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04/09/08 |
    
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My current area of research is Stellar Nucleosynthesis. This is the
process by which stars produce most of the elements on the periodic table.
I am especially interested in how elements heavier than Iron are produced in
Type I I (core collapse) supernovae. Ever wonder why gold and platinum
are "precious metals" or rare and expensive? My research answers that
question!
I currently have two active research student that are working with me on this project. We are currently analyzing high quality spectra from the 10m Keck telescopes with new atomic data. Our collaborators on this project are located at the University of Texas, University of Wisconsin and University of Oklahoma. Using the spectral synthesis program MOOG, I am determine the abundances of the neutron capture elements in several metal poor halo stars. We will be presenting the results of our work in Austin, Texas in January at the American Astronomical Society Meeting.
Marilea and Becky at the AAS meeting educating Dr. Fred Giving them a break in Seattle Click here to see our Poster from the AAS Winter 07 Meeting Click here to see our Poster from the AAS Winter 08 Meeting Neutron Capture elements are formed when many neutrons are captured by Iron peak seed nuclei. In a Type II Supernova, this capture happens rapidly sometime in less than a second, thus elements formed in this environment are call rapid or r-process elements. The elements Gold, Platinum, Uranium and Thorium are formed exclusively through this process.
Tuesday and Marilea presenting at 2006 MARAC conference Marilea contemplating Zirconium in Austin |
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This site was last updated 12/09/07
