ATNF/AAO Summer Vacation Student Symposium


Thursday 11 February 2010

Marsfield Lecture Theatre, 9.00 am to 1.40 pm

ABSTRACTS OF TALKS

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COURTNEY JONES (AGUSS)
Supervisor: Steven Margheim
Title: Metallicity of the Hyades and Praesepe clusters: spectral analysis of ‘solar type’ stars
Abstract: Whilst the Hyades and Praesepe are two of the closest clusters to the Solar System, definitive metallicity values continue to elude modern astronomy. A comprehensive spectral study of solar type stars in the two clusters attempts to understand the effects and limits of analysis methods as well as confirm the “significant” supersolar metallicity of both clusters.

DANIEL BURDETT (AGUSS)
Supervisor: Gelys Trancho
Title: Intermediate-age star clusters in merger remnant galaxies
Abstract: The evolution of galaxy mergers is not yet well understood. As tracers of major star formation episodes, star clusters can be used to study these mergers. We have investigated the cluster populations of four intermediate-age, merger remnant galaxies and determined the ages of the merger events.

NYSSA LONSDALE (CASS/ATNF)
Supervisors: Ángel R. López-Sánchez
Title: Revealing Star Formation Processes in Dwarf Starburst Galaxies
Abstract: We present an analysis of 13cm and 20cm radio-continuum maps to calculate the star formation rate from a selection of Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxies (BCDGs). We compare with their optical/UV/IR properties in an effort to learn more about the characteristics and trigger mechanisms of starburst galaxies.

JIE LAI ZHANG (AAO)
Supervisors: Paul Dobbie
Title: The Parentage of Magnetic White Dwarfs: Implications from their Space Motions
Abstract: Where do the magnetic fields of Magnetic White Dwarfs come from? To answer this question, a statistical analysis of proper motions of white dwarf stars targetted for spectroscopy in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), Data Release 7 (DR7), was carried out.

CRAIG BURNETT (CASS/ATNF)
Supervisor: Björn Emonts
Title: NGC3801: the 'odd ball' radio galaxy
Abstract: NGC 3801 is an unusual radio galaxy with unexpectedly large amounts of HI gas, over-pressured radio jets and a nuclear thick torus. These properties make it difficult to categorise, and may infact be a link between, what was once thought to be, two distinct categories. The data recently obtained imaged the large-scale structure of the neutral hydrogen surrounding the galaxy. This has uncovered evidence of an extended HI disc or ring, most likely developed from a merger, and tidal interactions on going with several companion galaxies. This new information on NGC 3801 gives a new insight into the processes and circumstances in which radio-loud AGN are triggered, fueled and sustained.

GRANT SINCLAIR (CASS/ATNF)
Supervisor: Ray Norris & George Hobbs
Title: Radio Stars and Variability in the ATLAS Field
Abstract: The ATLAS project has surveyed approximately 2000 radio sources over a period of several years. In order to find transients within ATLAS, several approaches have been taken, firstly to identify stellar sources within the survey, and secondly to look for variability in all radio sources within the Chandra Deep Field South.

ANNA PEREJMA (AAO)
Supervisor: Jon Lawrence
Title: The characterisation and applications of the photonic lantern in astrophotonics
Abstract: Astrophotonics is an emerging field combing the application of photonics with astronomical instrumentation. The transmission efficiency and near field mode structure of a 1x61 photonic lantern was characterised.

PHOEBE DE WILT (CASS/ATNF)
Supervisor: Max Voronkov
Title: The Environment of High-Mass Star Forming Regions
Abstract: The birth of massive stars is has a significant impact on the chemical composition of the medium surrounding the newly formed star. ATCA observations at 7mm have been used to observe continuum emission as well as molecular and radio-recombination lines in order to investigate the structure and kinematics of selected high mass star forming regions. We investigate the scientific value of radio-recombination lines data for this type of the study, which is important for future 7mm surveys.

KELLIE PIERCE (CASS/ATNF)
Supervisor: James Green
Title: Discovering new tracers of magnetic fields in high-mass star forming regions
Abstract: As part of the multi-frequency followup to the Methanol Multibeam (MMB) survey, a dedicated search was performed for ground-state hydroxyl masers associated with 6668-MHz methanol masers. This project targeted approximately 100 methanol masers, aiming to identify new hydroxyl masers, and improve our knowledge of the evolutionary stage of the high-mass star formation regions traced by the methanol. The association of these two maser species is believed to indicate a later stage of massive star formation, whilst methanol alone implies an earlier, hot core phase. In addition to constraining the relationship between methanol and ground-state hydroxyl masers in these regions, the results of the survey will be used to investigate their magnetic field structure though Zeeman splitting - an ideal way to gain insight into the magnetic fields of our Galaxy.

