x-raying the hot universe john p. hughes rutgers university

March 7, 2006March 7, 2006 Seminar in PhysicsSeminar in Physics 11

X-Raying the Hot UniverseJohn P. HughesRutgers University

Astrophysical Studies of Supernova Astrophysical Studies of Supernova Remnants and Clusters of GalaxiesRemnants and Clusters of Galaxies


Group MembersGroup Members Jack HughesJack Hughes at RU since Sept 1996 (PhD: at RU since Sept 1996 (PhD:

Columbia) SNRs and CoGsColumbia) SNRs and CoGs Carlos Badenes Carlos Badenes post-doc (PhD: Barcelona) post-doc (PhD: Barcelona)

SNRsSNRs Gamil Cassam-ChenaiGamil Cassam-Chenai post-doc (PhD: post-doc (PhD:

Saclay) SNRsSaclay) SNRs Jessica Warren Jessica Warren grad student (Vassar) SNRsgrad student (Vassar) SNRs Neelima Sehgal Neelima Sehgal grad student (Yale) CoGsgrad student (Yale) CoGs External Collaborators: External Collaborators: Harvard-Smithsonian Center Harvard-Smithsonian Center

for Astrophysics, Pennsylvania State University, Princeton for Astrophysics, Pennsylvania State University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, Univeristy of California, University, University of Pennsylvania, Univeristy of California, Davis.Davis.


Job ProspectsJob ProspectsRecent RU astronomy PhD graduates obtained jobs Recent RU astronomy PhD graduates obtained jobs

in industry, teaching colleges, NASA centers, in industry, teaching colleges, NASA centers, academic post-docs, and research universitiesacademic post-docs, and research universities

http://www.physics.rutgers.edu/ast/group-ast.htmlhttp://www.physics.rutgers.edu/ast/group-ast.html

American Astronomical Society Career Services:American Astronomical Society Career Services:http://www.aas.org/career/index.htmhttp://www.aas.org/career/index.htm

This figure shows the number of new job postings each month in the AAS Job Register. There has been a steady growth in the number of new jobs advertised, nearly doubling every five years


Principal Facilities UsedPrincipal Facilities Used

Chandra X-ray Observatory

NASA Great Observatory

Launched 23 July 1999

First (and only) X-ray telescope with 1” angular resolution

Nominal 10 year lifetime


Principal Facilities Used Principal Facilities Used (cont.)(cont.)

XMM-Newton

ESA X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission

Launched 10 December 1999

Large collecting area

Nominal 10 year lifetime


Principal Facilities Used Principal Facilities Used (cont.)(cont.)

Ground-based facilities such as the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Obs.

Optical telescopes of the US National Observatory

4-m, 1.5-m imaging and spectroscopy


Recent SNR Science Recent SNR Science HighlightsHighlights

J.P. Hughes, C.E. Rakowski, D.N. Burrows, and P.O. Slane 2000, “Nucleosynthesis and Mixing in Cassiopeia A,” ApJL, 528, L109.

J. S. Warren, J.P. Hughes, et al. 2005, “Cosmic Ray Acceleration at the Forward Shock in Tycho's Supernova Remnant: Evidence from Chandra X-ray Observations,” ApJ, 634, 376.


On-going CoG ProjectsOn-going CoG ProjectsChandraChandra and and XMM-NewtonXMM-Newton Observations of the Deep Observations of the Deep Lens Survey (DLS) Shear-Lens Survey (DLS) Shear-Selected Cluster SurveySelected Cluster Survey

Hubble Space Telescope Deep Lens Survey/NOAO


Gravitational LensingGravitational Lensing Gravity bends light - a consequence of General Gravity bends light - a consequence of General

RelativityRelativity Strong lensingStrong lensing

– Arcs, multiple imagesArcs, multiple images

Weak lensingWeak lensing

– Statistical effect: average over Statistical effect: average over many randomly aligned many randomly aligned background galaxiesbackground galaxies


Mass-Selected ClustersMass-Selected Clusters

• Deep Lens Survey (DLS) over 20 deg2 could find up to 100 such clusters!

40’

• First year Survey: Wittman et al 2006,

ApJ, in press. (Detections and follow-up)

Hughes et al 2006, ApJL, in prep. (Luminosity vs. temperature correlation)


Imminent Projects (SNRs)Imminent Projects (SNRs)

Deep Chandra observations:Deep Chandra observations:– Cas A: 1 million second observation (in Cas A: 1 million second observation (in

hand)hand)– Kepler and G292.0+1.8: to be observed this Kepler and G292.0+1.8: to be observed this

yearyear– Tycho: being proposed for observation next Tycho: being proposed for observation next

yearyear Accepted XMM-Newton observation:Accepted XMM-Newton observation:

– 60 kilosec observation of young pulsar (135 60 kilosec observation of young pulsar (135 ms period) in G292.0+1.8ms period) in G292.0+1.8


Imminent Projects (CoGs)Imminent Projects (CoGs)

Atacama Cosmology TelescopeAtacama Cosmology Telescope:: Survey Survey for CoGs using the Cosmic Microwave Background for CoGs using the Cosmic Microwave Background with a custom built telescope and camera to be with a custom built telescope and camera to be sited in Chile.sited in Chile.– First observations expected later this yearFirst observations expected later this year– Survey continues through 2007 and 2008Survey continues through 2007 and 2008– Main collaborators: Princeton (camera) and the Main collaborators: Princeton (camera) and the

Univ. of Pennsylvania (telescope)Univ. of Pennsylvania (telescope)– Rutgers role: follow-up optical studies using the Rutgers role: follow-up optical studies using the

Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) and Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) and X-ray studies with Chandra and XMM-NewtonX-ray studies with Chandra and XMM-Newton


SALTSALT


Longer Timescale ProjectsLonger Timescale Projects Southern African Large TelescopeSouthern African Large Telescope: RU has 10% of : RU has 10% of

observing time on this 11-m telescope (one of the observing time on this 11-m telescope (one of the largest in the world)largest in the world)– First light in Sept 2004 First light in Sept 2004 – Scientifically useful observations beginning Scientifically useful observations beginning

later this yearlater this year Suzaku: Suzaku: US/Japanese X-ray spectroscopy satellite US/Japanese X-ray spectroscopy satellite

(launched Aug 2005), involves visit(s) to Japan(launched Aug 2005), involves visit(s) to Japan Constellation X-FacilityConstellation X-Facility: NASA follow-on mission to : NASA follow-on mission to

ChandraChandra with much more collecting area and high with much more collecting area and high spectral resolution (post 2010)spectral resolution (post 2010)


SummarySummary

Well-defined, interesting thesis Well-defined, interesting thesis projectsprojects

Financial support from NASA and NSFFinancial support from NASA and NSF Good long term prognosis for Good long term prognosis for

astrophysics research in the USastrophysics research in the US

x-raying the hot universe john p. hughes rutgers university

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