Project:	Preparing for Fast Radio Burst Observations with the DSA-2000
Disciplines:	Astrophysics, Astronomy, Computer Science
Mentor:	Vikram Ravi, Professor, (PMA), vikram@astro.caltech.edu
AO Contact:	Kaitlyn Shin, kaitshin@caltech.edu
Background:	Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are an enigmatic class of extragalactic radio transients with durations of ~milliseconds. They occur at inferred all-sky rates of ~hundreds/day, with thousands of FRBs already observed. Each observed FRB also contains propagation information that tells us about the amount of diffuse ionized gas along its line of sight. Through FRB observations, we have been able to learn about extreme astrophysical processes and diffuse gas distributions in the Universe. The DSA-2000 is an upcoming wide-field radio survey telescope, with key science surveys planned to begin in 2029. Located in Nevada, the DSA-2000 is designed to be the "radio counterpart" to upcoming wide-field surveys in other wavelengths (e.g., Rubin/LSST in optical, SPHEREx in infrared, UVEX in the ultraviolet, to name a few). It is uniquely designed to survey the entire radio sky ~6x faster than any other radio array currently planned. The dynamic radio sky is one of the key science cases of DSA-2000. Currently, the DSA-2000 is projected to discover and localize 20,000 FRBs/yr (to date, only about ~100 FRBs are well-localized). With such a sample of FRBs, one can use their population statistics to understand what progenitors these mysterious bursts could come from. One can also use the astrophysical properties of these bursts (i.e., their dispersion measure) to understand how gas is distributed in the Universe — especially gas too diffuse to be directly observed via other observational signatures.
Description:	Depending on skills and interest, the SURF student will assist either in generating simulations of observable FRBs with various possible DSA-2000 search configurations, or in building software infrastructure for future detected FRB candidates. Caltech students will be prioritized; however, applicants from other universities are welcome to apply. Interested students should email kaitshin[at]caltech[dot]edu by Jan 23. Prospective candidates will likely be interviewed in the beginning of February in preparation for the SURF application deadline (Feb 22).
References:	DSA-2000 white paper: https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2019BAAS...51g.255H/abstract FRB population modeling: https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2022MNRAS.509.4775J/abstract
Student Requirements:	Strong coding skills (Python or other). Familiarity with scientific data preferred.
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.