Past Students
Former graduate and undergraduate students mentored by Abigail Polin.
Graduate Students
Peter Scherbak — Caltech
Undergraduate Students
Siddharth Boyeneni — Caltech
Owen Odney — Purdue University
Roy Galazka — Purdue University
CASSI Students
Students mentored through the Carnegie Astrophysics Summer Student Internship Program (CASSI), a program designed to increase participation and retention of under-represented groups in astronomy. CASSI students present their projects at the AAS winter meeting following their summer experience.
Desiree Harvell — Summer 2022
Seeking Hidden Helium in Stripped Envelope Supernovae
Desiree worked on a theory driven project during summer 2022. Her aim was to run radiative transport simulations of stripped envelope stars to see if it was possible to hide the presence of helium in a Type Ib/c supernova.
Abstract: The classification of core-collapse Type Ib and Ic supernovae (SNe) are defined by their spectra. Type Ib spectra contain Helium absorption features and Type Ic do not. It is an open question whether the lack of a helium detection in Type Ic SNe means there is no helium in the ejecta, or if there is helium in the outer layers that fails to impart a spectral signature. Stellar evolutionists have found difficulty in removing the helium layer in a stripped envelope star before a supernova (SN) event. Therefore, finding out why the potential helium goes undetected can benefit stellar evolutionists in their understanding of the stellar life cycle. We investigate the potential for “hidden helium” in stripped envelope SNe with the usage of simulated SN ejecta models. The radioactive 56Ni produced in the SN explosion is the main source of radiation that will stimulate the elements that appear on the spectra so changing the distribution may be highly influential. We vary the 56Ni distribution in a stripped envelope explosion that contains helium in the outer layers of the ejecta. We hypothesize that a centralized 56Ni distribution will potentially result in weaker helium absorption features in the spectra. The findings of the experiment aim to answer if it is possible for helium to still remain in the outer layers of Type Ic SN ejecta.
Hayden Campos — Summer 2021
Examining Type Ia Progenitor Channels Through C II Absorption Features
Hayden worked on a data driven project during summer 2021. His aim was to identify which Type Ia supernovae in the Carnegie Supernova sample show signs of carbon absorption features which would indicate they arise from the explosion of a Chandrasekhar mass white dwarf. He then compared the properties of these supernovae with other diagnostics of Type Ia progenitor channels.