Astrophysics
- For lecture notes from my MPhys in Physics and Astrophysics (2002 - 2006), see MPhys lecture notes
May 2007 - Transfer Report - Creating Virtual Skies
Abstract: The Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect in clusters of galaxies presents a unique and independent cosmological probe. However, contamination, confusion and noise in the detections of clusters needs to be quantified and corrected for before reliable cosmological measurements can be extracted. Here, the creation of virtual sky maps is documented, which consist of the Cosmic Microwave Background, the SZ effect and point sources. This constitutes the first step into an investigation of the methods of carrying out SZ effect detections, as well as ways of counteracting the issues surrounding them.
Transfer Report: 10MB PDF
PC 4591 / PHYS 40591 - Radio Astronomy
Below are notes from the PC 4591 / PHYS 40591 Radio Astronomy course at Manchester University in 2006. The lectures were given by Ian Browne. Note that they are in PDF format, and total 708KB. The source code for the document is also provided; this is in the form of a LaTeX file, with images in various formats (inconsistantly in: OmniGraffle, PDF, PNG, SVG).
- Lecture Notes
- Source - LaTeX and images
Also available is my essay for the course, entitled Measuring the polarization of the CMB.
December 2006 - Literature Review - Modeling the IntraCluster Medium
Abstract: Observations of clusters of galaxies present a unique probe of cosmological parameters. We summarize the observations that can be made of the cluster galaxies and the IntraCluster Medium, and examine the measurements of cosmological parameters that can subsequently be obtained. We then discuss at the common components of analytical models of the IntraCluster Medium, and review three models. Finally, we look at the types of numerical simulations that can be utilized to simulate clusters of galaxies, including various N-body and hydrodynamic schemes.
Literature Review: 385kb PDF
May 2006 - MPhys Project - Classification of Gravitational Microlensing Light Curves
"Classification of Gravitational Microlensing Light Curves" was an MPhys Project done jointly with Matthew Dennison between February 2005 and May 2006.
Abstract: Several methods of detecting microlensing events are compared, including the method used by the OGLE-II collaboration and a Least Squares Fitting technique, using a large dataset of light curves and Monte Carlo techniques. We find that a modified version of the OGLE method is most efficient at detecting microlensing events, with the Least Squares Fitting method showing promise for the future. Optical depths between (4.3±1.0) x 10-6 and (7.2±1.3) x 10-6 are found from 10 microlensing events, dependant on the search technique used. We also trial the normalization of periodic stars with the aim of detecting microlensing events on variable stars, with mixed success.
- MPhys Project Report:
- Program Code
January 2006 - MPhys Project - The Stellar Computer
"The Stellar Computer" is a small computer program that models the physics within a star. It was done as an MPhys Project jointly with Matthew Dennison between September 2005 and January 2006.
Abstract: A computer program has been constructed that calculates the physical properties within a star, utilizing four differential equations to describe the relations between the mass, radius, temperature, pressure and luminosity, as well as three material functions to provide the density, opacity and energy generated at concentric shells of the star. Numerical calculations are done using the 4th order Runge-Kutta method with 5th order error checking, and are initiated from both the surface and core of the star. Results are given for stars with masses of 0.5 and 1 solar masses, along with recommendations for further improvements of this program.
- MPhys Project Report (3MB PDF)
- Program Code (separately: star.c and functions.h)
- Results (CSV format): 1 Solar Mass, 0.5 Solar Masses