Exploring the Universe from Near to Far with the Chandra X-ray Observatory
Dr. Michael Nowak, Research Scientist, MIT Kavli Institute
| Jan/09 | Thu | 02:00PM-02:30PM | 37-252 |
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: none
In the summer of 1999, NASA launched the third of its great observatories -- the Chandra X-ray telescope. Like the Hubble Space telescope which preceded it, Chandra is designed to have an unprecedented ability to create images and spectra of astrophysical objects, except working with high energy X-rays instead of optical light. This means that Chandra views some of the universe's most exotic and energetic phenomena: supernovae, neutron stars, black holes, jets traveling at nearly the speed of light emanating from near the center of clusters of galaxies. In this talk, we'll take a tour of the discoveries made by the Chandra X-ray telescope, starting with studies of our own solar system, moving outward to nearby stars, to the center of our own Galaxy where a black hole 40 millions times the mass of our Sun lurks, to distant clusters of Galaxies where the most massive black holes, billions of times the mass of our Sun, reside.
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up.
PLEASE NOTE: Following this talk there will be a tour of the Chandra Space Telescope ACIS CCD Lab by
Dr. Steve Kissel (MIT Kavli Institute)
Tour will be limited to max 15 people, advance sign-up required starting at 1:55 pm in 37-252.
Prerequisites: Attendance of talks preceding the tour
For a complete listing of all IAP Events sponsored by MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, please look at our IAP website.
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
Extreme Solar Systems
Ms. Katherine Deck, Graduate Student, MKI
| Jan/23 | Thu | 02:30PM-03:00PM | 37-252 |
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: none
What does a typical planetary system look like? Thanks to an enormous amount of observational work, we know now that planet formation can be considered efficient: most stars like the Sun host an exoplanet. Furthermore, systems of multiple planets are also par for the course. However, the systems we are finding don't always resemble our own Solar System. I'll discuss how we measure the shapes and orientations of planetary orbits when we cannot directly see the planets themselves, and then describe a few of the most intriguing multi-planet systems we've found.
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up.
For a complete listing of IAP activities offered by MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, please see our IAP website.
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
High-resolution x-ray optics at the Space Nanotechnology Laboratory: From nanometers to gigaparsecs
Dr. Ralf Heilmann, Principal Research Scientist, MIT Kavli Institute
| Jan/28 | Tue | 02:30PM-03:00PM | 37-252 |
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: none
The Space Nanotechnology Laboratory (SNL) develops advanced lithography and nano-fabrication technology for high performance space instrumentation, as well as nanometer-accuracy metrology and assembly technology. Two current efforts are the development of nanofabricated soft x-ray gratings, the so-called critical-angle transmission (CAT) gratings, and the development of high-precision focusing X-ray mirrors. CAT gratings require the fabrication of sub-micron structures with extreme geometries and sub-nanometer precision, while x-ray mirrors are formed at 600 deg C while floating on porous air bearings. These efforts are aimed at instruments that can help find the missing baryons in the Cosmic Web and reveal the secrets of dark matter.
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up.
PLEASE NOTE: There will be a tour of the Space Nanotechnology Laboratory from 3:15-4:15pm. The pre-requisite for going on this tour is attending the two talks preceding the tour (2:00-2:30pm; 2:30-3:00pm). The tour is limited to SIX people.
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
Hunting Dark Matter
Mr. Adam Anderson, Graduate Student, MIT Kavli Institute
| Jan/28 | Tue | 02:00PM-02:30PM | 37-252 |
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: none for talk; see pre-requisites for 3:15pm tour
Instruments That Enable the Exploration of the Universe
Hunting Dark Matter
Understanding the composition and properties of the matter in the universe is one of the most basic goals of physics, yet we know scandalously little about most of the matter. A concordance of diverse evidence from astrophysics and cosmology suggests that 85% of the matter in the universe is "dark": it is non-electromagnetically interacting and fundamentally different than the familiar matter of atoms that we experience in our day-to-day life. Though the existence and astrophysical properties of dark matter are established, its particle properties are unknown. I will describe the different pieces of evidence that have led to our current understanding of dark matter, culminating in the state-of-the-art direct searches that are probing its particle properties.
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up for this talk. Please note, however, that there is a tour of the Operations Control Center for the Chandra Space Telescope from 3:15-4:15. In order to take that tour, you must attend this talk as well as the "The Cost of Cosmic Real Estate: Galaxy Evolution in Dense Environments" talk from 2:00-2:30pm. In addition, you need to sign up for the tour by Friday, January 10 by submitting your full name to meinbres@mit.edu.
