Astronomy and Astrophysics
	Prof. Andrea Ghez Dark Matter and Black Holes
	Professor Ghez studies the motion of stars at the center of our Galaxy aimed at understanding the enviroment around a supermassive black hole. There are several possible projects within this program. One would involve fitting the orbits of stars to search for additional forms of dark matter surrounding the central supermassive black hole, using data collected at the W. M. Keck 10-meter telescopes. Another would involve analysis of the colors of stars using data collected with the Hubble Space Telescope, Keck, and Gemini in order to understand how the stars in close proximity to the central black hole might have formed.
	Prof. Mark Morris Evolved Stars Undergoing the Relatively Brief Transition from Red Giant to White Dwarf
	Mark Morris is engaged in a long-term research project to study evolved stars undergoing the relatively brief transition from red giant to white dwarf. This is the stage at which they produce so-called planetary nebulae, which constitute some of the most striking and photogenic objects in the cosmic realm. However, the geometry of these objects is still poorly understood; they are very often axisymmetric, or bipolar, possibly because of the presence of a binary companion. The REU project will be based on the use an existing hydrodynamics code to explore whether the gas outflowing from a mass-losing star in a binary system can form a stable, bound, circumbinary disk. Some familiarity with programming techniques will be advantageous.
	Prof. Rene Ong High-energy Astrophysics
	Student will be involved in the analysis of data from the new gound-based gamma-ray telescope VERITAS, constructed in southern Arizona. The research will involve the development of analysis software to study several sources of high-energy gamma rays, including galactic sources such as the Crab Nebula. Student will also work on the simulation of the performance of the telescope in terms of energy threshold and collection area. There may be the possibility of a trip to Arizona for work on the telescope.
	Prof. Steve Furnaleto Models of Quazar Formation Affecting "Reionization" of Helium
	Prof. Furlanetto studies theoretical models of how galaxies and quasars in the early Universe ionized the tenuous gas of hydrogen and helium that pervades the space between galaxies. These transitions mark important points in the history of structure formation, because 90% of normal matter in the Universe is part of this gas! A student would have the opportunity to study how a particular model for the formation of quasars would affect the "reionization" of helium using a mix of pencil-and-paper and computer-based models.