emission, …

Chasing Transients: Constructing Local Galaxy Catalogs For Electromagnetic Follow-Up Of Gravitational Wave Events, Chaoran Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

Gravitational waves (GWs) provide a new window for observing the universe which is not possible using traditional electromagnetic (EM) wave astronomy. The coalescence of compact object binaries, such as black holes (BHs) and neutron stars (NSs) generates “loud" GW signals that are detectable by the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA (LVK) GW Observa- tory. If the binary contains at least one NS, there is a possibility that an observable EM counterpart will be launched during and/or after the merger. The first joint detection of GW radiation (GW170817) and its EM counterpart (AT 2017gfo) greatly extended our understanding of the universe in many fields, such …

Transient Sources And How To Study Them: Selected Topics In Multi-Messenger Astronomy, Jiawei Luo

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The discovery of cosmic neutrino flux by IceCube, and the multi-messenger observations of gravitational event GW170817 ushered in the era of multi-messenger astronomy. Since the Universe itself is a natural laboratory, multi-messenger astronomy can help us study the most extreme physics processes in great detail. In this dissertation, we touch on some of the currently unanswered questions involving different types of transient sources and different “messengers” of multi-messenger astronomy. We employ a variety of analysis methods, including machine learning, a method that has not yet been widely adopted in astronomy but is rapidly gaining momentum.We start this dissertation with Chapter …

Day ‘N’ Nite: Habitability Of Tidally Locked Planets With Sporadic Rotation, Cody James Shakespeare

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Tidally locked worlds provide a unique opportunity for constraining the climates of detected exoplanets. They are unique in that few exoplanet spin and obliquity states are known or will be determined in the near future. The TRAPPIST-1 exoplanet system has multiple habitable zone planets that, in the past, have been presumed to be tidally locked. However, a recent study shows the dynamical conditions present in the TRAPPIST-1 system make rotation and large librations possible spin states for these planets. I confirm the tendency for these planets to sporadically transition from tidally locked libration to slow rotation using N-body simulations independent …

First-Principles Study Of Doping Effects On Ferroelectricity And On Rashba Spin Splitting, Zegnet Yimer Muhammed

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, we have thoroughly studied the effect of chemical and charge dopingon ferroelectrics (PbTiO3 and BaTiO3) and Rashba type semiconductor (BiTeI). In the first project, We investigate the polar instability and soft modes in electron-doped PbTiO3 using linear-response density functional calculations. Because, metallicity and ferroelectric-like polar distortion are mutually non-compatible, and their coexistence in the same system is an intriguing subject of fundamental interest in the field of structure phase transition. However, it is unclear what mechanism may extend the limit of metallicity that allows polar distortion. We find that ferroelectric instability can remarkably sustain up to an …

A Method For Exploring The Habitability Of Earth-Like Exoplanets: Applications To Tess Objects Of Interest 203 B, 256 B, And 700 D, Paul Bonney

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has and is continuing to discover a multitude of potentially habitable planet candidates. As more planets are detected and confirmed, it becomes increasingly important to strategically search for signs of habitability with which to differentiate and prioritize them for further observation, in particular with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). To facilitate this, I have created a method for prioritizing TESS planet candidates based on parameters derived from their light curves and have applied the method to the TESS Candidate Target List (CTL). This data set uses preliminary fits to transit modeling which can …

The Evolution Of X-Ray Binaries And Their Accretion States, Lacey A. West

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

X-ray binary systems (XRBs) consist of a compact object component (e.g., black hole or neutron star) that accretes matter from a companion star. Although the extent to which XRBs contributed to the early heating of the intergalactic medium is still under investigation, it is estimated that XRBs dominated the X-ray radiation field before the reionization epoch. The study of XRB emission is therefore crucial to our understanding of the very early universe. Furthermore, studying the abundance and radial distribution of each XRB type within a galaxy can be revealing of the host galaxy’s local properties, structure, and evolution. XRB spectra …

Orbital Mapping Of Seasonal And Yearly Changes In Co2 And Water Ice On The Southern Polar Cap Of Mars, Victoria Michell Ann Karnes

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research exhibits a new foundation for the rates of change in CO2 and water ice on the southern polar cap of Mars, where the annual precipitation cycles are known to fluctuate seasonally between the north and south pole, based on observations from the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer (CRISM). The conventional belief is that both CO2 ice and water ice on the southern polar cap condenses and evaporates over the course of a Martian year (MY), condensing during the Martian spring and summer and evaporating during the Martian fall and winter. With this theory in mind, CO2 and water ice …

