********************************************************************* ************** OLD!!!! SIP projects from summer 2012 *************** ********************************************************************* ====================== ASTRONOMY/ASTROPHYSICS ====================== Title: Modeling the Colors of Planets *** 1 student will be selected *** Mentor: Prof Jonathan Fortney The project involves modeling the colors of planets. We envision a research project on the boundary between science and public outreach. The student would take spectra of planets---real solar system data, models of known extrasolar planets, and models of imagined planets, a create a computer code to convert these spectra to the colors as the human eye would see them. Reflected light off of planets, thermal emission from planets, and "sunsets" as seen on planets, will be modeled and investigated. Observational data are available for 10-40 objects in the solar system, and for over a dozen extrasolar planets. Synthetic (model) data will come from both 1D and 3D models of planets, as a function of time, so movies can also be created. It would be useful for the student to have a strong programming background. Work on running new models of atmospheres to generate spectra, using codes Professor Fortney has developed, is also likely. -------------------------------- Title: Do Habitable Planets Orbit White Dwarf Stars? *** 1 student will be selected *** Mentor: Prof Greg Laughlin It has recently been pointed out that hot, dense white dwarf stars might provide an unusual "habitable zone" that could allow an Earth-like extrasolar planet to maintain Earth-like conditions for billions of years. This research project will study this idea in detail, and will assess the prospects for detecting such planets using the transit method. In particular, we will study how the evolution of binary star systems (which includes substantial mass loss) can lead to the presence of planets in highly unconventional orbits. -------------------------------- Title: Abundance Peculiarities in Globular Clusters *** 1 student will be selected *** Mentors: Ms Katie Hamren and Prof Graeme Smith Globular clusters are odd objects. They are gravitationally bound conglomerates of hundreds of thousands of some of the oldest stars in the Milky Way galaxy. All of the stars in a given cluster have to a close approximation very similar ages. One puzzling thing that astronomers have found is that two stars of similar brightnesses and sizes in the same cluster, which one might otherwise expect to be very similar, can often show very large differences in the abundances of certain chemical elements. Astronomers who have studied this phenomenon have often tended to concentrate on either the element group carbon-nitrogen-oxygen or a somewhat heavier group of elements sodium-magnesium-aluminum. And there is a lot of published data about the behavior of these elements in astronomical literature. What is not often done is to compare how the behavior or nitrogen (and/or carbon) on one hand compares with the behavior of oxygen, sodium, and aluminum (O, Na, Al) on the other. But there are enough data in the literature to do this. We are looking for a student who can become familiar with the literature of this subject (which is available through the internet), and construct lists of stars for which abundance data can then be compiled for a variety of clusters from different published papers. The goal is to see in particular how nitrogen (and/or carbon) vary relative to O, and/or Na, and/or Al. The patterns between different elements hold some of our major clues to what has produced these abundance differences. -------------------------------- Title: High-Resolution Integrated Light Spectra of Star Clusters (3 projects - see individual titles below) *** Upto 3 students will be selected *** Mentors: Prof Rebecca Bernstein and Dr Janet Colucci The mentors have developed a technique that allows them to measure the ages and metal content of globular clusters (dense clusters of stars) in distant galaxies in order to understand how they formed and evolved, as well as their relationship to their parent galaxies. This summer they would like to work with one or more students to further develop this method in 3 distinct projects. The student or students can work on any one of these that they find appealing. A. Integrated Light Calcium Triplet Measurements The Calcium triplet absorption lines (8498.02, 8542.09,8662.14 Angstroms) are strong spectral features that are easy to measure in globular clusters. The strength of these lines correlates well with the overall metal content ("metallicity") of the stars, and therefore provide an easy way to measure metallicity without looking at the whole spectrum. The mentors have a library of high resolution, integrated light spectra of globular clusters with metallicities that have been accurately measured already. This project involves measuring the Calcium triplet in these spectra in order test how accurately that feature alone could be used to measure the metallicity of the GCs from