Physics Newsblog

Tag: Astrophysics

Extension Ceremony for Pierre Auger Observatory

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Professor Emeritus David Nitz

Emeritus and Research Professor David Nitz attended a formal ceremony held in November in Malargüe, Argentina, to recognize a 10-year extension to the international agreement governing the Pierre Auger Observatory.

The Pierre Auger Observatory is the world’s largest cosmic ray detector, covering an area of 3,000 square kilometers. Located in Malargüe, it is operated by a collaboration of more than 400 scientists from 17 countries. The aim of the observatory is the study of the highest energy particles of the universe — ultra-high energy cosmic rays.

Michigan Tech is one of only eight U.S. institutions of higher education to collaborate with the Pierre Auger Observatory — and the University plays a crucial role in the observatory according to Nitz.

At the social event following the extension’s signing, Nitz addressed the assembled funding agency representatives, invited dignitaries, and collaboration members. He expressed heartfelt thanks to all in attendance for making the journey that brought the observatory from an impossible dream to the facility that exists today, describing it as “a stellar example of international cooperation in science that transcends political and country boundaries.”

Nitz is one of the founding members of the Auger Collaboration, having been invited in 1991 by Alan Watson (Fellow of the Royal Society), and Nobel prize winner James Cronin to join the effort to establish the observatory. After Watson, he is the longest-serving member of the collaboration.

See the news release from the Auger Observatory for more details on the extension.

About the Physics Department

Physicists at Michigan Technological University help students apply academic concepts to real-world issues. Our physicists take on the big questions to discover how the universe works—from the smallest particles to the largest galaxies. The Physics Department offers three undergraduate degrees and three graduate degrees. Supercharge your physics skills to meet the demands of a technology-driven society at a flagship public research university powered by science, technology, engineering, and math. Graduate with the theoretical knowledge and practical experience needed to solve real-world problems and succeed in academia, research, and tomorrow’s high-tech business landscape.

Questions? Contact us at physics@mtu.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube for the latest happenings. Or read more at the Physics Newsblog.

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In Print: Testing the molecular cloud paradigm for ultra-high-energy gamma ray emission

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Portraits of 3 astrophysics graduate students
PhD Candiates Rhiannon Turner, Samuel Groetsch, and Mahsa Najafi, co-authors on a new paper in Astronomy & Astrophysics.

Graduate students and researchers from the Department of Physics are collaborators on a new paper published in Astronomy & Astrophysics.

Ph.D. candidate Rhiannon Turner is the paper’s lead author. Co-authors include Ph.D. candidates Samuel Groetsch and Mahsa Najafi, as well as Petra Huentemeyer and Xiaojie Wang.

The paper is titled “Testing the molecular cloud paradigm for ultra-high-energy gamma ray emission from the direction of SNR G106.3+2.7.” In it, the authors explore a PeVatron candidate located in the northern part of our galaxy’s plane and aim to answer a long-standing question for the region — where are the PeV cosmic rays being accelerated?

“When most people think of astronomy, they imagine the night sky sparkling with stars, or our Milky Way galaxy painted across the sky. However, there is an entire astrophysical world untouchable by the naked eye,” said Turner, the paper’s corresponding author. “The High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Observatory is a wide-field gamma-ray observatory located in Puebla, Mexico, that is operated by a worldwide collaboration. HAWC surveys two-thirds of the sky throughout the day and is sensitive to particles with energies ranging from 100s GeV to 100s TeV, which is about a trillion times more energetic than visible light. These highly energetic particles give us a way to probe extreme astrophysical objects, like Galactic pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe), electron-positron winds surrounding a fast-rotating neutron star (or pulsar); and shell-type supernova remnants (SNRs), the ejecta and shock fronts left behind after a star’s core collapse and explosion. These objects are able to accelerate particles known as cosmic-rays up to PeV (10^15 eV) energies. These types of accelerators are known as Pevatrons.”

In the paper, HAWC collaborators present an updated analysis on the Boomerang region, which is home to two possible PeVatrons: supernova remnant G106.3+2.7 and the boomerang shaped pulsar wind nebula from pulsar J2229+6114. This analysis probes the highest energy emission for this region (>56 TeV) and utilizes molecular clouds, dense regions of molecular hydrogen, to model the region’s shape.

“This modeling technique has not previously been used for a PeVatron study, but the good spatial coincidence between the molecular cloud and the gamma-ray emission in this region provides confirmation that this new avenue for PeVatron identification could help close the information gap for which astrophysical objects accelerate cosmic-rays to PeV energies,” said Turner.

