Empirical Validation Of Einstein’S Coefficient For The Deflection Of Light Due To Gravitational Forces,
2026
Murray State University
Empirical Validation Of Einstein’S Coefficient For The Deflection Of Light Due To Gravitational Forces, Alexandra R. Mcdowell
Honors College Theses
Einstein’s formula to calculate the deflection angle of light through space as it interacts with gravity was introduced in his 1916 publication on general relativity. This was not a new idea, but his equation was, and it was correct. Just 3 years after this publication, it was empirically validated by Sir Arthur Eddington and Sir Frank Dyson. Since that experiment in 1919, at least seven others have been performed that also gave definitive answers in support of Einstein’s deflection constant of 1.751 arcseconds. The two most recent ones made groundbreaking contributions to this effort. The 2017 eclipse showed reproducible results …
Constraining The Impact Threat From Small Bodies In Near Earth And Cislunar Space,
2026
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Constraining The Impact Threat From Small Bodies In Near Earth And Cislunar Space, Skylar G. Butler, Jarrett Dieterle, Henry Sanders, Aiden Kelleher
Student Research Symposium (SRS)
Understanding and mitigating the impact threat posed by small bodies in near-Earth and cislunar space is vital for planetary defense, spacecraft safety, and sustainable space operations. This research integrates dynamical evolution modeling, synthetic observations, and reprocessed infrared data to assess the origins and potential hazards of debris from young asteroid families. By modeling the trajectories and orbital evolution of fragments from the Datura, Emilkowalski, 1992 YC2, Lucascavin (Nesvorný & Vokrouhlický, 2006), and Veritas (Nesvorný et al., 2003) families, we constrain how these sources contribute to near-Earth debris populations. Reprocessing Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) data with Fourier-filtering techniques reveals fine-structure variations …
Solar Wind–Magnetosphere Coupling During The September 2025 Cme: Multi-Spacecraft Analysis Using Mms And Omni Data,
2026
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Solar Wind–Magnetosphere Coupling During The September 2025 Cme: Multi-Spacecraft Analysis Using Mms And Omni Data, Skylar G. Butler, Margret Stanley
Student Research Symposium (SRS)
A sequence of two coronal mass ejections (CMEs) impacted Earth in early September 2025, producing consecutive geomagnetic disturbances. The first CME, launched on 31 August 2025 and observed as a halo in SOHO/LASCO imagery, reached Earth on 1 September (~20:45 UTC), generating a clear interplanetary shock. OMNI 1-min solar-wind data show a sudden rise in |B| from ≈ 5 nT to > 25 nT, proton density and velocity increases (≈ 350 → 600 km s⁻¹), and a southward IMF Bz interval that drove enhanced coupling. The Kyoto Dst index recorded a sudden storm commencement followed by a minimum of −75 nT …
How Hidden Companions Skew Stellar Ages: A Binary-Inclusive Analysis Of Ngc 2168,
2026
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
How Hidden Companions Skew Stellar Ages: A Binary-Inclusive Analysis Of Ngc 2168, Skylar G. Butler
Student Research Symposium (SRS)
We expand upon our previous analysis of NGC 2168 (M35), which investigated the precision of isochrone-based age determination for individual main-sequence stars using photometric modeling. Building on that earlier framework, we now assess how inferred stellar ages change when each object is modeled under the assumption that it may possess an unresolved binary companion. Using post burn in posterior samples from the same dataset, we computed the mean Stage 3 ages for more than 3,000 cluster members with binaries turned on, allowing a direct comparison to our prior results with binaries turned off. The resulting age distribution peaks near 2.1 …
Modeling The Secondary Catastrophic Disruption Of The Veritas Family,
2026
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Modeling The Secondary Catastrophic Disruption Of The Veritas Family, Jarrett Dieterle, Skylar G. Butler, Aiden Kelleher
Student Research Symposium (SRS)
The Veritas asteroid family, located in the outer main belt, is believed to have formed from the catastrophic breakup of a parent body approximately 8.3 million years ago (e.g., Nesvorný et al., 2003). Larger fragments remained in the main belt, while smaller particles evolved inward under radiation forces, forming a toroidal dust structure observable in infrared data as paired bands. Previous studies (e.g., Dermott et al., 2001) have shown that these bands can be linked to their parent families and modeled from their initial disruptions. We propose that the 10° dust bands associated with Veritas may record evidence of a …
The Link Fantastic: Detecting And Linking Simulated, Nongravitationally-Accelerating Objects With The Rubin Observatory Pipeline,
2026
Marshall University
The Link Fantastic: Detecting And Linking Simulated, Nongravitationally-Accelerating Objects With The Rubin Observatory Pipeline, Ellie White