lower quality spectra. B. Dual Stellar Population Integrated Light Spectral Synthesis Massive, globular star clusters have long been thought to be prototypical simple stellar populations, in that they formed coevally out of the same material and therefore have the same age and metal content. However, it has become clear recently that massive star clusters can in fact contain multiple stellar populations that have distinct ages and different abundances of metals. Sometimes the differences between the multiple populations are small, and sometimes very large. In this project, the student will create a library of synthesized globular cluster integrated light spectra of two stellar populations instead of one. These dual-population spectra will be compared to the single-population spectra to identify features that are useful for diagnosing the presence of dual-populations. C. Velocity Dispersion Measurements of Star Clusters in Dwarf Galaxies Spectral absorption lines in the integrated light spectra of massive star clusters are Doppler broadened by the velocities of stars within the cluster. The velocities of the stars are related to the total mass within the cluster, so by measuring the widths of spectral lines in integrated spectra of clusters, one can infer the mass of the cluster. The masses of star clusters are interesting because they help us understand how star clusters form and evolve when combined with the other information we have (metallicities and ages). In this project the student will measure the velocity dispersions of massive star clusters in Local Group Dwarf galaxies from high resolution integrated light spectra. These measurements will be used to calculate total cluster masses and mass-to-light ratios, which can be studied in relation to other cluster properties like age and metal content in order to learn about star cluster evolution. -------------------------------- Title: Oxygen Abundance of HII Regions *** 1 student will be selected *** Mentor: Dr Jess Werk The student will map the oxygen distribution in the outermost regions of star-forming disk galaxies. In order to do so, the student will work with the mentor on the analysis of the spectra of very faint, outlying HII regions -- measuring their emission-line strengths, and then comparing these measurements to models and empirical calibrations that will allow the determination of the overall gas-phase oxygen abundance. A combination of the software packages IDL and IRAF will be used to do the analysis. This technique allows one to place on constraints on the efficiency with which gas moves around in a galaxy -- one of the most important questions facing astronomers who study galaxy evolution. In broad terms, this project will address topics such as: HII regions, star-formation, and galaxy evolution and chemodynamics. -------------------------------- Title: The Kinematics of Andromeda's Stellar Disk, Ionized Gas Disk, and Neutral Hydrogen Disk *** Upto 3 students will be selected *** Mentors: Ms Claire Dorman, Dr Kirsten Howley (LLNL), and Prof Raja GuhaThakurta The Andromeda galaxy (M31) is the nearest large galaxy neighbor of the Milky Way. The mentors have assembled a vast spectroscopic data set in M31 using the Keck telescope, the world's largest optical telescope, and the powerful DEIMOS spectrograph. The student(s) will work on the measurement of radial velocities from emission lines associated with the diffuse ionized gas disk of M31. Stellar radial velocities have already been measured by the mentors but these measurements will need to be analyzed further in order to measure the rotation curve of M31's stellar disk. These measurements will be compared to existing measurements of M31's HI (neutral atomic hydrogen) disk to better understand the properties of M31's so-called "thin" and "thick" disks. The study will constrain the role of physical mechanisms such as satellite accretion and heating in the formation and evolution of galactic disks. -------------------------------- Title: Using the Magnesium 8808A Line to Measure [Mg/H] in Red Giant Stars (###) *** 1 student will be selected *** Mentors: Dr Evan Kirby (Caltech), Mr Nick Taber, and Prof Raja GuhaThakurta This project will provide insight into the chemical enrichment cycles that occur within dwarf satellite galaxies of the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxy. Mg is a relatively light so-called "alpha" element. The Mg seen in these red giant stars was produced in earlier generations of massive stars and dispersed into interstellar medium via powerful Type II supernova explosions. The student will develop and apply an empirical calibration relation between the strength of the Mg I 8807 Angstrom absorption line and the [Mg/H] ratio. -------------------------------- Title: The Brightness Profile of the Milky Way's Outer Stellar Halo *** 1 student will be selected *** Mentors: Prof Raja GuhaThakurta, Dr Paul Thorman (UC Davis), and Dr Alis Deason (Cambridge Univ, UK) Very little is known about the structure and dynamics of the outer regions of our Milky Way galaxy. This region