2002 Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program

NRAO National Radio Astronomy Observatory
2002 is the 43rd Anniversary of the NRAO Summer Student Program !
Research Projects by NRAO Site

Charlottesville , Virginia (NRAO Headquarters)

There are five students in the 2002 Summer Student Research Program, four of them under the NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at NRAO-Charlottesville. Highlights of the program included a series of introductory level lectures on aspects of astronomy, particularly radio astronomy, spread over a few weeks. These lectures are intended to aquaint the students with the research which various staff members carry out. The lectures are listed below.
 
 


Earlier in the summer, the Charlottesville students visited Green Bank to tour the NRAO telescopes located there, to meet members of the Green Bank staff, and to attend the annual picnic on 29 June.

One highlight will be operation of the Green Bank telescope ( GBT ), the world's largest steerable telescope. It is an offset parabaloid, 110m across the longest axis, incorporating over 16 million lbs of steel in the moving structure. In this photo, students stand on a mound built to hold a metrology laser as Ron Maddalena points out the 'Goldman Effect'. A movie is also available, showing the student tour.

The 40 ft telescope there is a student telescope, open for any project which students would like to carry out on it (though its instrumentation is limited). If there is interest, we may carry out, probably remotely, a project on the VLA.

We're very excited about the Atacama Large Millimeter Array , which was selected as the top priority for a new astronomical instrument in the 90s back at the beginning of the decade by the Astronomy Survey Committee. Students got to see it take shape as the first year of construction gets underway, highlighted by the arrival of the prototype antenna at the VLA Antenna Test Facility .

The students give a series of 15 minute talks on their projects during a lunch symposium in Charlottesville before they begin leaving for the summer. They produce short reports describing their summer research.
 
 





CV Summer Student Schedule, Summer 2002

Date Person Item Location  Time
To Be Determined  open  Students begin arriving 

7 Jun  open  Public Night at McCormick Observatory  at the Observatory.   9pm
17 June  Wootten  Welcome,   NRAO,Auditorium, Stone Hall  9am 
21 June  Wootten  Radiotelescopes and Radioastronomical Jargon   NRAO,Room 311, Stone Hall  9am 
21 Jun  open  Public Night at McCormick Observatory  at the Observatory.   9pm
24 June  Condon  Radio Sources  NRAO,Room 311, Stone Hall  9am 
26 June  Open    NRAO,Auditorium, Stone Hall  9am 
28 June  Wootten  ALMA; Green Bank Preparations  NRAO,Room 311, Stone Hall  9am 
29 June  All  CV REUs -> Green Bank Picnic  Green Bank, W. Va.  9am
30 June  All  CV REUs tour GB; return from Green Bank Picnic  Green Bank, W. Va.  noon
1 July  Harvey Liszt  TBD  NRAO,Room 311, Stone Hall  9am 
4 July  Fireworks!    McIntire Park  Dark 
5 Jul  NRAO Holiday  Public Night at McCormick Observatory  at the Observatory  9pm
8 July  David Hogg  Radio Stars: Thermal Stars, Flaring Stars, and Stellar Winds  NRAO,Room 311, Stone Hall  9am 
10 July  Juan Uson  Cosmology I  NRAO,Auditorium, Stone Hall  9am 
12 July  Juan Uson  Cosmology II  NRAO,Room 311, Stone Hall  9am 
15 July Anish Roshi  "Interferometry"  NRAO,Room 311, Stone Hall  9am 
17 July  Open  TBD  NRAO,Auditorium, Stone Hall  9am 
18 Jul  Hibbard  Visit of Green Bank Students to Charlottesville  NRAO,Room 317, Stone Hall  pm
18 Jul  All Pizza Lunch with U. Va.  Anna's Pizza  12pm
18 Jul  Hibbard  BBQ for CV, GB REUs and NRAO employees  Edgemont Road Garden  6pm
19 Jul  Bradley  Central Development Lab Introduction  Rm 228 Ivy Road  9am
19 Jul  Thacker  Tour of Central Development Lab  Rm 228 Ivy Road  10am
19 Jul  Crowe  Tour of U. Va. Device Fabrication Facility  U. Virginia  1:20pm
19 July  open  Public Night at McCormick Observatory  at the Observatory  9pm
22 July  Barry Turner  Astrochemistry  NRAO,Room 311, Stone Hall  9am 
24 July  Bob Rood  Unicorns and Aliens  NRAO,Auditorium, Stone Hall  9am 
26 July  Dan Homan  Introduction to Extragalactic Radio Jets  NRAO,Room 311, Stone Hall  9am 
27 July  Beach Weekend  Wootten House, Deltaville, Virginia  NRAO,Room 311, Stone Hall  9am 
28 July  Beach Weekend  Wootten House, Deltaville, Virginia  NRAO,Room 311, Stone Hall  3pm return? 
29 July  Wootten  ALMA  NRAO,Room 311, Stone Hall  9am 
31 July  Butler Burton  The Hydrogen 21-cm line As Applied to the High-velocity Clouds.  NRAO,Auditorium, Stone Hall  9am 
2 Aug  Matthew Lister  Introduction to Very Long Baseline Interferometry  NRAO,Room 311, Stone Hall  9am 
2 Aug  open  Public Night at McCormick Observatory  at the Observatory  9pm
6 August (tentative)  Students  REU research presentations  Rm 311, Stone Hall  high noon 
11 August   Leonids  Meteor Shower  Deltaville, Virginia Midnight 





