Physics Commons^™

Hypervolatiles In A Jupiter-Family Comet: Observations Of 45p/Honda–Mrkos–Pajdušáková Using Ishell At The Nasa-Irtf, Michael A. Disanti, Boncho P. Bonev, Neil Dello Russo, Ronald J. Vervack, Erika L. Gibb, Nathan X. Roth, Adam J. Mckay, Hideyo Kawakita, Lori M. Feaga, Harold A. Weaver

Erika Gibb

"Blinded By The Lines: Mid-Ir Spectra Of Mira Variables Taken With Spitzer", Dana Baylis-Aguirre, Michelle J. Creech-Eakman, Donald G. Luttermoser, Tina Gueth

Donald G. Luttermoser

We present preliminary analysis of mid-infrared spectra of M-type and C-type Mira variables. Due to the brightness of this sample, it is straightforward to monitor changes with phase in the infrared spectral features of these regular pulsators. We have spectra of 25 Mira variables, taken with phase, using the Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) high-resolution module. Each star has multiple spectra obtained over a one-year period from 2008-09. This is a rich, unique data set due to multiple observations of each star and the high signal-to-noise ratio from quick exposure times to prevent saturation of the IRS instrument. This paper focuses …

Gravitational-Wave Science With The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, Madeline Wade

Madeline Wade

Gravitational-waves, as predicted by Einstein’s theory of general relativity, are oscillations of spacetime caused by the motion of masses. Although not yet directly detected, there is strong evidence for the existence of gravitational-waves. Detectable gravitational waves will come from dramatic astrophysical events, such as supernova explosions and collisions of black holes. The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) is a network of detectors designed to make the first direct detection of gravitational waves. The upgraded version of LIGO, Advanced LIGO (aLIGO), will offer a dramatic improvement in sensitivity that will virtually guarantee detections. Gravitational-wave detections will not only illuminate mysterious astrophysical …

Gravitational Waves From Rotating Neutron Stars And Compact Binary Systems, Leslie Wade

Leslie Wade

It is widely anticipated that the first direct detections of gravitational waves will be made by advanced gravitational-wave detectors, such as the two Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatories (LIGO) and the Virgo interferometer. In preparation for the advanced detector era, I have worked on both detection and post-detection efforts involving two gravitational wave sources: isolated rotating neutron stars (NSs) and compact binary coalescences (CBCs). My dissertation includes three main research projects: 1) a population synthesis study assessing the detectability of isolated NSs, 2) a CBC search for intermediate-mass black-hole binaries (IMBHBs), and 3) new methods for directly measuring the neutron-star (NS) …

Beyond 3 Au From The Sun: The Hypervolatiles Ch4, C2h6, And Co In The Distant Comet C/2006 W3 (Christensen), Boncho P. Bonev, Geronimo L. Villanueva, Michael A. Disanti, Hermann Boehnhardt, Manuela Lippi, Erika L. Gibb, Lucas Paganini, Michael J. Mumma

Erika Gibb

The Composition Of Comet C/2012 K1 (Panstarrs) And The Distribution Of Primary Volatile Abundances Among Comets, Nathan X. Roth, Erika L. Gibb, Boncho P. Bonev, Michael A. Disanti, Michael J. Mumma, Geronimo L. Villanueva, Lucas Paganini

Erika Gibb

Thermal Plasmaspheric Morphology: Effect Of Geomagnetic And Solar Activity, Mark Anthony Reynolds, G. Ganguli, J.A. Fedder, J. Lemaire, R.R. Meier, D.J. Melendez-Alvira

M. Anthony Reynolds

A multispecies kinetic model of the thermal plasma in the plasmasphere is used to predict the spatial dependence of the hydrogen ion and helium ion density and temperature for different levels of geomagnetic and solar activity. The particular convection electric field model chosen is intended for the time intervals between substorms. The plasma density and temperature in the equatorial plane are found to exhibit a local-time variation that is sensitive to the details of the convection electric field. In particular, the parallel temperature increases with altitude and the perpendicular temperature decreases with altitude, except in the postmidnight sector, features that …

Measurement Of The Stochasticity Of Low-Latitude Geomagnetic Temporal Variations, Mark Anthony Reynolds, James A. Wanliss

M. Anthony Reynolds

Ground magnetometer measurements of total magnetic field strength from 6 stations at low latitudes were analyzed using power spectrum and Hurst range scaling techniques. The Hurst exponents for most of these time-series were near 0.5, which indicates stochasticity, with the highest latitude stations exhibiting some persistence with Hurst exponents greater than 0.6. Although no definite correlations are evident, the relative increase of the Hurst exponent with latitude suggests the possibility that the underlying dynamics of the magnetosphere change with latitude. This result may help quantify the dynamics of the inner magnetosphere itself without the direct presence of the solar wind …

Inversion Of Plasmaspheric Euv Remote Sensing Data From The Stp 72-1 Satellite, R.R. Meier, A.C. Nicholas, J.M. Picone, D.J. Melendez-Alvira, G. Ganguli, Mark Anthony Reynolds, E.C. Roelof

M. Anthony Reynolds

Observations of the extreme ultraviolet emission of helium ions at 30.4 nm can be used to study the global shape of the plasmasphere and its dynamical response to geomagnetic forcing. In order to retrieve number densities of plasmaspheric He+ from such observations, we have developed a new inversion technique based on discrete inverse theory, which uses the optical data to optimize a parameterized model of the He+ distribution. We apply this inversion technique to several orbits of data obtained from the Naval Research Laboratory extreme ultraviolet photometric experiment launched on the STP 72-1 satellite in October 1972. The inversion is …