Project:	High Energy Astrophysics Projects
Disciplines:	Astrophysics, Astronomy
Mentor:	Fiona Harrison, Benjamin M. Rosen Professor of Physics, (PMA), heag@caltech.edu
Background:	The High Energy Astrophysics Group (HEAG) at Caltech is offering up to 4 SURF opportunities for the summer of 2025. The HEAG operates NuSTAR (the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, https://www.nustar.caltech.edu), an orbiting X-ray telescope observing in the 3–79 keV range, and is developing UVEX (the Ultraviolet Explorer, https://www.uvex.caltech.edu/), a new NASA mission to explore the ultraviolet sky. 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 group plans to use UVEX to study the nature of the low-mass, low-metallicity galaxy population and the early ultraviolet emission of explosive transients. The HEAG is also involved in developing detectors for future observatories such as UVEX.
Description:	The SURF projects on offer will be in the areas of NuSTAR and UVEX science 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. 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 which mentors they are most interested in working with, 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, 2025. We will consider all applications received by January 20. The HEAG also welcomes WAVE students which has a separate application procedure. These are due January 10, 2025. Find out more here (https://sfp.caltech.edu/undergraduate-research/programs/wavefellows).
Student Requirements:	.
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.