Physics Department Colloquia - Lightning Rounds
When: Thursday,
December 3, 2020
6:00 PM
-
8:00 PM
Where: Online
Description: The UMASS Dartmouth Physics Department Colloquia
A weekly seminar series of fully online colloquia featuring speakers from around the globe. This week's colloquia features a series of three lightning talks lasting for the duration of 10-15 minutes each.
Date: Thursday, December 3, 2020
Time: 6:00pm
Zoom Link: https://umassd.zoom.us/j/98360315189?pwd=VktzWEJFZXF4bUMxUStUbEdiOE56dz09
Talk #1
Title: Hot Jupiters aroud M Dwarfs Where are they?
Speaker: Emma Turtleboom
Abstract:
Despite the high detectability of Hot Jupiter exoplanets around M dwarfs, surprisingly few of these planets have been found. Since these giant planets orbiting smaller stars are very detectable in both radial velocity and photometric data, we can infer that these systems are intrinsically rare. I am working to confirm Hot Jupiter TESS planet candidates through follow-up observations and to calculate an occurrence rate for Hot Jupiters orbiting M dwarfs using TESS data. By investigating a large stellar sample observed by TESS, I will robustly measure the occurrence rate across the full M dwarf spectral class as a function of both stellar mass and metallicity, which will further our understanding of the formation mechanisms of Hot Jupiters around M dwarfs. In this talk, I will discuss my methodology and present preliminary results of this occurrence rate search and contextualize my work in the field of exoplanet demographics.
Talk #2
Title: Looking for Magnetars in Gamma Ray Observations
Speaker: Deivid Ribeiro
Abstract:
The powering mechanism for the bright luminosity in Superluminous supernovae (SLSNe) is a still-unsettled question. In this talk, I report the search for gamma rays from type 1 SLSNe, which are hydrogen poor and may be powered by the radiation of a highly magnetized pulsar created by the supernova explosion. Gamma rays created by the wind termination shock of the magnetar thermalize in the outflowing ejecta and power the bright optical emission. These gamma rays may escape the ejecta as the opacity drops and become visible after several hundred days. I report the search for gamma rays with VERITAS from two bright and nearby type I SLSNe, SN2015bn and SN2017egm, 133 and 670 days after explosion, respectively. No detections were made and upper limits are reported.
Talk #3
Title: Higher Spin Dark Matter
Speaker: Leah Jenks
Abstract:
Little is known about dark matter beyond the fact that it does not interact with the standard model or itself, or else does so incredibly weakly. A natural candidate, given the history of no-go theorems against their interactions, are higher spin fields. In this talk, I will introduce the scenario of higher spin (spin-s>2) dark matter. I will show that the gravitational production of superheavy bosonic higher spin fields during inflation can provide all the dark matter we observe today and consider the potential observable direct detection signatures.
For additional information please contact Dr. Robert Fisher (rfisher1@umassd.edu) or Dr. Renuka Rajapakse (rrajapakse@umassd.edu)
A weekly seminar series of fully online colloquia featuring speakers from around the globe. This week's colloquia features a series of three lightning talks lasting for the duration of 10-15 minutes each.
Date: Thursday, December 3, 2020
Time: 6:00pm
Zoom Link: https://umassd.zoom.us/j/98360315189?pwd=VktzWEJFZXF4bUMxUStUbEdiOE56dz09
Talk #1
Title: Hot Jupiters aroud M Dwarfs Where are they?
Speaker: Emma Turtleboom
Abstract:
Despite the high detectability of Hot Jupiter exoplanets around M dwarfs, surprisingly few of these planets have been found. Since these giant planets orbiting smaller stars are very detectable in both radial velocity and photometric data, we can infer that these systems are intrinsically rare. I am working to confirm Hot Jupiter TESS planet candidates through follow-up observations and to calculate an occurrence rate for Hot Jupiters orbiting M dwarfs using TESS data. By investigating a large stellar sample observed by TESS, I will robustly measure the occurrence rate across the full M dwarf spectral class as a function of both stellar mass and metallicity, which will further our understanding of the formation mechanisms of Hot Jupiters around M dwarfs. In this talk, I will discuss my methodology and present preliminary results of this occurrence rate search and contextualize my work in the field of exoplanet demographics.
Talk #2
Title: Looking for Magnetars in Gamma Ray Observations
Speaker: Deivid Ribeiro
Abstract:
The powering mechanism for the bright luminosity in Superluminous supernovae (SLSNe) is a still-unsettled question. In this talk, I report the search for gamma rays from type 1 SLSNe, which are hydrogen poor and may be powered by the radiation of a highly magnetized pulsar created by the supernova explosion. Gamma rays created by the wind termination shock of the magnetar thermalize in the outflowing ejecta and power the bright optical emission. These gamma rays may escape the ejecta as the opacity drops and become visible after several hundred days. I report the search for gamma rays with VERITAS from two bright and nearby type I SLSNe, SN2015bn and SN2017egm, 133 and 670 days after explosion, respectively. No detections were made and upper limits are reported.
Talk #3
Title: Higher Spin Dark Matter
Speaker: Leah Jenks
Abstract:
Little is known about dark matter beyond the fact that it does not interact with the standard model or itself, or else does so incredibly weakly. A natural candidate, given the history of no-go theorems against their interactions, are higher spin fields. In this talk, I will introduce the scenario of higher spin (spin-s>2) dark matter. I will show that the gravitational production of superheavy bosonic higher spin fields during inflation can provide all the dark matter we observe today and consider the potential observable direct detection signatures.
For additional information please contact Dr. Robert Fisher (rfisher1@umassd.edu) or Dr. Renuka Rajapakse (rrajapakse@umassd.edu)
Contact: > See Description for contact information
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