Michele Casey of Dartmouth College   
works with Rich Bradley
on

Development of an "Era of Reionization" search instrument

For many years, Rich Bradley, Rick Fisher and Don Backer have been discussing how to conduct such an experiment, and now it's time to get started. Key to this success of this experiment is the thorough understanding of foreground contaminants such as synchrotron radiation, discrete sources, and RFI. Our ultimate goal is a simple yet sensitive, well-characterized interferometer that is capable of resolving structure at the 10' scale. However, our first step will be to develop an element of the interferometer - a inexpensive antenna, calibration load, and receiver that operates in the 150-300 MHz range and exhibits excellent stability. The student will take part in the design, fabrication, and evaluation of a suitable antenna, load, receiver, and data acquisition system. We plan to be recording data from the single element by the end of the summer. We hope to locate the instrument at Fan Mountain Observatory during its development.
 







Antone Kom of The University of Idaho
will work with Gareth Hunt
on

A Tool for Analyzing Router Statistics


The NRAO has 17 different sites networked together. Although the routers are configured to collect traffic information, we have no easy mechanism to monitor and analyze the data for performance and for intrusion detection. Your main assignment will be to generate a system that will garner this data systematically, write it into a database, and create tools to analyze and to display it coherently. The assignment will probably be executed in a scripting language (probably perl), but some low level C or C++ utilities may be needed. These tools should be designed to run both on Linux and on Windows.







Clay Sheaff of The University of Nebraska, Lincoln   
will work with John Effland
on

Circuit Design and Hardware Construction for a SIS Mixer Test System


Following our specifications and under the guidance of CDL engineering, the student would design circuits and construct hardware for the SIS mixer test system. This hardware would consist of measurement subsystems such as control of LO frequency and power, amplifier or mixer bias supplies. The student would be required to design analog circuits consisting primarily of op amps, analyze these circuits with an analysis program such as Engineer's Workbench, and create mechanical designs using AutoCAD. The student would be expected to write software in either stand-along Visual Basic or Visual Basis for Applications in Excel for automated testing of the hardware. CDL engineering would provide to the student the software design consisting of UML class, sequence, and activity diagrams. The student would be expected to write and document object oriented code that meets the software design requirements.



Timothy Thacker, of Virginia Tech
works with John Effland 
on

Circuit Design and Hardware Construction for a SIS Mixer Test System

Following our specifications and under the guidance of CDL engineering, the student would design circuits and construct hardware for the SIS mixer test system.  This hardware would consist of measurement subsystems such as control of LO frequency and power, amplifier bias supplies, or mixer bias supplies.  The student would be required to design analog circuits consisting primarily of op amps and would create mechanical designs using AutoCAD.  The student would be expected to write software for automated testing of the hardware.  CDL engineering would provide to the student the software design consisting of UML class, sequence, and activity diagrams.  The student would be expected to write and document object oriented code that meets the software design requirements.