Weak Gravitational Lensing Analysis In Two Superclusters Of Galaxies, Sarah B. Rice

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Observations of the Universe on very large scales have shown it to be filled with galaxy clusters and superclusters connected by walls and filaments of galaxies, with vast areas mostly devoid of luminous matter separating them. It is widely accepted that the amount of luminous matter does not provide the mass needed to hold galaxies and galaxy clusters together, and the nature of the missing "dark matter" is one of the most prominent astrophysical mysteries today. Since dark matter interacts with luminous matter gravitationally, it stands to reason that dark matter might organize itself in a similar manner to luminous …

Dataset For Electronic And Optical Properties Of Y2o2s And Er Dopped Y2o2s Calculated Using Density Functional Theory And Simulated X-Ray Near Edge Spectra, N. Dimakis, Eric Baldemar Rodriguez Jr., Kofi Nketia Ackaah-Gyasi, Madhab Pokhrel

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications and Presentations

The computational data presented in this paper refer to the research article “Optical properties and simulated x-ray near edge spectra for Y2O2S and Er doped Y2O2S”. We present the data used to calculate the structural, electronic, and optical properties of the Y2O2S and its Er+3 doped counterparts at various concentrations using density functional theory (DFT) and simulated X-ray near edge (XANES) spectra. We report electronic information from DFT and DFT+U generated from the Vienna Ab initio Simulation Package (VASP) using PAW pseudopotentials. We also report VASP calculated optical properties for the host Y2O2S using the independent particle approximation (IPA), the …

Investigating The O’Connell Effect In Kepler Eclipsing Binaries, Matthew Frederick Knote

Theses and Dissertations

The O’Connell effect – the presence of unequal maxima in eclipsing binaries – remains an unsolved riddle in the study of close binary systems. The Kepler space telescope produced high precision photometry of nearly 3,000 eclipsing binary systems, providing a unique opportunity to study the O’Connell effect in a large sample and in greater detail than in previous studies. I have characterized the observational properties – including temperature, luminosity, and eclipse depth – of a set of 212 systems (7.3% of Kepler eclipsing binaries) that display a maxima flux difference of at least 1%, representing the largest sample of O’Connell …

Deciphering Surfaces Of Trans-Neptunian And Kuiper Belt Objects Using Radiative Scattering Models, Machine Learning, And Laboratory Experiments, Al Emran

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Decoding surface-atmospheric interactions and volatile transport mechanisms on trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) and Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs) involves an in-depth understanding of physical and thermal properties and spatial distribution of surface constituents – nitrogen (N2), methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO), and water (H2O) ices. This thesis implements a combination of radiative scattering models, machine learning techniques, and laboratory experiments to investigate the uncertainties in grain size estimation of ices, the spatial distribution of surface compositions on Pluto, and the thermal properties of volatiles found on TNOs and KBOs. Radiative scattering models (Mie theory and Hapke approximations) were used to compare single …

Boost The Lead Conversion Efficiency For The Synthesis Of Colloidal 2d Pbs Nanosheets, Tharaka Mds Weeraddana, Adam Roach, Shashini M. Premathilaka, Yiteng Tang, Jordan Fox, Liangfeng Sun

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

In the synthesis of colloidal PbS nanosheets, the supernatant of the reaction solution is reused to boost the lead conversion efficiency. It doubles the conversion efficiency of the lead precursors to the PbS nanosheets. The nanosheets synthesized by reusing the supernatant have similar morphology, nearly identical thickness, and optical properties as the original ones, confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. This method reduces the toxic Pb-containing waste during the synthesis, a step toward the green and scalable synthesis of colloidal 2D PbS nanosheets.

All-Sky Search For Continuous Gravitational Waves From Isolated Neutron Stars Using Advanced Ligo And Advanced Virgo O3 Data, R. Abbott, H. Abe, M. G. Benjamin, Teviet Creighton, Mario C. Diaz, Francisco Llamas, Soma Mukherjee, Gaukhar Nurbek, Volker Quetschke, Wenhui Wang

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications and Presentations

We present results of an all-sky search for continuous gravitational waves which can be produced by spinning neutron stars with an asymmetry around their rotation axis, using data from the third observing run of the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. Four different analysis methods are used to search in a gravitational-wave frequency band from 10 to 2048 Hz and a first frequency derivative from −10−8 to 10−9  Hz/s. No statistically significant periodic gravitational-wave signal is observed by any of the four searches. As a result, upper limits on the gravitational-wave strain amplitude h0 are calculated. The best upper limits …