is thought to contain important clues about the formation and evolutionary history of the Milky Way through the cannibalization of smaller dwarf galaxies. The student will analyze deep color-magnitude diagrams from the Deep Lens Survey data base to filter out background galaxies, measure the surface density of a clean sample main sequence turnoff stars as a function of apparent magnitude, and make detailed comparisons to the Besancon Galactic model. Another data set, the four "deep" fields from the Canada-France-Hawaii Legacy Survey may be analyzed as well. -------------------------------- Title: How do Galaxies Grow in their Old Age? *** 1 student will be selected *** Mentors: Dr Guillermo Barro, Dr Jon Trump, Prof Sandra Faber Red elliptical galaxies are thought to be the final stage in the life-cycles of galaxies. They are the most massive galaxies in the nearby universe, and appear red because they have ceased forming stars. But how they become so large, continuing to grow even after their star formation dies, remains poorly understood. We aim to study the close environments of very distant galaxies, when the universe was only 2 billion years old, to determine if galaxy collisions play a key role in creating the most massive and oldest galaxies. This work will make use of very high quality data products developed by the astronomers in the CANDELS survey, including the visual analysis of deepest and highest resolution optical and near-infrared imaging data ever taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. -------------------------------- Title: Lick Observatory and the Moon (an astronomy-themed design/graphics oriented project) *** 1 student will be selected *** Mentor: Prof Graeme Smith Lick Observatory was founded in the 1880s, and one of earliest researches done at the observatory was photography of the Moon. Starting in 1888 there have been several campaigns to use Lick Observatory to extensively photograph the Moon. Yet this heritage of lunar photograph is not well appreciated today. We are looking for a student with interest and abilities in computer graphics, imaging processing, and graphics design to engage in several projects that would showcase this "lunar heritage" of Lick Observatory. Some of the activities here could include: (i) Create a digital labelled lunar map based on old Lick photographs of the Moon. (ii) Help do some research on the history of the Lick lunar photographs. (iii) There are a number of craters on the Moon that have been named after Lick Observatory astronomers. Create an atlas of these craters based on photographs taken by both manned and unmanned space missions to the Moon. This would also make for a nice wall poster and could be developed into a powerpoint presentation. (iv) Create a digital photo album of some of the best of the Lick lunar photographs. In addition to allowing a student to exercise some creative design work, the student would learn about the different surface features of the Moon, including the different types of craters, and could design products such as powerpoint presentations that become a part of public displays at the Mount Hamilton visitors center. ====================== ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY: INSTRUMENTATION, OPERATIONS, EDUCATION ====================== Title: Observatory Operations Optimization (###) *** 1 student may be selected *** Mentors: Drs Elinor Gates, Paul Lynam, and Bryant Grigsby In-situ optimization of observatory operations by engaging with electronic, electrical, mechanical and software engineers, educators and astronomers seeking to enhance efficiency of telescopes, instruments, detectors and public outreach activities. Opportunities to characterize, rationalize and document existing facilities, contribute to new facilities, process and inspect astronomical research data, develop feasibility studies, inspect archives, and create data products. Dependent upon interests and capabilities, potential hands-on hardware support, practical observing, data acquisition, reduction, processing, manipulation, and analysis experience. Outcomes include an understanding of observatory operations, selected astrophysical techniques, astronomical research, data processing and educational/outreach initiatives. * Note: Participation in this project will require the student to find their own means of commuting up to the Mount Hamilton station of Lick Observatory on a regular basis. Students who find this commuting requirement to be feasible and who are strongly interested in this flavor of work are encouraged to contact Dr Paul Lynam (plynam@ucolick.org). Students who meet the initial elegiblity criteria will possibly be then asked to visit Mount Hamilton before final selection. ====================== PHYSICS ====================== Title: Comparison of Topological Insulators and High Temperature Superconductors *** Upto 2 students will be selected *** Mentor: Prof Gey-Hong (Sam) Gweon Recently, physicists have discovered a new phase of quantum matter, distinct from both an insulator and a metal. This new phase is the