Research focus areas:

  •  X-ray spectroscopy of supernova remnants
  •  Instrument design / raytracing for sounding rockets, CubeSats, Explorer, and flagship missions
  •  X-ray grating fabrication and testing
  •  Grazing incidence mirrors
  •  Identification of unusual astronomical sources using machine learning
Arcus logo square

Arcus

Arcus, a free-flying spacecraft featuring a high resolution X-ray spectrometer, was a Medium-class Explorer concept proposed to NASA in a recent (2016) Explorer announcement of opportunity. Arcus utilizes advancements in X-ray transmission grating technology (Critical-Angle Transmission, or CAT gratings) and cost-effective silicon pore optics (SPO), enabling it to take soft X-ray (300 - 2000 eV) spectra of astronomical point sources with unprecedented sensitivity and resolution. 

xray reflection grating

X-ray Astronomical Instrumentation

Our research in this area focuses on testing high resolution, blazed X-ray reflection gratings that would enable next-generation X-ray spectrometers. 

chandra source catalog v2.0

Outlier Identification Using Machine Learning

Outliers within an astronomical catalog hold the potential to offer new insights into astrophysical phenomena.  Machine learning is used to identify outliers in the Chandra Source Catalog v2.0.