Galaxy And Mass Assembly (Gama): Extended Intragroup Light In A Group At Z = 0.2 From Deep Hyper Suprime-Cam Images, Cristina Martínez-Lombilla, Sarah Brough, Mireia Montes, Roberto Baena-Gallé, Mohammad Akhlaghi, Raúl Infante-Sainz, Simon P. Driver, Benne W. Holwerda, Kevin A. Pimbblet, Aaron S G Robotham

Faculty Scholarship

We present a pilot study to assess the potential of Hyper Suprime-Cam Public Data Release 2 (HSC-PDR2) images for the analysis of extended faint structures within groups of galaxies. We examine the intragroup light (IGL) of the group 400138 (M_dyn = 1.3 ± 0.5 × 1013 M_⊙, z ∼ 0.2) from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) survey using Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program Public Data Release 2 (HSC-SSP PDR2) images in g, r, and i bands. We present the most extended IGL measurement to date, reaching down to μglim=30.76" role="presentation" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; …

Wallaby Pilot Survey: Hi Gas Kinematics Of Galaxy Pairs In Cluster Environment, Shin-Jeong Kim, Minsu Kim, Hye-Jin Park, Shinna Kim, Bigiel Frank, Helga Denes, Bi-Qing For, Peter Kamphuis, Se-Heon Oh, Benne Holwerda, Kristen Mcquinn, Juan Madrid, Ahmed Elagali, Gerhardt R. Meurer, Kristine Spekkens, Lister Staveley-Smith, Barbara Catinella, Nathan Deg, Karen Lee-Waddell, Jing Wang, Lourdes Verdes-Montenegro, Ivy Wong, Jonghwan Rhee

Faculty Scholarship

We examine the H I gas kinematics of galaxy pairs in two clusters and a group using Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) WALLABY pilot survey observations. We compare the H I properties of galaxy pair candidates in the Hydra I and Norma clusters, and the NGC 4636 group, with those of non-paired control galaxies selected in the same fields. We perform H I profile decomposition of the sample galaxies using a tool, BAYGAUD which allows us to de-blend a line-of-sight velocity profile with an optimal number of Gaussian components. We construct H I super-profiles of the sample galaxies via …

Characteristics Of Kelvin-Helmholtz Waves As Observed By The Mms From September 2015 To June 2017, Katariina Nykyri, Xuanye Ma, Rachel C. Rice

Publications

The Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission has presented a new opportunity to study the fine scale structures and phenomena of Earth’s magnetosphere, including cross scale processes associated with the Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability (KHI). We present an overview of 19 MMS observations of the KHI from September 2015 to June 2017. Unitless growth rates and unstable solid angles for each of the 19 events were calculated using 5 techniques to automatically detect plasma regions on either side of the magnetopause boundary. There was no apparent correlation between solar wind conditions during the KHI and its growth rate and unstable solid angle, though we …

Electromagnetism In Quark Matter At Intermediate Densities, Efrain J. Ferrer

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications and Presentations

Several anomalous electromagnetic effects that can take place in quark matter at low temperatures and intermediate densities will be discussed. The anomalous transport properties of the spatially inhomogeneous phase of quark matter known as the Magnetic Dual Chiral Density Wave (MDCDW) phase will be reviewed. Going beyond mean-field approximation, it will be shown how linearly polarized electromagnetic waves that penetrate the MDCDW medium mix with the phonon fluctuations to give rise to two hybridized modes of propagation called axion polaritons. Finally, some possible implications of these results for the astrophysics of neutron stars will be indicated.

Resolving Galactic Binaries Using A Network Of Space-Borne Gravitational Wave Detectors, Xue-Hao Zhang, Shao-Dong Zhao, Soumya D. Mohanty, Yu-Xiao Liu

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications and Presentations

Extracting gravitational wave (GW) signals from individual Galactic binaries (GBs) against their self-generated confusion noise is a key data analysis challenge for space-borne detectors operating in the ≈0.1 to ≈10  mHz range. Given the likely prospect that there will be multiple such detectors, namely Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), Taiji, and Tianqin, with overlapping operational periods in the next decade, it is important to examine the extent to which the joint analysis of their data can benefit GB resolution and parameter estimation. To investigate this, we use realistic simulated LISA and Taiji data containing the set of 30×106 GBs used …