Experience
BeaverWorks Summer Institute: Unmanned Aerial Systems and Synthetic Aperture Radar
Investigating the Changes in Flux Density of Methanol Masers in the Orion Nebula
Mentor(s): Dr. Esteban Araya, Western Illinois University;
Collaborator(s): Kenneth VanZuiden, Western Illinois University; Gabriel Sojka, Western Illinois University
Abstract: The VLA Orion-A Large Survey (VOLS) collaboration used the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) telescope to observe a methanol maser in the Orion Nebula 20 times from April 3rd, 2022 to July 1st, 2022, corresponding to 20 different epochs of data. This study aimed to characterize this methanol maser in terms of flux density consistency, fast variability, and light wave polarization on both a short-term and long-term scale using these data, forming three objectives. The flux density was consistent for 17 epochs and inconsistent for 3 epochs based on the measurement errors, insinuating consistent calibration between pointings for most epochs. Within an epoch, the scans generally slightly differed in flux density over a 60-80 minute period, with mild evidence of fast variability in certain epochs. We saw no linear or circular polarization in any of the epochs. However, we saw many discrepancies in specific epochs such as offset pointing averages in epoch 2, an offset scan in epoch 3, negative sidelobes in a few epochs, and a software error in epoch 11. Through this study of multiple 2022 epochs, the maser’s behavior on a short time scale was analyzed more accurately than previous studies looking at epoch averages.
Currently contributing to a paper for publication.
Prototyping New Systems for White Light Solar Flare Observation and Data Collection
Mentor(s): Dr. Corinne Brevik, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Christopher Mandrell, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Abstract: White light solar flares are violent reconnection events of the Sun's magnetic field that can emit a wide range of the wavelengths of visible light. These flares can be powerful enough to create significant infrastructural disruptions due to their geomagnetic effects and thus are a focus of heliophysical research. This study details the composition and analysis of three days of solar data on June 9th, June 10th, and June 20th. We also describe the development of a new data collection system through automation of the observatory, along with the problems faced in both data collection and development. We found no white light solar flares on the days we took data, but white light solar flares occurred on June 17th and June 19th, illustrating the need for more consistent data collection systems to reduce the chance of missing a flare event. The development of more automated data collection systems means we can increase the efficiency of our observations and possibly observe more white light solar flares in future studies.