ANDREW CAMERON (CASS/ATNF)
Supervisors: George Hobbs and Ray Norris
Title: Techniques in searching for pulsar-black hole binary systems
Abstract: With radio astronomy moving towards large scale interferometers such as the ASKAP and the SKA, new techniques in pulsar detection need to be developed that can be used in place of single-dish detection methods. Also, some particularly interesting pulsar systems, such as pulsar-pulsar and pulsar-black hole binaries may be very hard to detect using standard single-dish techniques. After investigating the characteristics of pulsars that have been imaged by previous interferometer surveys, we present a new technique that may be able to find some of these rare pulsar systems.

JOEY SEO (CASS/ATNF)
Supervisor: Simon Johnston and Mike Keith
Title: Investigating the Dispersion Measure Variabilities in Fermi Pulsars
Abstract: The properties of the interstellar medium can be inferred from the studies of dispersion measure variations in pulsars. An investigation on the dispersion measure variabilities was carried out on the high energy pulsars observed through the Fermi mission. The finding of the investigation reveals a number of factors to consider in gaining accurate estimates of the dispersion measure.

CARLOS SOTOMAYOR (CASS/ATNF)
Supervisor: Dominic Schnitzeler
Title: Faraday Depths of Compact Array calibration sources
Abstract: Understanding the origin, geometry and evolution of magnetic fields is still an open problem in astrophysics. One way of studying magnetic fields is through Farday rotation. Recently, a catalog containing 37,543 rotation measures (RMs) from the NRAO VLA Sky Survey (NVSS) has been published; however, it only covers dec. > -40°. In this project, we observed the linearly polarized emission of Australian Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) calibration sources in the L-band to cover the gap left by the NVSS survey. Faraday depths of the observed sources were calculated using the RM-synthesis technique.

MIKAYLA KEEN (CASS/ATNF)
Supervisor: Chris Hollingdrake and Rob Hollow
Title: Parkes and Wildlife (sightings of the Elvii)
Abstract: Hear about my marvelous 61 days at the Parkes Radio telescope, observing, driving and climbing all over the Dish. Oh, and of course my project - Communicating Radio Astronomy to the public!

OBSERVING TRIP PROJECTS:

Carlos Sotomayor and Phoebe de Wilt (CASS/ATNF)
Supervisors: Ángel R. López-Sánchez
Title: Particle Acceleration in the Circinus Galaxy with CABBeriffic Data
Abstract: We have observed the Circinus galaxy in continuum frequencies at 6cm and 3cm with the 6A configuration of the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA). At a distance of about 3 Mpc, the Circinus galaxy is the closest known spiral galaxy with a Seyfert 2 nucleus and star-forming circumnuclear ring. With the Compact Array Broadband Backend (CABB) and a 6km array configuration we have studied these regions with resolution not able to be obtained in any other galaxy of this type. We will present spectral indices and Faraday depths of different parts of the Circinus galaxy.

Grant Sinclair, Andrew Cameron and Joey Seo (CASS/ATNF)
Supervisor: Ángel R. López-Sánchez
Title: A deeper look into the radio spectrum of the T-type brown dwarf є-Indi Ba
Abstract: Brown dwarfs have been known to emit transient, non-thermal radio emission, but this has never been observed for T-type brown dwarfs. We observed the T1 type brown dwarf є-Indi Ba using the ATCA in a 6A configuration at 3cm and 6cm wavelengths. With the added sensitivity provided by CABB, we aimed to observe є-Indi Ba with greater sensitivity than has yet been achieved by previous attempts.

Nyssa Lonsdale, Kellie Pearce and Craig Burnett (CASS/ATNF)
Supervisor: Ángel R. López-Sánchez
Title: Jetting through the galaxy ESO 295-IG022
Abstract: The galaxy pair ESO 295-IG022 was observed at the ATCA using a 6-km array at 6cm and 3cm wavelengths to further investigate the radio jet structure of the northern galaxy with the hope that the new data may reveal a previously hypothesised northern radio jet. In addition, the bandwidth of CABB has provided us with improved spectral data which will be used to calculate the velocity and acceleration of the particles in the jets. These results will help us in determining the origin of the jets as well as the structure of the intracluster medium (ICM).

Projects
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