REU Projects for Summer 2008
at MIT Haystack Observatory
- Analyzing Early Data from the Murchison Widefield Array: Exploring Astronomical Radio Sources With Data From the MWA 1
- Analyzing Early Data from the Murchison Widefield Array: Analysis and Simulations in Support of Early Solar Observations from the MWA 1
- Development of a Low Cost Spectrometer for the Study of Ozone and Hydroxyl Radical (OH) in the Mesosphere
- New Methods for Precision Radio Imaging
- Effects of Geomagnetic Storms on the Ionosphere: High-latitude Ionospheric Investigations 2
- Effects of Geomagnetic Storms on the Ionosphere: Space-based Views of Ionospheric Storms 2
- Seasonal Variations in Mid-latitude Lower Thermospheric Parameters
- Annual Variations of the Upper Atmosphere: IPY Observations
- UHF Power Amplifier Design
2Part of a coordinated project. Please read this for more information.
- Exploring Astronomical Radio Sources With Data From the MWA
- Analysis and Simulations in Support of Early Solar Observations From the MWA
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Analyzing Early Data from the Murchison Widefield Array: Exploring Astronomical Radio Sources With Data From the MWA
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Analyzing Early Data from the Murchison Widefield Array: Analysis and Simulations in Support of Early Solar Observations From the MWA
-
Development of a Low Cost Spectrometer for the Study of Ozone and Hydroxyl Radical (OH) in the Mesosphere
-
New Methods for Precision Radio Imaging
-
Effects of Geomagnetic Storms on the Ionosphere: High-latitude Ionospheric Investigations
-
Effects of Geomagnetic Storms on the Ionosphere: Space-based Views of Ionospheric Storms
-
Seasonal Variations in Mid-latitude Lower Thermospheric Parameters
-
Annual Variations of the Upper Atmosphere: IPY Observations
-
UHF Power Amplifier Design
Team project:
Analyzing Early Data from the Murchison Widefield Array
Overview:
This project will be a team effort, divided into two sub-projects:
Description:
The Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) is a revolutionary new low-frequency radio telescope under construction in the outback of western Australia. It will consist of 512 antenna "tiles", forming a high precision imaging array in the 80-300 MHz frequency range, and is scheduled for physical completion early in 2009. An initial subset of 32 antennas is expected to be in full operation by the second quarter of 2008, and an opportunity exists for students to help in the acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data from this 32-antenna system.
The low-frequency sky is very poorly explored, yet heavily populated with radio sources of many different kinds. The 32-antenna system will have ample sensitivity to detect a wide variety of astrophysical phenomena, and the potential for scientific surprises from early data is high. The data from the 32-antenna system will also be used to develop an understanding of the performance characteristics of the new instrumentation, and to devise effective techniques for data handling, calibration and editing.
For further information on the MWA, visit the website at www.haystack.mit.edu/ast/arrays/mwa/.
Students should indicate their interest in one or both of these sub-projects when submitting an application to this REU program.
| Mentors: | |
| Dr. Colin J. Lonsdale | [clonsdale@haystack.mit.edu] |
| Dr. Roger J. Cappallo | [rcappallo@haystack.mit.edu] |
This sub-project will have the student analyzing early data from the MWA 32-tile system to explore a variety of radio sources. Possibilities include detection of transient radio sources of unknown origin, evaluation of broadband extragalactic radio source spectra, and measuring ionospheric disturbances with high precision. The student will assist with all aspects of data flow, from instrument to final product. The MWA is a cutting-edge development effort, and the applicant should be prepared to exercise initiative and flexibility. A good understanding of electricity and magnetism, plus strong software skills, will be assets.
| Mentors: | |
| Dr. Divya Oberoi | [doberoi@haystack.mit.edu] |
| Dr. Preethi Pratap | [ppratap@haystack.mit.edu] |
High spectral and temporal resolution interferometric imaging of the Sun, another strength of the MWA system, has rarely been possible. The 32 element system will be very well suited for studying some kinds of solar bursts and investigating their spectral, temporal and morphological evolution. The students are expected to be involved in analysis of solar observations and also be involved in simulations to understand observations. The simulations will be conducted using MIT Array Performance Simulator developed at Haystack. This sub-project's effort will be directed towards developing an understanding of the performance characteristics of the new instrumentation, and to devise effective techniques for data handling, calibration and editing. The student would assist with all aspects of data flow, from instrument to final product. Familiarity with basic plasma physics concepts and good software skills will be useful assets.
