email: david at ucolick.org

phone: 831-459-3809

Research Interests:

My research interest is centered on using moderate to high-resolution spectroscopy to perform abundance analysis of very metal-poor field stars. I currently am working on a sample of high-resolution spectra from HIRES on Keck with -2<[Fe/H]<-4, from which I have measured from CNO and up through the neutron-capture elements. I am also working on a program using the Lick high-precision planet finding setup to monitor a sample of metal-poor stars in an attempt to constrain their companion fraction, and studies of M5 and M92 to look for signs of abundance variations and evolution. In general I'm interested in using stellar spectroscopy as a tool to constrain theories of Galaxy formation, star formation, and supernovae models.

Astronomy Links

• UCO Lick: The home page of the University of California Observatories, includes links to the Mt. Hamilton and Keck Observatory sites.
• Astronomy Picture of the Day: A great site to see random astronomical images along with full explanations.
• Simbad Query Form
• NASA ADS Query Form
• NIST Atomic Spectra Database: Database of atomic line parameters.
• MOOG, Chris Sneden's LTE spectral synthesis and analysis code.
• Goddard's IDL Astronomy User's Library.
• An excellent explanation and intoduction to obtaining stellar properties from spectra, by Michael Briley.
• Night Sky Live: All sky cameras from various observatories.
• Mauna Kea weather status
• International Astronomy Meetings, from the CFH.