Matthew Strait Carleton College   
will work with Dan Homan
on

VLBA investigation of AGN jets


Modelling a set of 10 AGN jets observed with the VLBA at 4 frequencies. I would have the student measuring the frequency dependant core-shifts in these sources. The measured core-shifts would then be compared to the canoical Blandford-Konigl jet model to extract physical parameters (Doppler factors, B-field, particle density) from the measurements. To do this, the student may need to make additional measurements of the source properties.




Socorro, New Mexico (NRAO VLA and VLBA Telescopes; ALMA Test Facility)




The summer REU program at NRAO/Socorro in 2002 consists of 4 main categories of activity:

1 - student research projects , in collaboration with an NRAO advisor
2 - lectures to the students by NRAO staff members
3 - a joint student project , involving observations with the Very Large Array (VLA)
4 - guided tours of the VLA, given by the students on weekends
 
 

The 2002 REU program at NRAO/Socorro is under the direction of Crystal Brogan and Greg Taylor. Dr. Brogan is Jansky Postdoctoral Researcher at NRAO/Socorro, and Dr. Taylor is a member of the scientific research staff. For AOC-specific information on the New Mexico summer student program, please visit Information for Summer Students coming to Socorro .
 
 




Lectures, etc...
 
 

Several lectures about radio astronomy and interferometry will be presented, allowing the students to obtain a good understanding of the technique. Talks were also given on general topics in astronomy, presented by members of the scientific staff. The astronomy talks were designed to give the students an understanding of what sort of research goes on at NRAO, and in radio astronomy in general. The detailed list of lectures and events for the summer is in the following table and at the AOC WWW site .
 
 

Preliminary 2002 Summer Student Calendar of Events

List of 2002 Summer Students with email addresses.


Preliminary 2002 Summer Student Calendar of Events

June 2002

June 1: 8:30am-2:30pm. Volunteer Orientation for AAS
June 2: 10:00am-4:30pm. AAS Tours
June 3-6: 7am-8pm. Summer AAS meeting in Albuquerque
June 10: 2:00pm. Prelim. meeting on Summer Student observations, upper conference room
June 13: 2:00-5:00 pm. Safety Lecture #1 by Jon Spargo, 1st floor conference room
June 14: 9:00am-3:00 pm. VLA Tour #1 by Crystal Brogan and Vivek Dhawan, VLA site
June 17: 2:00pm. Info. on VLA Tours by Dave Finley, 1st floor conference room
June 18-25: 9am-6pm. VLA Synthesis Imaging Summer School
June 26: 2:00-5:00 pm. Safety Lecture #2 by Jon Spargo, 1st floor conference room
June 27: 9:00am-3:00 pm. VLA Tour #2 by Crystal Brogan and Vivek Dhawan, VLA site
June 30: 11:00am-1:30 pm. VLA Observations

July 2002

July 1: 2:00 pm. "Planetary Radio Astronomy" by Bryan Butler, Auditorium
July 3: 1:00 pm. EMRTC Tour & Demo
July 4-5: NRAO Holidays
July 8: 2:00 pm. "The Hectic World of Transients" by Michael Rupen, Auditorium
July 13: 7:00am Sac Peak/Apache Point Observatories Tour (Mandatory)
July 15: 2:00 pm. "Active Galactic Nuclei and their Environments" Greg Taylor, Auditorium
July 22: 2:00 pm. "Galactic Star Formation" by Debra Shepherd, Auditorium
July 29: 2:00 pm. "AGB Stars in the Galaxy" by Lorant Sjouwerman, Auditorium

August 2002

Aug 5: 2:00 pm. "Magnetic Fields in the Universe" Crystal Brogan, Auditorium


 
 

Other Stuff

  • A Basic Information Letter is available from the WWW pages.

