Project:	High Energy Astrophysics Projects
Discipline:	Astrophysics
Mentor:	Fiona Harrison, Benjamin M. Rosen Professor of Physics, (PMA), heag@caltech.edu
Mentor URL:	https://heag.caltech.edu  (opens in new window)
Background:	The High Energy Astrophysics Group (HEAG) at Caltech is offering up to 8 SURF opportunities for the summer of 2024. The HEAG operates NuSTAR (the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array), an orbiting X-ray telescope observing in the 3–79 keV range. The HEAG utilizes NuSTAR and other observatories to study a range of high-energy astrophysics, including accreting compact objects, such as stellar-remnant and supermassive black holes, neutron stars and ultraluminous X-ray sources and X-ray transients such as tidal disruption events, supernovae and Gamma-ray bursts. The HEAG is also involved in developing detectors for future observatories.
Description:	The SURF projects on offer will be in the areas listed above and be mentored by the staff scientists and postdocs of the group. For more information on the HEAG, its members, research, recent activity and previous SURF students visit https://heag.caltech.edu and for more information on NuSTAR go to https://www.nustar.caltech.edu. Caltech students will be prioritized, however we welcome applications from other universities and will consider them once Caltech students have been taken care of. Interested students should email heag[at]caltech[dot]edu listing which areas of HEAG research they are most interested in and/or which mentors they are most interested in working with, preferably listed by preference, and a CV. We expect to carry out interviews with prospective candidates by the end of January/beginning of February in preparation for the SURF application deadline on February 22, 2024. The HEAG also welcomes WAVE students which has a separate application procedure. These are due January 9, 2024. Find out more here (https://sfp.caltech.edu/undergraduate-research/programs/wavefellows).
References:	https://heag.caltech.edu https://www.nustar.caltech.edu
Student Requirements:	The projects will likely require some programming skills, such as in Python, plus use of specialty high-energy astrophysics software that can be learned during the project.
Programs:	This AO can be done under the following programs:   Program    Available To        SURF    both Caltech and non-Caltech students  Click on a program name for program info and application requirements.