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
In Search of Sunset on Alien Worlds
Dr. Zach Berta-Thompson, Torres Fellow, MIT Kavli Institute
| Jan/23 | Thu | 02:00PM-02:30PM | 37-252 |
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: none
We now know of thousands of planets orbiting other stars in the Milky Way, but what do we really know about each one of them individually? For a particular subset of known extrasolar planets, we can measure their sizes, their densities, and even the composition and structure of their atmospheres. This talk will take you on a tour through the methods astronomers use to observe the weird and wonderful worlds that populate our Galaxy, particularly focusing on what we can learn from current and upcoming space telescopes. Come prepared to explore strange new planets!
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up.
For a complete listing of all IAP activities offered by MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, please see our IAP website.
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
It's Always Darkest Before the Cosmic Dawn
Mr. Josh Dillon, MKI Graduate Student
| Jan/16 | Thu | 02:00PM-02:30PM | 37-252 |
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: none
We know quite a lot about the very early universe from observations of the Cosmic Microwave Background and about the later universe from observations of distant galaxies and supernovae. But the period between--and therefore a huge volume of the observable universe--remains unexplored. We know that during that time the universe went from dark to bright as the first stars and black holes formed and helped ionize the hydrogen between galaxies. By studying the state and distribution of that hydrogen with novel radio telescopes, we hope to soon shed light on the so-called "Cosmic Dawn" in order to test our astrophysical and cosmological theories that describe history of the universe from the Big Bang to today.
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up.
To see all of the IAP Activities offered by MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, please see our IAP website.
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
Searching for Gravitational Waves with LIGO
Dr. Adam Libson, Postdoctoral Associate
| Jan/07 | Tue | 02:00PM-02:30PM | 37-252 |
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: No enrollment limit, no advance sign up.
Einstein's theory of general relativity predicts the existence of gravitational radiation. Since gravity is a weak force, it takes extreme masses and energies to produce a detectable gravitational wave signature. Indirect evidence for the existence of this radiation has been collected using pulsar measurements. The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) is an experiment designed to directly detect this radiation, and use it to study exotic astrophysical phenomena. To do this, LIGO must measure length changes with a precision of 10-19 meters, less than a thousandth of a proton diameter. In this talk, I will briefly discuss gravitational radiation and its sources, and I will also describe the LIGO detectors and the physics involved in their operation. Finally, I will discuss some of the quantum limits on making this type of precision measurement, and the ways in which LIGO hopes to beat these limits.
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up for this talk.
Please Note: A tour of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) Lab will follow this talk. To take the tour (2:45-4:00pm), you must attend this talk and register for the tour.
See website for additional information.
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
Solar Observing
Dr. Bryce Croll, Sagan Postdoctoral Fellow
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions
Prereq: none
We will have a series of telescopes set up to safely view the Sun, so please come join us astronomers to take a safe look at the closest star in the sky and get a better appreciation of our Solar System's own thermonuclear reactor.
Weather permitting!
Please note: due to the weather forecast for Wednesday, January 22, that session of solar observing has been canceled. We hope conditions will improve and the event can go on as scheduled for Friday, January 24, and Friday, January 31.
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
| Jan/24 | Fri | 10:30AM-11:45AM | 10 Memorial Lobby |
| Jan/31 | Fri | 10:30AM-11:45AM | 10 Memorial Lobby |
Weather permitting!
Dr. Bryce Croll - Sagan Postdoctoral Fellow
The Cost of Cosmic Real Estate: Galaxy Evolution in Dense Environments
Dr. Steven Ehlert, Postdoctoral Scholar
| Jan/14 | Tue | 02:00PM-02:30PM | 37-252 |
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: none for talk; see pre-requisites for 3:15pm tour
One of the largest and most important questions regarding galaxy evolution is the role of the local environment, primarily other nearby galaxies and diffuse gas. Observations of galaxies using the full ensemble of modern telescopes have demonstrated that galaxies are inextricably linked to their neighborhoods through a number of processes that span from star formation and black hole accretion to dark matter and dark energy. In this talk, I will discuss the myriad ways in which we observe galaxies coupling to their environments with a particular emphasis on galaxies in the densest real estate in the Universe: galaxy clusters.
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up for this talk. Please note, however, that there is a tour of the Operations Control Center for the Chandra Space Telescope from 3:15-4:15. In order to take that tour, you must attend this talk as well as the "Hunting for Dark Matter" talk from 2:30-3:00pm. In addition, you need to sign up for the tour by Friday, January 10 by submitting your full name to meinbres@mit.edu.