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    Student Research Projects

    Each of the REU students will work with one or more advisors on one or more projects throughout the summer. This is the main focus of the program, and the majority of the students' time will be spent on these research endeavors. These projects involved observing, data reduction and analysis, equipment development, and theoretical studies. At the end of the program, each student gave a lunch talk explaining the main project(s) he or she worked on during the summer. The possibility exists for the students to present their original research at scientific meetings deemed appropriate by their advisor(s). Following is a detailed list of the specific projects carried out by the NRAO/Socorro REU students:

    James Anderson , of New Mexico Tech

    works with Jim Ulvestad
    on

    High-frequency VLBA imaging of Low Luminosity AGNs

    This project involves the VLBA imaging of three Low-Luminosity Active Galactic Nuclei, NGC 3147, NGC 4203, and NGC 4579. The three objects previously have been imaged at frequencies up through 8 GHz with the VLBA, showing slightly inverted (and straight) spectra, as well as being unresolved on scales of 1000-10,000 Schwarzschild radii of their central massive black holes. A VLBA proposal has been approved, and is in the dynamic scheduling queue, to image the three galaxies at frequencies from 8 to 43 GHz in order to attempt to resolve the central sources and to measure the high-frequency spectra of the central unresolved cores. These data will be used to distinguish between models involving jets and those where the radio emission is generated by low-efficiency accretion flows.  

    Eileen Chollet , of Rice University                       

    works withLorant Sjouwerman
    on

    43 GHz SiO masers in Galactic center OH/IR stars

    This is a VLA D-array survey for 42.8 and 43.1 GHz SiO masers in OH/IR stars found in 1998 within 15 arcmin of SgrA*. It complements a similar survey in previously known OH/IR stars. It aims to find 43 GHz masers that can be used for proper motion studies, with positions more accurate than the available 1612 MHz positions, as well as to investigate the occurrence of 43 GHz masers in OH/IR stars - their dependence on mass-loss rates, luminosity etc. Furthermore it appears that there is a homogeneous population of OH/IR stars that were formed in a nuclear star burst some 2 Gyr ago; are these stars distinguishable in their 43 GHz properties from the others? A recent 43 GHz SiO VLA D-array survey in IRAM 30m 86 GHz masers within 1-2 degrees of SgrA* that do not show OH masers can be combined with these OH maser searches for comparison.
     

    Jared Crossley , of New Mexico Tech                       

    works with Michael Rupen
    on

    Binary Star Systems with a Compact Primary

    Binary star systems with a compact primary (black hole or neutron star) occasionally undergo extremely luminous X-ray flares, due either to a sudden outburst in the mass loss of the secondary, or an instability in the accretion disk which mediates the transfer of mass from the secondary to the primary. At the same time these X-ray transients may also produce radio-emitting relativistic jets. Generally after these episodes of very high brightness both the X-ray and the radio emission vanish, at least to the sensitivity of short monitoring observations. There are however a few counter-examples, which maintain residual radio emission long after the initial fireworks; these include V404 Cyg, CI Cam, and X1748-288, which may be related to such long-lived sources as SS433 and Cygnus X-3. One of the key questions is whether X-ray transients in general retain low-luminosity radio jets, and whether those jets deposit significant energy into the interstellar medium. This summer we intend co-adding our monitoring observations of a number of these sources, to see whether much deeper integrations detect either a residual, very faint core, or some indication that previous outbursts have left behind radio lobes or shock waves, as seen for example in the remnant surrounding SS433.  

    Claudia Cyganowski , of Harvard University

    works with Miller Goss
    on

    A Neutral Hydrogen Image of the Galactic Center Region

    This project involves the analysis of the 5 field galactic center HI mosaic . This is a project observed during the 2001 CnB and DnC arrays. The members of the team are Lang ( U MAss ), Zhao ( CfA) , Sung Kim ( CfA ) and Goss ( NRAO ). The images of the five field mosaic were made using the MIRIAD last October during a visit by Kim and Lang . The quality of the data is excellent ; the angular resolution is 15 arc sec and the velocity resolution is 2.5 km/s over a velocity range of about 310 km/s. The main goal of the analysis is to investigate the physical nature of the high velocity HI absorption gas in the galactic center region. The distance of many of the continuum components can be determinded using the pattern of HI absorption .
     

    Katie Devine , of Carleton College

    works with Crystal Brogan
    on

    A Low Frequency Survey of the Inner Galactic Plane

    Data reductions have been completed at 74 and 330 MHz for three fields in the A,B,C, & D configurations. However, the330 MHz data only cover the inner 4 degrees of the 12 degree 74 MHz fields. In order to more fully sample these fields at 330 MHz we plan to augment our survey with archival data (permission from the respective PIs has already been obtained). In addition, we will be obtaining GMRT data at 150/235/610 MHz in May toward two subfields within the survey region. It is also possible that we will have B-config. VLA data toward a fourth field by summer.

