od http://cosmo.torun.pl/pipermail/cosmo-torun/2003-November/000167.html

Proposals for Supervising Licencjat and Masters (Magister) projects at TCfA

Nov 2004 - Sep 2005

Projekt licencjat jest w sensie naukowy podobny do projekt magisterski, tylko jest mniej ambitny, np w sensie zrobiony własne kalkulacji. Jednak jest równie ważny że student myśli dla siebie i skeptycznie próbuje rozumieć temat.

Były i aktualne studenci kosmologii w TCfA:

Supervisor: B. Roukema (boud at astro.uni.torun.pl)

Number of students: up to 3-4 students is possible

Observational Cosmology Masters/Licencjat Project - General Outline

Description:

There are many possible projects which could be done as a master's thesis project, in using publicly available archival data from observational surveys to constrain one or more of the local or global cosmological parameters, either those related to shape (curvature, topology) or maybe also those unrelated to shape ("dark energy" or "dark matter"). The precise projects would be chosen in discussion with the masters students during Nov-Dec 2004. Please see http://adjani.astro.uni.torun.pl/cgi-bin/twiki/view/Cosmo/CosmoProjects for projects Boud is working on and http://adjani.astro.uni.torun.pl/cgi-bin/twiki/view/Cosmo/CosmoNews for ideas on the hottest topics in cosmology research - any of these would be appropriate if the student is sufficiently interested.

Examples

Topology of the Universe Detection

  • In http://de.arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0402608, it seems that we may have measured the shape of the Universe, since certain parts of the cosmic microwave background seen by the WMAP satellite appear to be seen twice in different directions on the sky, due to topological lensing. The purpose of the masters/licencjat project is:
  • Aim: Propose and apply a further test using WMAP data which further tests the hypothesis. This requires:
    • Reading/writing/managing the WAMP data file with free software computer programs
    • Statistical analysis
    • Independently checking that the computer code does the algebraic and statistical analyses correctly

Dark Matter Detection

  • In http://de.arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0405282 the 7 year results of the DAMA/NaI dark matter direct detection experiment show a signal significant at 6.3σ according to the authors. An explanation for why a signal from mirror-baryonic matter should be expected in this experiment but not in others with similar cross-section detection parameters is presented in http://de.arxiv.org/abs/0403043.
  • Aim: Check the experimental and theoretical claims and propose further tests
    • Try to find an alternative explanation for the DAMA/NaI results without going beyond the Standard Model of particle physics
    • Check whether the Foot et al. calculations of mirror matter properties are consistent with all the experimental data as the authors claim
    • Extend the Foot et al. calculations to find, e.g. a non-gravitational effect of mirror matter in stellar physics, e.g. symbiotic stars (gravitational effects of dark matter are already well studied)
  • More info: http://adjani.astro.uni.torun.pl/cgi-bin/twiki/view/Cosmo/NonBaryonicDarkMatter#the_DAMA_NaI_detection_and_mirro

Cosmic String Detection

  • In http://de.arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0410073 Kibble discusses the http://de.arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/302547 possible detection of a cosmic string which seems to gravitationally lens a background galaxy (Sazhin et al.) In http://de.arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0406516 the extra pairs of lensed galaxies predicted by the hypothesis are discussed.
  • Aim: Understand the basics about (1) cosmic strings, (2) gravitational lensing versus cosmic string lensing, and test the hypothesis
    • Calculate the probability of seeing the original pair by chance
    • Check whether the statistics of expected numbers of lensed images are correct
    • Propose an independent test of the hypothesis, e.g. using radio observations and prepare an observing proposal

General Requirements:

  • basic knowledge in astronomy, physics, mathematics, computing skills
  • desire to measure something about the shape of the Universe and/or dark matter or dark energy and/or cosmic strings
  • willingness both to learn from and to teach others interested in observational cosmology at TCfA
  • willingness to learn the following practical skills: touch-typing, emacs, \LaTeX, usage of wikis and/or mailing lists for communication, GPL compatible programming
  • participation in the "Shape of the Universe" monograph course and/or Bronek Rudak's semester 9 "Kosmologia" course:
  • Nie ma problemu jeśli student magistera lub licjencacki (jeszcze) nie dobrze mówi po angielsku, ale potrzeba znać czytać i rozumieć po angielski naukowcy

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