| Mentor: | |
| Dr. Alan E. E. Rogers | [arogers@haystack.mit.edu] |
Haystack Observatory has developed a very small radio telescope (VSRT) using 45 cm diameter direct TV dishes with their low noise block down converter feeds (LNBFs) which operate in the 11 - 13 GHz band. So far the VSRTs have been used to study the Sun using a USB 2.0 video grabber for digitizing the data. A single VSRT dish can also be used to measure the concentration of ozone in the mesosphere using the spectral line at 11.072 GHz but the line is very weak and a spectrometer using USB 2.0 video grabber is only about 20% efficient. The development of a more efficient spectrometer using a PCI bus analog to digital converter, GNU radio Universal Software Radio Peripheral or custom USB digitizer will make the line easy to observe in a relatively short integration time. This project is to develop control and data processing software to test various observing schemes aimed at reducing the systematic errors which dominate in the observations of weak signals. Tests of the performance will use the 11.072 GHz line of ozone and 13 GHz lines of OH. The 13 GHz lines of OH have not yet been detected in the earth's atmosphere but should be detectable with an improved spectrometer. Spectral lines from OH molecules are observed throughout our Galaxy but are difficult to interpret because they are highly non thermal and often appear as masers in the interstellar gas. If the lines can be observed in the atmosphere and are non thermal the measured population distributions can be compared with theoretical models under the relatively well known conditions in the mesosphere.
Students in EE with a background in hardware and software are encouraged to apply.
| Mentors: | |
| Dr. Vincent L. Fish | [vfish@haystack.mit.edu] |
| Dr. Colin J. Lonsdale | [clonsdale@haystack.mit.edu] |
Radio astronomers have been able to create high sensitivity, high resolution images of astronomical radio sources for decades, using arrays of radio dishes to synthesize giant apertures tens or even thousands of kilometers across. New arrays on the drawing board, such as the Square Kilometer Array (SKA), seek to go far beyond current instruments in sensitivity and dynamic range, however, and new techniques must be devised to reach the required levels of precision calibration and imaging. A particular effect, typically small enough to ignore in current arrays but a major problem for the SKA, is the instrumental response to radio sources outside the nominal field of view. Such responses corrupt datasets and limit imaging dynamic range. A promising new data processing algorithm has been developed to help address this.
The student will assist in testing and evaluation of this algorithm on both simulated and real radio astronomy array data. Observations of carefully selected radio sources with the MERLIN array in the UK will be made available for this purpose. Software will be modified and/or written to explore the behaviour of the algorithm under a variety of circumstances, and the results will be disseminated to the community through meetings and publications. The applicant should possess strong analytical and software skills. Prior experience with radio interferometry and associated techniques would be a plus.
Team project:
Effects of Geomagnetic Storms on the Ionosphere
Overview:
This project will be a team effort, divided into two sub-projects:
Description:
The charged portion of Earth's upper atmosphere, known as the ionosphere, undergoes dramatic changes during periods of geomagnetic storm activity driven in the coupled Sun-Earth system. In particular, the ionosphere can have material moved from low and mid latitudes to the edge of the auroral oval. This often takes the form of fast moving, greatly enhanced ionospheric density, with consequences not only for upper atmospheric physics but for space weather disruptions to communications and navigation systems.
We seek two student(s) to assist with observational data investigations focused on the mechanisms and conditions under which these dramatic changes occur. The project will involve statistical and event-based analysis of measurements from a variety of instruments.
These projects are most appropriate for undergraduates with an interest or desire to learn about space physics and atmospheric science. Basic knowledge of statistics and/or data analysis, along with software development within the UNIX working environment, would be desirable. Both projects will involve data retrieval, analysis, and visualization.
Students should indicate their interest in one or both of these sub-projects when submitting an application to this REU program.
| Mentors: | |
| Dr. Phil Erickson | [perickson@haystack.mit.edu] |
| Wiliam Rideout | [wrideout@haystack.mit.edu] |
This sub-project will focus primarily on ground-based observations. The primary data analysis activities will use the MIT Haystack MADRIGAL database, (http://www.openmadrigal.org), which contains large quantities of experimental ionospheric measurements. This student will focus on combining observations using ground-based (GPS total electron content, incoherent scatter radar, HF radar backscatter network) and space based (DMSP satellite) instrumental platforms. Data from experimental radar observations conducted specifically for this project with the MIT Millstone Hill (Westford, MA) and PFISR (Poker Flat, Alaska) incoherent scatter radar systems will also be incorporated.