    The student would spend approximately half of the time learning to reduce either the archival or GMRT low frequency data and the rest of the summer picking either some subregion or subset of objects to fully analyze. The possibilities for study range from Galactic supernova remnants and HII regions, to extragalactic steep spectrum objects. Given the wealth of data contained in the survey, the student will be able to obtain a publication from their work.


    Melissa Douthit , of Calif. St. Univ. / San Marcos                       

    works with Tim Cornwell
    on

    A Glish Client to Enable Translation of Glish Records to/from XML

    NRAO uses the Glish scripting language for several key applications ranging from telescope control to astronomical data reduction. Glish is a scripting language which, together with a related C++ library, makes it very easy to develop distributed, loosely coupled, applications. The C++ library implements a "software bus" which allows applications to easily be distributed across a heterogeneous network. The scripting language itself is a vector oriented calculator with language constructs designed for control of asynchronous events. It allows the user to control and connect processes attached to the "software bus". We plan to develop a Glish client to enable translation of Glish records to and from XML. This work is motivated by the requirement to serialize Glish records and objects, as needed for persistence and interchange.


    Therese Fukuda , of University of Denver
    works with Athol Kemball
    on

    VLBA Monitoring of the SiO Maser Emission in the Carbon Star S Perseus


    Ms. Fukuda will be reducing a lenghtly series of VLBA monitoring observations of the v=1, J=1-0 SiO maser emission towards the late-type star S Per. These data form a complementary set to the regular monitoring of TX Cam, and have been taken with the primary purpose of exploring the near-circumstellar kinematics and dynamics of the extended atmosphere in a larger sample of late-type stars. The data reduction for these datasets is semi-automated as it needs to be highly uniform across observing epoch. John Kelly (REU) U of Virginia Henrique Schmitt

    John Kelly , of University of Virginia                       

    works with Henrique Schmitt
    on

    Radio and optical imaging of a complete sample of Seyfert galaxies

    This project will use new and archival VLA A-configuration 3.5cm data, as well as DSS optical images of Seyfert galaxies. This data will be combined with previously published results of another 124 sources, to create a database for a complete sample of Seyfert galaxies, selected from a mostly isotropic property, their infrared 60 microns luminosities. This sample avoids the selection effects present in other samples, and is not biased towards one Seyfert type with higher luminosities than the other. This dataset will be used to test problems related to the Unified Model, like the size of the radio emission in Seyfert 1's and Seyfert 2's, their 3.5cm continuum luminosities, the effect of the host galaxy inclination on the detection of broad lines, as well as to study the orientation of jets relative to their host galaxies axes. The student will work on the reduction and analysis of the radio data, and in comparing the properties of the two types of galaxies.


    Brian Metzger , of University of Iowa                       

    works with Dale Frail
    on

    The Gamma Ray Burster Program at the VLA

    The student will use GRBs as a test bed for an "end-to-end" data processing system. This has several elements in it, some of which have prototypes already. One needs to be able to read a GRB position off the Web, automatically write an observe file, and send it to the VLA. One needs to archive the observe file, operators log and the FITS file. One also needs to further develop the data reduction pipeline, so that at the end a user can access a searchable Web-based database of the observing run and its "products" (images, data, logs, etc). Daniel Perley Cornell

    Daniel Perley , of Cornell University

    works with Athol Kemball
    on

    TBD

    Description unavailable.


    Karen Peterson , of Yale University                       

    works with Travis Rector
    on

    HI 21 Absorption Towards the Bright, Compact Quasar 3C 232

    Ms. Peterson will work on a VLBA spectral line project to image the HI 21 absorption towards the bright, compact quasar 3C 232, for the purpose of mapping the parsec-scale spatial structure of a halo gas cloud 10 kpc above the plane of the nearby, edge-on galaxy NGC 3067. This work will address the question of whether the absorbing gas is uniform over 5pc or it is in small ~1pc clumps. The spatial structure, along with the velocity of the gas will be used to accurately determine the temperature and density of the cloud. The VLBA observations for this project will be completed this January. The student will work with me to reduce the continuum and HI maps. Collaborators Chris Carilli and Greg Taylor will also provide assistance.