For a complete listing of IAP Activities offered by MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, please see our IAP website.
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
The Universe in a Box: Simulating Galaxy Formation
Mr. Alex Ji, Graduate Student, MKI
| Jan/16 | Thu | 02:30PM-03:00PM | 37-252 |
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: none
In the 1920s, astronomers discovered that some of the spiral-shaped smudges seen in their telescopes were too distant to be part of our own Milky Way. These "island universes," now known as galaxies, have proved to be a critical component connecting cosmology to astrophysics. In this talk, we will follow the formation history of galaxies similar to our own Milky Way. Aided by computer visualizations, we will see how these galaxies grow from tiny density perturbations into the majestic gas disks we see today.
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up.
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
The Universe is Beautiful: The Art of Astrophysics
Dr. Bryce Croll, Sagan Postdoctoral Fellow, MIT Kavli Institute, Dr. Zach Berta-Thompson, Torres Postdoctoral Fellow, MIT Kavli Institute
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: submit entries up until January 29 @ 5pm!
Prereq: none
The Universe is Beautiful: The Art of Astrophysics
Astrophysicists try to share the mysteries of the Universe around us in a clear & understandable fashion, but we don't always succeed. It's a hard challenge - the wonders of the Solar System, the Galaxy, and the ever expanding Cosmos demand more of our imaginations than can be captured by numbers in a table or terms in an equation. However, a work of art can uniquely inspire us to look closely, to dream freely, to understand openly - anything from the smallest curiosity to the biggest discovery.
We're asking members of the MIT community to create works of art that help us visualize our Universe and how we observe it. Whether you're a photographer or a poet, a crafter or a coder, a musician or a moviemaker, we want you to use your talents and creativity to illuminate the beauty of astrophysical results. Please consider participating in this year's Art of Astrophysics competition during MIT's 2014 Independent Activities Period.
Entries must be received by January 29, 2014 at 5pm EST. Full details: The Universe is Beautiful: The Art of Astrophysics
The competition will culminate in an exhibition on Friday, January 31 in Lobby 10 from 4:00-5:30pm.
Contact: Dr. Bryce Croll & Dr. Zach Berta-Thompson
37-667 and 37-673
croll@space.mit.edu and zkbt@mit.edu
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Bryce Croll and Zach Berta Thompson, 37-667 and 37-673, croll@space.mit.edu
| Jan/06 | Mon | 09:00AM-05:00PM | 37-673, submit entry by January 29 |
Digital works may be submitted to artofastrophysics@gmail.com. Tangible artwork may be brought to MIT office 37-673 (either during our office hours 9am-5pm on Jan. 27,28,29 or most other times as long as you e-mail ahead).
Dr. Bryce Croll - Sagan Postdoctoral Fellow, MIT Kavli Institute, Dr. Zach Berta-Thompson - Torres Postdoctoral Fellow, MIT Kavli Institute
| Jan/13 | Mon | 09:00AM-05:00PM | 37-673, submit your entries by January 29 at 5pm |
| Jan/22 | Wed | 09:00AM-05:00PM | 37-673, Submit your entries by January 29 at 5pm |
| Jan/27 | Mon | 09:00AM-05:00PM | 37-673, Submit your entries by January 29 at 5pm |
| Jan/29 | Wed | 09:00AM-05:00PM | 37-673, TODAY IS THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY -- 5pm |
| Jan/31 | Fri | 04:00PM-05:30PM | Lobby 10, Gallery--come see entries! |
For complete details, please see the Art of Astrophysics website
Dr. Bryce Croll - Sagan Postdoctoral Fellow, MIT Kavli Institute, Dr. Zach Berta-Thompson - Torres Postdoctoral Fellow, MIT Kavli Institute
Tour of the Operations Control Center for the Chandra Space Telescope, One of NASA's Great Observatories
Dr. Norbert Schulz, Research Scientist
| Jan/14 | Tue | 03:15PM-04:15PM | 37-252, Tour originates in 37-252 |
Enrollment: Max 20 people, advance sign-up required by JANUARY 10
Sign-up by 01/10
Limited to 20 participants
Prereq: You must attend talks preceding tour: 2-2:30pm; 2:30-3
The Chandra X-ray Observatory is the world's most powerful X-ray telescope, allowing scientists to study the origin, structure and evolution of our universe in greater detail than ever before. The spacecraft and science instruments are controlled from the Operations Control Center (OCC) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. We will take our visitors on a tour of the OCC and show where scientists and engineers direct the flight and execute the observing plan of Chandra, and where they receive the scientific data from the observatory. during the tour the visitors will learn about the basics of X-ray astronomy and about the latest, exciting discoveries made by MIT scientists with data acquired with Chandra.