| Mentors: | |
| Dr. Anthea Coster | [acoster@haystack.mit.edu] |
| William Rideout | [wrideout@haystack.mit.edu] |
This sub-project will focus primarily on analyzing space-based observations from the FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC constellation of satellites. The ground-based incoherent scatter radar measurements of the Millstone Hill and PFISR radars will provide background context. The focus of this study is to study ionospheric storm-time dynamics by incorporating new types of satellite data. FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC is a recently launched system of 6 satellites whose primary sensor is a GPS radio occultation receiver. The occultation technique enables measurements which contain high-resolution information about vertical gradients in the ionospheric electron density.
| Mentor: | |
| Larisa Goncharenko | [lgoncharenko@haystack.mit.edu] |
The International Heliophysical Year, which began on March 1, 2007, is a major international research effort designated to studying connections from the Earth to the Sun and interplanetary space. One of the Science Themes of the project is studies of coupling processes between the different atmospheric layers and their connection with the solar activity. The Millstone Hill incoherent scatter radar has collected a large database of ionospheric parameters in support of IHY activities and expects to make important contributions to this theme.
This project will focus on analysis of lower thermospheric (100-130 km) wind and temperature data collected by the Millstone Hill ISR. The goal of this project is to characterize seasonal variations in lower thermospheric winds and neutral temperature during current solar minimum under conditions of minimal geomagnetic activity. The analysis will include compiling seasonally averaged wind and temperature data as well as tidal decomposition, and comparison with previously reported seasonal averages obtained from multi-year data. A particular emphasis will be given to studies of daily and seasonal variability in data. Comparisons of tidal components (mean, diurnal, semidiurnal) with several models (GSWM, CMAM, TIMEGCM) is also envisioned as part of this study.
This project is appropriate for a student with background in data analysis and interest in space physics. Experience in Matlab and/or IDL is highly desirable.
| Mentors: | |
| Dr. John M. Holt | [jmh@haystack.mit.edu] |
| Dr. Shunrong Zhang | [shunrong@haystack.mit.edu] |
IPY, the International Polar Year, is a large scientific programme focused on the Arctic and the Antarctic from March 2007 to March 2009, involving over 200 projects, with thousands of scientists from over 60 nations examining a wide range of physical, biological and social research topics. Space research during IPY focuses on space itself, particularly solar processes that impact Earth's outer atmosphere, on making measurements of distant space from polar regions, and on the use of satellite sensors in space to monitor polar conditions and processes.
Incoherent scatter radars (ISRs) are the most powerful ground-based instrument for probing the Earth's upper atmosphere. A few ISRs, in particular MIT Millstone Hill radar in Westford, Mass, Poker Flat radar in Alaska, EISCAT Svalbard radar in the Arctic, and Sondrestrom radar in Greenland, are participating in the IPY observation. A large amount of data has been available for science analysis. This project will address annual ionospheric variations observed during the first year of IPY when solar activity is at its extremely low level. Some of the proposed research topics include annual variations at different heights of the ionosphere for different geographic locations, effects of solar activity variability, global atmospheric circulation, etc.
We seek a student to analysis data from this IPY for various annual variations. This project is most appropriate for an undergraduate with a background or interest in space physics, aeronomy, or atmospheric science. Experience in MATLAB and the UNIX working environment would be desirable.
| Mentor: | |
| Jim Marchese | [jmarchese@haystack.mit.edu] |
Incoherent Scatter Radar (ISR) systems are among the most powerful modern radars. They typically operate in the UHF frequency range and are used to study the Earth's ionosphere and near space environment. These radar systems transmit and receive using large antennas, megawatt class high power transmitters, and precision receivers. A key element of such a system is a high power UHF transmitter. For the Millstone Hill UHF radar system a high power klystron amplifier is used to generate the final radar signal. This amplifier must be provided with a powerful RF signal from a driver amplifier for it to generate the required power levels. To improve the operation of our UHF radar system we have been considering the development of a solid state UHF driver amplifier for our transmitter.
In this project we will investigate the design of a UHF solid state power amplifier module. We will implement an appropriate test setup and experiment with an existing solid state power module from the AMISR radar system which has recently been deployed. For application at Millstone Hill we will design, simulate, fabricate and test a custom UHF solid state power amplifier. This amplifier will operate at 440 MHz and provide wide bandwidth and high efficiency. It will also be integrated into a form factor which is appropriate for our use. The design will be fabricated and testing will be done using bench top test equipment. If the unit functions properly it will be tried in the radar system itself. This project is most appropriate for a electrical engineering or physics student with interest in radars or high power amplifiers and a basic knowledge of electronics, radio frequency signals, and electromagnetism.
Final projects will be selected based on matching student applicant capabilities and interests with those of the sponsoring staff members.
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