    Andreea Petric , of Columbia University

    works with Chris Carilli
    on

    Radio and Millimeter Observations of High Redshift QSOs

    To be described.


    Lindsey Pollack , of Berkeley                       

    works with Greg Taylor
    on

    BL Lacs with Sheaths like in J1058+0133

    The Caltech-Jodrell Bank Flat-spectrum (CJF) sample consists of 293 flat-spectrum extragalactic sources. The CJF sample is designed to integrate the bulk of our existing VLBI survey observations (PR, CJ1, CJ2) into a large, homogeneous, database for statistical studies of a broad range of astrophysical and cosmological issues. Along with Rene Vermeulen and Silke Britzen I have been monitoring these sources to do a motion statistics study. In the course of the monitoring we have obtained polarimetry for about two thirds of the sources in CJF. There are a number of studies possible with such a large sample. For example looking at fractional polarization as a function of source type (BL Lac, Quasar, CSO, etc). The data are all calibrated, but some editing and self-calibration may be necessary.

    Green Bank, West Virginia (NRAO 100m and Other Telescopes)

    Students conducting their research at the NRAO Green Bank Site in West Virginia included the students in the list below, along with others. The program at Green Bank is under the direction of Dr. Ron Maddalena .
     
     

    2002 Calendar of Events -- West Virginia

    The following links to the scheduled activities for the GB students.


    Jeyhan Kartaltepe , of Colgate University                       

    works with Toney Minter
    on

    Rotation Measures of Radio Sources

    About 40 sources have been observed in a 10 by 10 degree region of the sky with the VLA in order to determine the rotation measures (RMs) of these sources. The summer student will work on calibrating and imaging the data to determine the RMs of these sources. This data will then be used, along with Halpha data from the same region of the imaging the data to determine the RMs of these sources. This data will then be used, along with Halpha data from the same region of the sky, to deduce properties of the galactic magnetic field in the observed region.

    Brian Kent , of West Virginia University                   
    works with Jim Braatz
    on

    OH Megamasers in Galactic Nuclei


    We have used the Green Bank Telescope to search for OH megamasers in ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs). Approximately 104 OH megamasers (OHMs)rrently known (Darling & Giovanelli 2002). This project surveyed for OH megamasers with unscheduled telescope time on the GBT and provided useful data to the astronomical community. The data will be used in current efforts to calibrate the OH luminosity function and relate it to the far-inrafred luminosity. In addition, we hope to add to the study of merger rates of galaxies, which can be measured more readily with OH megamasers. Source candidates were chosen from the Point Source Catalog redshift survey (PSCz) based on an FIR luminosity greater than 10^11.4 solar luminosities and a redshift of z < 0.25. Forty-seven candidates were surveyed, and ten new OHMs were detected.

    Tamara Kjonaas , of DePauw University
    works with Dana Balser
    on

    Observations of 3He in Planetary Nebulae


      The rare isotope of helium, 3He, is an important diagnostic of Big Bang nucleosynthesis (BBNS) and for element production in low-mass stars. Its abundance can be inferred from observations of the 8665 GHz hyperfine line of 3He+. 3He should be produced in significant quantities by stars of 1-2 solar masses. Chemical evolution calculations including this 3He source are in strong disagreement with observations of 3He in HII regions. However, there has been mounting evidence that suggests that low-mass stars do not produce significant quantities of 3He and that the the measurements of 3He in HII regions are probing primordial abundances. So far 3He has been detected in only one planetary nebula (PN), NGC 3242, with the MPIfR 100m telescope providing observational evidence that at least one object produced significant amounts of 3He. Additional observations are desired. Observations of 3He+ in the PNs NGC6572 and J320 have been made with the VLA. The summer project would be to reduce and analyze the data using primarily AIPS++. Also we have been granted GBT observing time to in part measure 3He+ in PNe (GBT02A-041). If time is scheduled during the summer period the student would be involved in observing and reducing the data.
     

