Probing the cosmic dawn and the epoch of reionization with the 21cm Hydrogen line
Event details
| Date | 21.11.2016 |
| Hour | 16:15 › 17:15 |
| Speaker |
Prof. Jacqueline Hewitt, Professor of Physics, Director Kavli Institute for Astrophysics & Space Research Bio: Prof. Hewitt is an American astrophysicist. Hewitt was appointed with a postdoctoral fellowship at MIT as part of the Very-long-baseline interferometry unit from 1986-1988. While analyzing the data from her graduate studies, she found a ring on her computer screen. This ring, located in the Leo, ended up being the very first Einstein ring discovered. Since Hewitt's groundbreaking discovery, many other Einstein rings have been discovered, and were found to be far more common than astronomers thought. Einstein rings are important because they can help answer questions about the size and the fate of our universe. Hewitt worked as a researcher at Princeton University's Department of Astrophysical Sciences in 1988. After one year of researching at Princeton, she returned to MIT as an assistant physics professor, working as a full-time professor since 1989. Hewitt is also the principal investigator for the Radio Astronomy Group of the Research Laboratory of Electronics at MIT. Since 2002, Hewitt has been appointed Director of the MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research. |
| Location |
Auditoire CE3
|
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
Measurements of the cosmic microwave background at redshift 1100 give us information about the initial density fluctuations that seeded structure formation. Observations of galaxies at redshift 7 give us information about the outcome of this structure formation. Between those redshifts lies a new frontier of cosmology -- the cosmic dawn -- the formation of the first stars and the reionization of the intergalactic medium. Several recently completed low frequency radio arrays provide us with an early glimpse into the Epoch of Rionization through the redshifted neutral hydrogen 21cm radio line.
A new instrument, the Hydrogen Epoch of Reionization Array (HERA) is beginning construction. HERA will be significantly more capable, and presents interesting opportunities and challenges.
A new instrument, the Hydrogen Epoch of Reionization Array (HERA) is beginning construction. HERA will be significantly more capable, and presents interesting opportunities and challenges.
Practical information
- General public
- Free
Organizer
- Section de Physique