Cosmology
DESI
The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) will obtain optical spectra for tens of millions of galaxies and quasars, constructing a 3D map spanning the nearby universe to 11 billion light years.
Hydrogen Epoch of Reionization Array
Lead: Aaron Parsons
The Hydrogen Epoch of Reionization Array (HERA) is a focussed experiment to detect and characterize the signature of the Epoch of Reionization by observing highly red-shifted neutral hydrogen
HYPERION
Lead: Aaron Parsons
The Hydrogen Probe of the Epoch of Reionization (HYPERION) is a specialized low-frequency interferometer to study the Epoch of Reionization through the spatial monopole of the 21cm brightness temperature of neutral hydrogen as a function of redshift (i.e. the ''global signal"). The goal of HYPERION is to detect the monopole reionization signal. A detection of this signal could give key insights into the physics and development of our early universe, including information on the formation of the first stars and galaxies.
LSST-DESC
The nature of Dark Energy is one of the greatest mysteries in science today. It was discovered in 1998, when scientists found that the expansion of the universe is accelerating. We call the force driving this expansion Dark Energy, but beyond that we know very little. The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) will produce a unique dataset of billions of galaxies, which will allow us to measure how Dark Energy behaves over time with unprecedented precision. The LSST dataset will also enable us to tackle several other questions in cosmology and fundamental physics. The LSST Dark Energy Science Collaboration (LSST DESC) will prepare for and carry out a variety of cosmological analyses with the LSST survey. In advance of LSST's first observations, DESC will help prepare for LSST science analysis, make synergistic connections with ongoing cosmological surveys and provide the dark energy community with state of the art analysis tools.
SARAS : Doctoral Work
Following the Big Bang model of cosmology, the primordial matter i.e the neutral hydrogen and the radiation i.e. the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) evolved over cosmic time. Early interactions (redshift 100 > z > 35) between them printed spectral signatures on the CMB that carries the information of the dynamics and physical processes occurring at those epoch also known as the Dark Ages (DA). Later in the Cosmic history, the sources of first light such as first stars and first galaxies injected additional radiation into the Universe. The complex interaction of the CMB, the primordial gas and the first sources between redshift 35 > z > 6 eventually ionized the primordial gas producing unique spectral signatures against the CMB that is the very first documented history of this Universe. SARAS is a single element radio telescope with a correlation spectrometer designed for precision measurements of the cosmic radio background between 87.5-175 MHz to detect the faint features of the redshifted 21~cm signal in the sky spectrum that arise from redshifted 21-cm from gas in the reionization epoch. It consists of a single frequency independent dipole and a precision radiometer to measure the antenna temperature due to sky signal with respect to a reference thermal load.
Extragalactic
Extragalactic Database for Galaxy Evolution (EDGE)
The CARMA EDGE survey will provide a measurement of the distribution of molecular gas in a statistically significant sample of over one hundred galaxies. The survey targets the J = 1-0 transition of CO and its 13CO isotopologue, which trace the bulk of the cold, star-forming gas. Paired with matched IFU mapping of the entire optical spectrum, this survey enables studies of resolved star formation efficiencies and histories, gas and stellar kinematics, nebular extinctions, and ionized gas properties across the Hubble sequence. The EDGE survey is designed to move the field of millimeter-wave interferometry from the piecemeal collection of case studies into the realm of large samples.
Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury (PHAT)
The Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury (PHAT) used the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) to take pictures of our neighboring galaxy Andromeda, which is 2.5 million light years away from us. The exquisite spatial resolution of the HST resolved Andromeda into individual stars, meaning that we are able to study it at the same level of detail as our own Milky Way.
realfast: Fast Transient Surveys with the VLA
realfast is a new instrument dedicated to millisecond transient surveys at the Very Large Array (VLA). A major motivation for this system is to search for Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs), a mysterious, new class of fast radio transient. Each realfast FRB detection will be localized so precisely that we can identify their multiwavelength associations, such as a host galaxy. This was proven with the first realfast discovery, the first subarcsecond FRB localization and association with a host galaxy. More information available at http://realfast.io.
SARAS : Doctoral Work
Following the Big Bang model of cosmology, the primordial matter i.e the neutral hydrogen and the radiation i.e. the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) evolved over cosmic time. Early interactions (redshift 100 > z > 35) between them printed spectral signatures on the CMB that carries the information of the dynamics and physical processes occurring at those epoch also known as the Dark Ages (DA). Later in the Cosmic history, the sources of first light such as first stars and first galaxies injected additional radiation into the Universe. The complex interaction of the CMB, the primordial gas and the first sources between redshift 35 > z > 6 eventually ionized the primordial gas producing unique spectral signatures against the CMB that is the very first documented history of this Universe. SARAS is a single element radio telescope with a correlation spectrometer designed for precision measurements of the cosmic radio background between 87.5-175 MHz to detect the faint features of the redshifted 21~cm signal in the sky spectrum that arise from redshifted 21-cm from gas in the reionization epoch. It consists of a single frequency independent dipole and a precision radiometer to measure the antenna temperature due to sky signal with respect to a reference thermal load.