    Michael Lacasse , of West Virginia University                   
    works with Amy Shelton
    on

    Antenna Test Range Monitor and Control Software


     
     


    Zachary Manganello , of Middlebury College   

    works with Jeff Acree
    on

    NRAO Green Bank Interference Protection Group (IPG) Studies


      The NRAO Green Bank Interference Protection Group (IPG) is responsible for facilitating the management of the local radio spectrum in a region known as the National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ). The following proposed summer student or teacher tasks are intended to support that mission. The NRQZ Administration task is the top priority, the extent to which the other tasks may be pursued will be determined by the amount of remaining time. 1. NRQZ ADMINISTRATION Using geographic and frequency data from FCC applications, perform computer aided propagation studies, to determine the maximum power that may be transmitted in the direction of the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) for a proposed transmitter location. As a prerequisite to running propagation studies, the student or teacher will examine and interpret topographical data to verify site location and elevation. Transmitter site visits may also be required. 2. SPECTRUM MONITORING AND RFI HUNTING / MITIGATION Given a list of known Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) frequencies, use the IPG spectrum monitoring assets, FCC data bases, internet, ect. to identify the source. Update the EMI/RFI database. Assist IPG members with on-the-spot "RFI hunting" and follow-up mitigation procedures. 3. EMI/RFI DATABASE Develop an automated, searchable database for astronomers and others to use in the identification of RFI Load the database with the currently available RFI data.
     


    Chris Orban , of University of Illinois   

    works with Glen Langston
    on

    GBT Observations to Search for Extra-Solar Planets


     All magnetized planets in our solar system emit intense cyclotron maser radiation. Like Jupiter, the recently discovered extra-solar planets are probably magnetized. If in addition, there is a source of energetic (keV) electrons in their magnetospheres, it is likely that extra-solar planets are also cyclotron-maser emitters. The search and study of planets is a priority of the Millennium Astronomy Review (2000, {\it National Academy of Sciences press}) and radio astronomy can make a significant contribution to this study. Bastian, Dulk and Leblanc have made a sensitive observations, without success, but superior time and frequency resolution of the GBT spectrometer, more sensitive observations are now possible. We have proposed observations for a large number of planets, in order to find those with sufficient magnetic field strengths to allow detection. Since cyclotron maser emission from Jupiter is episodic, long observations may be required to detect Extra-solar planets. We propose to first survey all nearby planets, making three 1000 second observations on each system. For each short period ($< 5$ days), we will make one observation near orbit apogee and one near perigee.
     


    Brian Tandy , of University of Houston    

    works with Dave Parker
    on

    The Green Bank Telescope Laser System


      This project involves work on field testing, lab experiments, and data reduction.
     


     
     

    Tucson, Arizona (NRAO VLBA Telescope and ALMA Development)

    Four summer students conduct research at the NRAO Tucson site in Arizona during the summer of 2002. The program in Tucson is under the direction of Jeff Mangum. As the NRAO offices are across the street from KPNO/NOAO offices, the group shares in the activities of the NOAO REU program there. For more on their activities see the Tucson Student Page .
     
     

     

    In addition to the general activities carried out at the KPNO/NOAO offices, the NRAO and KPNO/NOAO REU students participate in group activities organized by the NRAO staff.

    One activity will be a lecture series on millimeter wavelength astronomy given by members of the NRAO scientific staff. Four lectures were given, as listed below. Students also visited the Array Operations Center and Very Large Array in Socorro, NM.
     
     
     
     

    2002 NRAO Tucson Summer Student Calendar of Events


     To be determined.

    The following are sketches describing the work to be done by each REU student at NRAO Tucson.
     
     

     Sarah Flynn , of State University of New York at Stony Brook
    works with Jeff Mangum

    Molecular Outflow Properties Toward Protostars

    Ms. Flynn will work on the analysis of CO 2-1 measurements of the molecular outflow properties toward protostellar and young stellar candidates in the Ophiuchus and Taurus molecular cloud regions.
     

    Selby Cull , of Hampshire College         
    works with Simon Radford
    on

    The ALMA Site

    Since late 1997, tipping radiometers have measured the submillimeter (350 um) atmospheric transparency at Chajnantor, Mauna Kea, and the South Pole. Data from these instruments were edited and processed to produce a uniform database. Overall observing conditions and diurnal and seasonal variations in conditions at the three sites were compared. Results will appear in a journal paper.
     
     


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