so-called topological insulator. Providing a two-dimensional metallic state that can be probed easily by angle resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES), topological insulators offer a potential reference system to other central topics of materials science, such as high temperature superconductors, in addition to being an extremely interesting class of materials by themselves. In this work, we will learn what topological insulators are, and how their characteristics probed by ARPES are similar in some ways to high temperature superconductors, but different in some important ways. ====================== OCEANOGRAPHY ====================== Title: Krill Population Dynamics in the Central California Pelagic Ecosystem (###) *** Upto 2 students will be selected *** Mentor: Prof Baldo Marinovic Euphausiids, or krill, are shrimp-like planktonic crustaceans found throughout the earth's oceans. Krill form a key link between primary producers and higher level consumers in oceanic foodwebs worldwide. Most marine species are only one or two steps away from krill, that is to say they are either prey to krill or predators of krill. There are currently 82 described species of krill and, while they can be found in almost all marine habitats, krill are especially abundant in cool, productive waters. Most species of krill are capable of directly feeding upon phytoplankton, the unicellular salad of the sea, and as such they are able to directly tap into the base of the food web. Krill in turn make this energy available to a wide variety of predators including other zooplankton, fish, seabirds, and mammals. This includes the blue whale, which is the largest animal to have ever lived on this planet, and which feeds almost exclusively on krill. Krill population dynamics are strongly influenced by local oceanographic phenomena such as coastal upwelling as well as larger scale processes such as El Nino/La Ninas. Because krill play such a crucial role in the food web off the coast of California, an understanding of their inter-annual population dynamics is necessary to effectively manage this valuable ecosystem. Interns for this project will assist in the analysis of krill data collected during the annual springtime midwater trawl survey conducted by the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Santa Cruz (SWFSC-SC) Lab. Students will learn to perform a variety of analytical tasks including: - Identifying and enumerating krill species collected in trawl samples for the 2011 and 2012 midwater trawl surveys - Conducting length frequency analyses of krill samples using state of the art digital imaging technology - Assisting in the implementation and analysis of predation experiments involving fish predators of krill In addition, students will develop their own research project during the first half of the internship on a topic related to this project. ====================== MICROBIOLOGY & ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY ====================== Title: Extremophilic Microbes in Mars Analog Environments (###) *** 1 student will be selected *** Mentors: Prof Chad Saltikov and Ms Alison Conrad The study of life in extreme environments helps us identify the possible habitats on other planetary bodies and predict the diversity of life that could exist there. Specifically, we are investigating microbial life in Mars analog environments like Mono Lake (CA) and Big Soda Lake (NV), both of which are arsenic rich hypersaline alkaline lakes. Recently, we isolated a novel extremophilic microbe that requires arsenic and sunlight for its growth. The student working on this project will help us characterize this microbe through bioinformatic, physiology, and genetic experiments. The goal is to identify and characterize genes that allow the microbe to grow photosynthetically with arsenic. Our study of microbial life in Mars analogs will provide a database of possible biosignatures for the types of metabolisms that may be possible on an early Mars. ====================== COMPUTER ENGINEERING ====================== Title: Campus Transportation Network iPhone Application (###) *** Upto 2 students will be selected *** Mentor: Prof Katia Obraczka, Mr Kerry Veenstra The Internet Research Group (i-NRG) at UCSC's Baskin School of Engineering is developing a system that aims at improving the UCSC campus transportation network (e.g., campus shuttles). To this end we developed a tracking system that monitors the campus vehicles during their daily operation. The system logs, in real-time, information such as current vehicle route and location. This information is kept on a database. For this project, the student will develop an iPhone application that will consult the database and display, using Google maps, current location and route information overlaid atop the UCSC campus map. ====================== *** March 31, 2012 update: - We are working to see if we can add more STEM related projects: possibly a few more in astronomy, engineering/robotics, and hopefully ones in areas of biology, chemistry, and physics. ======================