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) is poised to revolutionize our understanding of the Solar System. After only a few months of regular operations, Rubin has already discovered over 11,000 new Solar System bodies, and is projected to discover millions more. With discoveries pouring in, and with the development of moving object detection pipelines for routine observing, one key question is: how effectively can Rubin detect and identify objects with anomalous trajectories? The answer is of interest not only for natural bodies in our Solar System, but also in the search for technosignatures, which could be identified …
Discovery Of Tidal Disruption Event Candidates In The Hubble Catalog Of Variables,
2026
Pitzer College
Discovery Of Tidal Disruption Event Candidates In The Hubble Catalog Of Variables, Elliot M. Schweitzer
Pitzer Senior Theses
A tidal disruption event (TDE) occurs when a star passes within the tidal radius of the supermassive black hole (SMBH) likely to reside at the center of most galaxies. Within this radius, the star is torn apart as tidal forces overcome the star's binding energy, and roughly half of the stellar debris spirals back towards the SMBH. The formation of an accretion disk produces bright emissions for months to years, modeled to peak in the ultraviolet and extend well into x-ray and optical wavelengths. TDEs occur only about once every 104-105 years per galaxy. As one of …
Numerical Modeling Of Multi-Scale Jet Feedback In Seyfert Galaxies,
2026
University of Kentucky
Numerical Modeling Of Multi-Scale Jet Feedback In Seyfert Galaxies, Julianne Goddard
Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy
We present a suite of high-resolution cosmological zoom-in simulations investigating the impact of mechanical and thermal feedback from low-luminosity jets launched from supermassive black holes (SMBHs) on Seyfert galaxy evolution from early cosmic times to the present (z ≤ 10). Our models follow the formation of central galaxies within identical dark matter halos of logMhalo/M⊙ ∼ 11.8 at z = 0, seeded with ∼ 10^6M⊙ SMBHs at z ∼ 9.1 and z ∼ 3.7. Feedback from active galactic nuclei (AGN) is implemented in the form of bipolar jets launched along the SMBH spin axis, with jet powers spanning Ljet ∼ …
Cosmic Duets: A Search For Binary Supermassive Black Holes In Merging Galaxies,
2025
Clemson University
Cosmic Duets: A Search For Binary Supermassive Black Holes In Merging Galaxies, Sagar Adhikari
All Dissertations
Galaxies are vast cosmic islands of stars, dust, and gas. They come in various shapes and sizes. They might look static for the timescales we are used to, but they are dynamic and collisional systems that can merge with other galaxies to make bigger galaxies. Most galaxies, including the Milky Way, host a central supermassive black hole (SMBH) with a mass greater than a million (sometimes a billion) times the mass of the Sun. When galaxies merge, their SMBHs form a binary system before ultimately merging. These cosmic duets are of great interest to astronomers and astrophysicists as they are …
Determining The 17f(Α,P)20ne Reaction Rate For Application In Type I X-Ray Bursts,
2025
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
Determining The 17f(Α,P)20ne Reaction Rate For Application In Type I X-Ray Bursts, William Braverman
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
The 17F(α, p)20Ne reaction has been identified as an alternate pathway for breakout from the hot-CNO cycle that can be important in some X-ray burst scenarios. The 17F(α, p)20Ne reaction rate was previously determined through a parameterized exponential S-factor with a large enhancement from thermally-excited states based on statistical models with large uncertainties. We have measured the time-inverse 20Ne(p,α)17F cross section at center-of-mass energies ranging from 5.50 to 7.10 MeV using an activation method with a proton beam on a neon gas cell. Coincident detections of 511-keV γ-rays, resulting from electron-positron …
Determining The Light Curve And 3d Shape Of Asteroid Eunomia And Egeria Using Relative Photometry,
2025
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Determining The Light Curve And 3d Shape Of Asteroid Eunomia And Egeria Using Relative Photometry, Skylar G. Butler, Jackson Ladd Sackrider
Discovery Day - Daytona Beach
Asteroids are relics of our solar system’s early formation, preserving valuable information about planetary evolution. Understanding their rotational properties and surface features provides deeper insights into the dynamical and thermophysical processes that shape their evolution. This study aims to conduct photometric observations of two main-belt asteroids, Egeria and Eunomia, using the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 1-meter telescope. Observations will be conducted in the red band on February 28 and March 14, 2025, over five-hour sessions, capturing full rotational light curves for each asteroid. These data will be analyzed using MPO Canopus to generate 3D surface models through photometric inversion techniques. The …
Life Goes On, But Better,
2025
"Staff"
Life Goes On, But Better, Editorial Board
The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)
" … During a solar flare* An exchange between two telegraph operators during the Carrington Event, the most intense solar flare recorded to date (September 2, 1859. Boston Evening Traveler)."