About the Physics Department

Physicists at Michigan Technological University help students apply academic concepts to real-world issues. Our physicists take on the big questions to discover how the universe works—from the smallest particles to the largest galaxies. The Physics Department offers three undergraduate degrees and three graduate degrees. Supercharge your physics skills to meet the demands of a technology-driven society at a flagship public research university powered by science, technology, engineering, and math. Graduate with the theoretical knowledge and practical experience needed to solve real-world problems and succeed in academia, research, and tomorrow’s high-tech business landscape.

Questions? Contact us at physics@mtu.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube for the latest happenings. Or read more at the Physics Newsblog.

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Professor Huentemeyer, Other Project Leaders Select Site for Southern Wide-Field Gamma-Ray Observatory

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Michigan Tech is a key contributor to the construction planning of the Southern Wide-Field Gamma-Ray Observatory (SWGO), a cutting-edge facility that will enable researchers to observe very-high- to ultra-high-energy gamma rays from cosmic sources.

Petra Huentemeyer - Gamma-Ray Observatory
Distinguished Professor of Physics Petra Huentemeyer, Vice-spokesperson for the Southern Wide-field Gamma-ray Observatory.

The project’s leaders, including the director of Michigan Tech’s Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences Institute, Petra Huentemeyer, have selected Pampa La Bola in Chile as the future site of the Gamma-Ray Observatory, which will be the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

“Selecting the site for an Gamma-Ray Observatory is a major milestone on the path toward building it,” said Huentemeyer. “The fact that we reached a decision in such an effective manner really speaks to the strength of our collaboration of 15 countries.”

Gamma-Ray Observatory - array of detectors
A large array of detectors will allow SWGO to measure cosmic rays up to the PeV scale. Image credit Richard White, MPIK via swgo.org

Read more about the SWGO project at Michigan Tech News.

About the Physics Department

Physicists at Michigan Technological University help students apply academic concepts to real-world issues. Our physicists take on the big questions to discover how the universe works—from the smallest particles to the largest galaxies. The Physics Department offers three undergraduate degrees and three graduate degrees. Supercharge your physics skills to meet the demands of a technology-driven society at a flagship public research university powered by science, technology, engineering, and math. Graduate with the theoretical knowledge and practical experience needed to solve real-world problems and succeed in academia, research, and tomorrow’s high-tech business landscape.

Questions? Contact us at physics@mtu.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube for the latest happenings. Or read more at the Physics Newsblog.

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Giusarma Garners Deans’ Teaching Showcase Honors

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College of Sciences and Arts Dean Ravindra Pandey has selected Elena Giusarma, assistant professor in the Department of Physics, for the Deans’ Teaching Showcase. Giusarma will be recognized at an end-of-term event with other showcase members. Her inclusion makes her a candidate for the CTL Instructional Award Series.

Giusarma Instruction Innovator

Elena Giusarma
Elena Giusarma

Giusarma has proven herself to be an excellent instructor in the classroom environment. She’s implemented innovative teaching methods and strategies to enhance the learning experience for students. Giusarma incorporates interactive simulations, virtual observatory tools, and multimedia resources to bring the wonders of astronomy directly to the students. This approach aims to cater to diverse learning styles and foster a deeper understanding of complex celestial concepts. Her teaching style goes beyond traditional lecture formats. Active learning techniques such as classroom discussions, group activities, and debates encourage students to articulate their thoughts and challenge their understanding of astronomical concepts.

Giusarma’s course in Statistics, Data Mining, and Machine Learning in Astrophysics for undergraduate and graduate students plays a crucial role in shaping students’ academic and professional trajectories. In an era dominated by data-driven decision-making, proficiency in these areas is highly sought after in both research and industry. The course serves as a pathway to developing practical skills directly applicable to analyzing and interpreting vast astronomical datasets. The course is part of a graduate certificate program developed in 2022, offering participants a structured pathway to acquire expertise in statistical analysis, data mining, and machine learning in astrophysics. The importance of these skills extends beyond academia, opening doors to diverse career opportunities in research institutions, technology companies, and various sectors that rely on data analytics.

Giusarma Receives Praise

Jacek Borysow, interim chair of the physics department, noted that Giusarma’s knowledge and understanding of physics and astronomy allow her to be a role model for female students who aspire to succeed in science and engineering. “Her presence in the classroom enables female students to visualize where they want to go and what is possible to achieve. … Her lectures are full of positive energy and unlimited enthusiasm; she sincerely cares about the students. She is simply an outstanding instructor and mentor.”

