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The
MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research (MKI) includes
several
research
groups carrying
out diverse
programs.
Major areas
include:
X-Ray Astronomy: Activities
include the
design, construction,
testing and
launch of
satellite-borne
instruments
for the study
of celestial
x-ray sources,
and the analysis
of data from
these instruments.
A large database
from past
and active
experiments
is used to
study a variety
of x-ray phenomena
from galactic
and extragalactic
sources. In
February 1993,
the first
high throughput,
solid state
imaging spectrometer,
developed
at the MIT
CCD Laboratory,
was launched
on the Japan/U.S.
Advanced Satellite
for Cosmology
and Astrophysics
(ASCA) mission.
The Rossi
X-Ray Timing
Explorer (RXTE),
carring the
MIT-developed
All Sky Monitor
(ASM) instrument,
was successfully
launched in
December 1995.
Near "realtime" data
reduction
and analysis
for RXTE is
currently
under way
at CSR. Major
new satellite
instruments
are being
designed and
constructed,
including
those for
the Chandra
X-ray Observatory
(CXO), the
Japan/U.S.
Astro-E mission,
and for the
High Energy
Transient
Experiment
(HETE). CXO
is scheduled
for launch
in 1999, and
HETE-2 will
launch in
early 2000.
Undergraduate
student involvement
in the operations
and data analysis
for all three
satellites
is anticipated.
Instrument
Development: A
variety
of new photon
detectors
for future
space missions
is being
developed
based on
silicon
charge-coupled
device (CCD)
technology.
Devices
for both
optical
and x-ray
sensing
are being
evaluated.
Activities
include
array design
and detector
fabrication
and testing.
Among the
instruments
scheduled
for launch
or under
development
are new
focal plane
detectors
for various
optical,
UV, and
x-ray telescopes.
The Space
Nanotechnology
Laboratory is
developing
improved
x-ray transmission
gratings,
reflection
gratings
and novel
x-ray optics. Dr.
Schattenburg.
Interplanetary
Plasma Studies: Plasma
detectors
on the WIND
spacecraft
(launched
November
1994) are
the latest
in a series
of instruments
designed,
built, and
tested at
CSR with
the aim
of studying
the properties
of the interplanetary
solar wind
plasma,
its interaction
with planets,
and eventually,
its interaction
with the
interstellar
medium.
Interpretation
of the WIND,
as well
as data
from Voyager
1,2, and
IMP-8, is
under way.
Prof. Belcher, Dr.
Lazarus,
Dr. Richardson,
Dr. Steinberg,
and K. Paularena.
Gravity-Wave
Astronomy: The
Laser Interferometer
Gravitational
Wave Observatory
(LIGO),
a two-element
transcontinental
baseline
gravity-wave
detector,
is currently
undergoing
development.
The project
involves
participation
by both
MIT and
CalTech.
Prof. Weiss
and Dr.
Shoemaker.
Theoretical
Astrophysics: Topics
currently
under investigation
include
structure
and properties
of galactic
x-ray sources;
x-ray bursters;
physics
of supernova
explosions;
compact
binary stellar
systems;
physics
of neutron
stars; pulsars,
and black
holes; cosmology;
general
relativity;
cosmic microwave
background
radiation
and structure
formation;
solar and
stellar
winds; magnetohydrodynamics
of rotating
stars; and
geoplasma
physics.
Profs. Belcher,
Bertschinger,
Guth, Joss,
Kumar, Morrison,
Rappaport,
Rasio and
Dr. Chang.
Ground-Based
Astronomy: Observations
of celestial
objects
(gamma ray
bursters,
pulsars,
x-ray novae,
active galaxies,
clusters
of galaxies,
quasars,
gravitational
lenses and
sometimes
ordinary
stars) are
carried
at radio,
infrared
and optical,
wavelengths
using national
observatories
and MITÕs
Haystack
Radio Observatory.
MIT is participating
in the construction
of two 6.5-m
Magellan
telescopes,
to be used
in the optical
and infrared
at Cerro
Las Campanas
in Chile.
Profs. Bradt,
Burke, Canizares,
Clark, Kaspi,
Hewitt,
Schechter,
and Dr.
Ricker.
Man-Vehicle Laboratory: Studies
are carried out in the areas
of habituation to novel
vestibular environments
with particular reference
to space flight, compensatory
visual neural changes with
eye movements, visual vestibular
interaction and its application
to flight simulation, motion
sickness, special pedagogic
studies in arithmetic, and
ski accident research. Experiments
on vestibular functions
and space motion sickness
are being carried out on
Space Shuttle/Spacelab missions.
Prof. Young, Dr. Oman.
Other
Programs: Engineering
studies
and design
of space
hardware
and systems
carried
out at CSR
and its
Laboratory
for Space
Experiments.
Dr. W. Mayer
and staff
engineers.
- Dr.
Mark L.
Schattenburg,
37-487,
x3-3180, marks@space.mit.edu
- Nanostructures,
nanotechnology
and advanced
lithography
applied
to fabrication
and assembly
of high-performance
space optics,
including
high-resolution
x-ray telescopes,
x-ray and
extreme-ultraviolet
transmission
gratings,
and extreme-ultraviolet
filters
for atom
telescopes.
Advanced
interference
lithography
for patterning
nanometer-period
gratings
and grids
for applications
in nanometrology
and nanodevices,
including
optical,
electronic,
and magnetic
devices.
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