The 3D-HST Survey
A Spectroscopic Galaxy Evolution Survey with the Hubble Space Telescope.
The MOSDEF Survey
The MOSFIRE Deep Evolution Field (MOSDEF) survey is a large multi-year project with the 10-meter Keck I Telescope to observe the stellar, gaseous, metal, dust, and black hole content of ~1500 galaxies when the Universe was 1.5 to 4.5 billion years old.
Galactic
Hunting for Black Holes
Lead: Jessica Lu
We are searching for black holes in the Milky Way using gravitational lensing.
Young Massive Star Clusters
We use young, massive star clusters in the Milky Way and in nearby galaxies as a means of testing different theories of star and cluster formation and evolution. We are particularly interested in constraining the distribution of stellar masses when a cluster is born (i.e. the initial mass function or IMF).
Instrumentation
‘imaka
Lead: Jessica Lu
Ultra-wide field adaptive optics demonstrator that corrects image blurring from the Earth's atmosphere due to turbulence near the ground.
Adaptive Optics
Adaptive optics (AO) corrects the blurring effects of the Earth's atmosphere for large ground-based telescopes. We are working on new approaches to both improve the quality of current AO systems and develop the next generation of AO systems.
HYPERION
Lead: Aaron Parsons
The Hydrogen Probe of the Epoch of Reionization (HYPERION) is a specialized low-frequency interferometer to study the Epoch of Reionization through the spatial monopole of the 21cm brightness temperature of neutral hydrogen as a function of redshift (i.e. the ''global signal"). The goal of HYPERION is to detect the monopole reionization signal. A detection of this signal could give key insights into the physics and development of our early universe, including information on the formation of the first stars and galaxies.
realfast: Fast Transient Surveys with the VLA
realfast is a new instrument dedicated to millisecond transient surveys at the Very Large Array (VLA). A major motivation for this system is to search for Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs), a mysterious, new class of fast radio transient. Each realfast FRB detection will be localized so precisely that we can identify their multiwavelength associations, such as a host galaxy. This was proven with the first realfast discovery, the first subarcsecond FRB localization and association with a host galaxy. More information available at http://realfast.io.
SARAS : Doctoral Work
Following the Big Bang model of cosmology, the primordial matter i.e the neutral hydrogen and the radiation i.e. the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) evolved over cosmic time. Early interactions (redshift 100 > z > 35) between them printed spectral signatures on the CMB that carries the information of the dynamics and physical processes occurring at those epoch also known as the Dark Ages (DA). Later in the Cosmic history, the sources of first light such as first stars and first galaxies injected additional radiation into the Universe. The complex interaction of the CMB, the primordial gas and the first sources between redshift 35 > z > 6 eventually ionized the primordial gas producing unique spectral signatures against the CMB that is the very first documented history of this Universe. SARAS is a single element radio telescope with a correlation spectrometer designed for precision measurements of the cosmic radio background between 87.5-175 MHz to detect the faint features of the redshifted 21~cm signal in the sky spectrum that arise from redshifted 21-cm from gas in the reionization epoch. It consists of a single frequency independent dipole and a precision radiometer to measure the antenna temperature due to sky signal with respect to a reference thermal load.
Planetary
Automated Planet Finder
The Automated Planet Finder (APF) is a robotic 2.4-meter optical telescope stationed at Lick Observatory designed to assist with the search for extrasolar planets. The APF operates by targeting preprogrammed stars and observing them nightly over the course of several months in efforts to detect stellar motion and locate habitable planets.
Breakthrough Listen Initiative
Lead: Andrew Siemion
The Breakthrough Listen Initiative, sponsored by the Breakthrough Prize Foundation, is the most powerful, comprehensive and intensive scientific search ever undertaken for signs of intelligent life beyond Earth. The project is using the Green Bank radio telescope in West Virginia, the Parkes Telescope in Australia and the MeerKat Array in South Africa to search for radio transmissions from advanced civilizations. In addition, the Automated Planet Finder at Lick Observatory is being used to search for optical laser transmissions from other technological civilizations. Additional partnerships with other international facilities, including FAST (China) and the Jodrell Bank Observatory (UK), extend the program’s observational reach.
OPAL
Lead: Michael H. Wong
OPAL is the Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy program. For the remainer of Hubble's lifetime, OPAL will continue mapping Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune every year to study their dynamics, weather, and climate.
The Gemini Planet Imager Exoplanet Survey
Lead: Paul Kalas
James Graham
The Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) is an advanced science instrument that exploits the latest generation of adaptive optics technology, coronagraphy and detectors. We commissioned GPI at the Gemini South telescope in Chile in 2014 and finished a five-year survey for exoplanets called GPIES (GPI Exoplanet Survey). Among the many discoveries were the planet 51 Eri b and many dusty debris disks, published in over 30 peer-reviewed manuscripts. GPI will be upgraded and installed on Gemini North in Hawaii in 2025.