Max 20 people, advance sign-up required by FRIDAY, JANUARY 10 by submitting full name to meinbres@mit.edu
Prerequisites: Attendance of two talks preceding the tour (2-2:30 talk "The Cost of Cosmic Real Estate"; 2:30-3:00 talk "Hunting Dark Matter")
For a complete listing of IAP Activites offered by MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, please visit our IAP website.
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
Tour: Chandra Space Telescope ACIS CCD Lab
Dr. Steve Kissel, Research Scientist
| Jan/09 | Thu | 02:45PM-03:45PM | 37-252, Tour originates in 37-252 |
Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/09
Limited to 15 participants
Prereq: Attendance of 2-2:30pm talk preceding the tour
In this tour, we will introduce the participant to the CCD detector development at MIT.
Max 15 people, advance sign-up required starting at 1:55 pm in 37-252
Prerequisites: Attendance of talks preceding the tour
For a complete listing of IAP Activities being offered by MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, please see our IAP website.
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
Tour: Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) Lab
Dr. Adam Lipson, Postdoctoral Associate
| Jan/07 | Tue | 02:45PM-04:00PM | 37-252, Tour originates in 37-252 |
Enrollment: Max 10 people, advance sign-up required starting at 1:55 pm in 37-252
Sign-up by 01/07
Limited to 10 participants
Prereq: MUST ATTEND 2-2:30pm TALK PRECEDING TOUR
Visitors will be taken on a tour of the LIGO prototyping facilities at MIT. These include a full-scale prototype of the LIGO vacuum chambers, laser, isolation and suspension systems, and laboratories for thermal and optical noise measurements.
Max 10 people, advance sign-up required starting at 1:55 pm in 37-252
Prerequisites: Attendance of talks preceding the tour
Please see all IAP offerings by MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
Tour: Space Nanotechnology Lab
Dr. Ralf Heilmann, Principal Research Scientist, MIT Kavli Institute
| Jan/28 | Tue | 03:15PM-04:15PM | 37-252, LIMIT 6--must attend two talks preceding tour |
Enrollment: advance sign-up required starting @ 1:55pm in 37-252
Sign-up by 01/28
Limited to 6 participants
Prereq: You must attend talks preceding tour: 2-2:30pm; 2:30-3
During the tour of the SNL's three clean rooms visitors will see sophisticated optical (interference lithography stations for the fabrication of submicron period gratings, high power UV laser, metrology station for optics shape measurements, sub-nanometer resolution interferometers, etc.), reactive-ion etching (Plasmtherm RIE, new STPS Pegasus DRIE) and mechanical systems (XY-air-bearing stage, environmental enclosure, active vibration isolation, etc.) as well as a scanning electron microscope, all of which support the development of thin-foil x-ray optics and gratings.
Max 6 people, advance sign-up required starting at 1:55 pm in 37-252
Prerequisites: Attendance of talks preceding the tour
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
Weak Gravitational Lensing: Because We're Stuck With Photons
Ms. Rebecca Sobel Levinson, MKI Graduate Student
| Jan/14 | Tue | 02:00PM-02:30PM | 37-252 |
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: none
Most of the universe does not emit light. Dark matter outweighs baryonic matter in the universe approx. 5:1. So how do we learn about this dark universe when our primary tools for observing it require light?
Come learn about gravitational lensing, one of the tricks of astronomy that allows us to peer into the darkness of our universe. I will review the basics of gravitational lensing, and some of the neat things we can learn from it. I will then focus on weak lensing in clusters, the science behind some of the most beautiful Hubble images ever taken.
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up for the talk. Please note that there is a tour of the Space Nanotechnology Lab from 3:15-4:15pm. The tour is limited to 6 people. Prerequisite for the tour is attending this talk as well as the 2:30-3:00pm talk "High-resolution x-ray optics at the Space Nanotechnology Laboratory: From nanometers to gigaparsecs".
For a complete listing of IAP activities offered by MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, please visit our IAP website.
Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Debbie Meinbresse, 37-241, 617 253-1456, MEINBRES@MIT.EDU
Contact Information
COPYRIGHT 2014