Maria Bergstrom, associate dean for undergraduate education in the College of Sciences and Arts, praised Giusarma’s commitment to both undergraduate and graduate education: “Faculty like Dr. Giusarma have a tremendous impact on the success of Michigan Tech students. From inspiring young, prospective students to come to our campus to study astronomy and astrophysics to mentoring graduate students, Dr. Giusarma’s commitment to excellence in teaching is an important contribution to our College, and we are pleased to recognize her achievements.”

About the Physics Department

Physicists at Michigan Technological University help students apply academic concepts to real-world issues. Our physicists take on the big questions to discover how the universe works—from the smallest particles to the largest galaxies. The Physics Department offers three undergraduate degrees and three graduate degrees. Supercharge your physics skills to meet the demands of a technology-driven society at a flagship public research university powered by science, technology, engineering, and math. Graduate with the theoretical knowledge and practical experience needed to solve real-world problems and succeed in academia, research, and tomorrow’s high-tech business landscape.

Questions? Contact us at physics@mtu.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube for the latest happenings. Or read more at the Physics Newsblog.

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Faculty Position

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Image of Michigan Tech campus from above
Michigan Technological University
Est. 1885

This position has been filled, thank you for your interest.

Detailed information about research and educational programs in the department can be found at mtu.edu/physics. Information about open positions and the application process can be found at https://www.employment.mtu.edu/.

Current astrophysics research at Michigan Tech includes gamma-ray and cosmic-ray astrophysics, astroparticle physics, cosmology, large-scale structure, galaxy evolution, dark matter, and machine-learning applications in astrophysics. Michigan Tech physics faculty are actively involved in the cosmic-ray and gamma-ray experiments Auger and HAWC as well as in research & development for the SWGO project.

Michigan Tech attracts world-class faculty and staff who enrich the educational experience of smart, motivated, and adventurous students. Applicants who are committed to promoting a sense of belonging and contributing to an equitable and inclusive learning environment for all are strongly encouraged to apply (mtu.edu/diversity-inclusion/).

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Chad Brisbois Places Second at Fermi Symposium Poster Session

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Fermi SymposiumPhysics graduate student Chad Brisbois presented a poster at the Sixth International Fermi Symposium, which took place in Arlington, VA, on November 9-13, 2015. The poster won second place in the student poster contest sponsored by the Universities Space Research Association (USRA).

NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope observes light in the photon energy range of 8,000 electronvolts (8 keV) to greater than 300 billion electronvolts (300 GeV). It was launched in 2008.

The symposium showcases how the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope continues to revolutionize our understanding of the high-energy Universe. It highlights results from a variety of multi-wavelength and multi-messenger studies.

USRA is an independent, nonprofit research corporation whose mission is to advance the space- and aeronautics-related sciences exploration through innovative research, technology, and education programs; promote space and aeronautics policy; and develop and operate premier facilities and programs by involving universities, governments, and the private sector for the benefit of humanity.

Brisbois’ advisor is Robert Nemiroff.

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Lunar Eclipse Viewing at Michigan Tech

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Moonbeam: Event draws crowd to Tech’s telescope

HOUGHTON – At Michigan Technological University, people lined up Sunday night to view an astronomical event that, for most of them, was occurring for the first time in their lives.

“A lot of people think that when the moon is eclipsed, it disappears during totality, but it doesn’t,” said Amanda Shaw, a masters student at Tech and teacher of Tech’s astronomy class, who organized the viewing.

“This is a rather unique event, but otherwise people don’t necessarily get a chance to see things like a full moon with any detail,” said Tech physics student Scott Rutterbush. “Instead, it gives them a little bit of perspective. It gives them a chance to say, ‘in order to see up close on the moon, we have to go this big.'”

Read more at the Mining Gazette, by Garrett Neese (subscription required).

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Nemiroff Interviewed on APOD by MUSEUM Magazine

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Museum magazine published a special feature on NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day and interviewed Professor Robert Nemiroff (Physics), who co-developed and co-writes and edits the popular astronomy feature.

From Tech Today.

A special report on NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day archive—an image-driven attempt to catalogue (some) of the universe’s ephemera.

Existence is a loaded thing. Those of us who do not engage with the physical environment or, spiritually speaking, ritualistic practice, might wonder only briefly and in passing about that which we do not understand—the deep sea, impending apocalypse, where we come from—before shaking our heads and continuing onward.

MONICA USZEROWICZ As someone exploring the beginnings of the universe, what prompted your interest in the cosmos?

ROBERT NEMIROFF Like many scientists, in particular astronomers, I wanted to be a scientist from a very early age. I remember in second grade that I could say the names of the planets—then including Pluto—faster than anyone in the class. And that included—and I hope you are sitting down for this—the teacher. So obviously, I was pre-qualified to become an astronomer.

Read more at MUSEUM, by Monica Uszerowicz.

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