Chandra X-ray Observatory and New Visions of the Center of Our Galaxy
Dr. Frederick Baganoff
Fri Jan 15, 03-03:45pm, NE80-6035, 6th floor in building NE80
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Prereq: none
A new generation of telescopes and instruments have revealed the core of the Milky Way in spectacular detail. Ground-based telescopes have traced the path of a star that passed within just 17 light-hours of the dark massive object at the center of the galaxy. An analysis of the star's motion indicates that the dark object has a mass of about 3.7 millions suns, and provides the strongest evidence to date for the existence of a supermassive black hole. The new observations have revealed fantastic images of the interactions between giant molecular clouds, expanding supernova blast waves, and stellar winds from clusters of hot young stars that are frantically blowing off their outer atmospheres.
I will also describe Chandra X-ray Observatory; the tour of its Operation Center will immediately follow the lecture.
Contact: Gregory Prigozhin, 37-561, x3-7246, gyp@space.mit.edu
|
Star Formation Research with Space Telescopes
Dr. Norbert Schulz
Fri Jan 8, 02-03:00pm, 37-252 (Marlar)
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Prereq: none
The arrival of NASA's Three Great Observatories has revolutionized our perception about the Universe within the last decade. Specifically in the field of star formation the impact of these space observatories is most significant. While the Spitzer Space Telescope observes dust emissions in the infrared band, the Hubble Space Telescope mostly observes gaseous processes predominantly in the optical band.
The Chandra X-Ray Observatory finally complements the set in the X-ray band sensitive to hot gas and magnetic activity. This presentation
provides an overview over these activities and with focus on high energy processes in stellar formation.
Contact: Gregory Prigozhin, 37-561, 253-7246, gyp@space.mit.edu
|
The Space Nanotechnology Laboratory: from Nanometers to Gigaparsecs
Dr. Ralf Heilmann
Tue Jan 12, 02-02:30pm, 37-252 (Marlar)
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
The Space Nanotechnology Lab (SNL) develops advanced lithographic and nano-fabrication technology for building high performance space instrumentation, as well as nanometer-accuracy metrology and assembly technology. Two current efforts are the development of an X-ray spectrogrpaph for the International X-ray Observatory, using novel nanofabricated transmission gratings, and the development of high-precision focusing X-ray mirrors. These instruments should help find the missing baryons in the Cosmic Web and reveal the secrets of dark matter. A tour of the facility for a limited number of guests will immediately follow the presentation.
Contact: Gregory Prigozhin, 37-561, 253-7246, gyp@space.mit.edu
|
Tour of Space Nanotechnology Lab
Dr. Ralf Heilmann
Tue Jan 12, 02:30-03:30pm, 37-484
Enrollment limited: advance sign up required (see contact below)
Signup by: 11-Jan-2010
Limited to 5 participants.
Single session event
Prereq: Attend preceding talk prior to tour
The Space Nanotechnology Laboratory holds a suite of unique ultra-high precision tools for rapid nanometer-accurate patterning of large substrates, precise shaping of X-ray mirrors, and the supporting metrology and environmental controls, all located in a Class 100 cleanroom. The tour will include an interference lithography station, a Shack-Hartmann tool, and the SNL's Nanoruler.
Contact: Gregory Prigozhin, 37-561, 253-7246, gyp@space.mit.edu
|
|