Satellite-Host Galaxy Co-Evolution With Next-Generation Regulator Models,
2025
CUNY Graduate Center
Satellite-Host Galaxy Co-Evolution With Next-Generation Regulator Models, Austen Gabrielpillai
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
The evolution of satellites galaxies is an unsolved problem in galaxy formation. Recent observations such as the SAGA and ELVES surveys find tension in HI contents and star formation of satellites around their central host galaxies when compared to our own local environment, the Milky Way. These processes are potentially highly influenced by the host's circumgalactic medium (CGM), and to constrain these cases requires accurate and fast modeling of satellites-host interactions. In this work, we present our methodology for evolving z = 0 surviving satellites alongside their central galaxy in sapphire, a CGM regulator co-evolution model of galaxy formation. …
The Core-Collapse Supernovae Particle Physics Interactions,
2025
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
The Core-Collapse Supernovae Particle Physics Interactions, Skylar G. Butler
Beyond: Undergraduate Research Journal
This study investigates the role of specific particle physics interactions in simulations of core collapse supernovae, with a focus on understanding how varying levels of inclusion impact the accuracy of gravitational wave predictions and results of simulations. Different research groups often approach these simulations with varying degrees of complexity, cutting corners by omitting certain reactions or simplifying others. This project systematically evaluates the implications of these choices, comparing the particle physics interactions included, the dimensionality of the simulations, and the governing equations used. Our goal is to identify how these factors influence the precision of numerical simulations. By providing a …
Orbital Evolution Of The Datura Asteroid Family,
2025
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Orbital Evolution Of The Datura Asteroid Family, Skylar G. Butler
Beyond: Undergraduate Research Journal
To research the Datura Family of asteroids, we used an orbital evolution code to track the orbital decay of asteroid fragments released in an asteroid disruption. Different particle sizes of 10, 100, 500, 750, and 100 micrometers were tracked including the semi-major axis, eccentricity, and inclination in order to observe how certain particle sizes’ orbital elements evolve. Using a young asteroid family like the Datura family gives more insight into the parent asteroid structure and formation because the time is closer to before the asteroid’s breakup. We use these models to constrain the parameters of the dust by comparing the …
Chemical & Electromagnetic Signatures Of Binary Neutron Star Mergers,
2025
Clemson University
Chemical & Electromagnetic Signatures Of Binary Neutron Star Mergers, Benjamin Amend
All Dissertations
Binary neutron star (BNS) mergers are some of the most energetic events in the universe, producing both short gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and kilonovae. GRBs are brief, bright flashes of gamma rays, powered by ultra-relativistic jets launched during the merger. These jets produce a prompt burst of gamma rays, followed by a broadband afterglow generated by external shocks as the outflow interacts with the surrounding medium. Kilonovae are optical-infrared transients from the radioactive decay of heavy, neutron-rich nuclei formed through the rapid neutron capture process (r-process) in the merger ejecta. Together, GRBs and kilonovae provide unique laboratories for probing fundamental physics …
Streaming Instabilities In Class 0/I Disks,
2025
CUNY Graduate Center
Streaming Instabilities In Class 0/I Disks, Shirin Gul Zaidi
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
While it is clear that planets form in protoplanetary disks, fragmentation and the radial drift of pebbles inhibit the growth of grains to planetesimals. To overcome these barriers, effective localized dust clumping on a short enough time scale is required. One promising solution to this problem is the streaming instability. Streaming instability is only triggered with a large enough dust-to-gas ratio and grain size. Though it is unknown when and where those conditions are met in protoplanetary disks, recent studies have indicated that planetary cores likely require early formation to match detected exoplanet system masses, so that we need to …
The Search For Slow Particles And Magnetic Monopoles With Nova,
2025
University of South Alabama
The Search For Slow Particles And Magnetic Monopoles With Nova, John Clark
Poster Presentations
Singular magnetic poles, north or south, have been theorized to exist for hundreds of years. In the modern day, the elusive singular magnetic pole still remains undiscovered. The appearance of this particle would help confirm many Grand Unified Theories, GUTs, and revolutionize our understanding of some of the fundamental forces of the universe. Fermilab's NOvA collaboration is working on ways to screen and detect magnetic monopoles and other slow-moving particles coming from outer space alongside their main mission to study neutrinos. The aim of this work is to determine and improve the Far Detector’s efficiency at identifying slow moving particles. …
Effects Of The Gravity Gradient On The Path Of 1i/‘Oumuamua,
2025
University of South Alabama
Effects Of The Gravity Gradient On The Path Of 1i/‘Oumuamua, Hannah R. Richardson
Honors Theses
In October 2017, the asteroid 1I/’Oumuamua first passed into viewing range [1]. The asteroid is notable for being the first interstellar object to enter the solar system. 1I/’Oumuamua was also unusual in its geometry; it is thought to have an aspect ratio of 6:1 and a length of approximately 400 m [2] [3]. The asteroid was observed to experience a non-Keplerian acceleration estimated to be on the order of 1⇥10−6 m s2 . Several theories have been proposed for the cause of this acceleration, all of which are non-gravitational in nature: volatile outgassing, photon pressure, and solar winds [1][4]. However, …
Statistical Study Of Solar Wind Conditions Prior To Substorm Onsets,
2025
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Statistical Study Of Solar Wind Conditions Prior To Substorm Onsets, Luke H. Francis
Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses
Due to complex, multi-region, coupled plasma systems, auroral substorm onsets have been historically difficult to predict. The northward turning of the interplanetary magnetic field was considered the primary candidate as an external triggering mechanism for substorm onsets. However, that was later shown to be coincidental in nature. This study is motivated by recent multi-spacecraft observations that show how several magnetosheath jets at the bow shock were heavily correlated to substorm onsets, indicated by a strongly radial IMF interval. In the past, studies have looked at small samples of substorms in order to make large-scale predictions. However in this study, a …
