How science is really done A tale of duels, harems, heroines, and a cold case of murder Jaymie Matthews

Transcription

1 How science is really done A tale of duels, harems, heroines, and a cold case of murder Jaymie Matthews UBC Physics & Astronomy Wednesday, 10 March 7:30 pm Fairmont Lounge, St. John s College Textbooks tend to depict the pioneering scientists of history as scientific saints, known only for their contributions to knowledge, but rarely as colourful human beings sometimes heroic, sometimes flawed, sometimes both. Who knew there were astronomers whose life stories could make Hollywood screenplays. What s the connection between alchemy, astro-dynamics and murder? Find out at this talk, when PiTP meets CSI, and traditional physics meets tabloid paparazzi.

2 Jaymie & The Big Bang Theory

3 Back to our regular programming

4 Terra Yesterday, NASA released this composite image of the Earth, based on thousands of images collected from June to September 2001 by the Terra space satellite. This is the most detailed image of our planet that has ever been produced Canada is a partner in this mission

5 A shorter day? The devastating earthquake in Chile may have shifted the Earth s rotation axis by an angle of 8.7 mas (milliarcsec) moving it by about 8 cm and reducing the duration of the day by a total of 1.26 microsecond! This change was due to the redistribution of the Earth s angular momentum when massive amounts of rock were shifted along the quake fault line

6 Other planetary systems Deming & Seager Nature (19 Nov 2009)

7 Other planetary systems Deming & Seager Nature (19 Nov 2009) selection effects and observational sensitivity vs. parameter space of exoplanets?

8 Other planetary systems Deming & Seager Nature (19 Nov 2009) selection effects and observational sensitivity vs. parameter space of exoplanets?

9 orbital period P 15 yr (around 1 solar-mass star) Other planetary systems Deming & Seager Nature (19 Nov 2009) selection effects and observational sensitivity vs. parameter space of exoplanets? large surveys span about 15 yr

10 Other planetary systems Deming & Seager Nature (19 Nov 2009) selection effects and observational sensitivity vs. parameter space of exoplanets?

11 Other planetary systems mass limit to be considered a planet Deming & Seager Nature (19 Nov 2009) selection effects and observational sensitivity vs. parameter space of exoplanets?

12 Other planetary systems Deming & Seager Nature (19 Nov 2009) selection effects and observational sensitivity and parameter space of exoplanets?

13 Other planetary systems Deming & Seager Nature (19 Nov 2009) Jupiter planets in our Solar System Earth

14 Other planetary systems Deming & Seager Nature (19 Nov 2009) Jupiter planets in our Solar System Earth We are only on the edge of sensitivity to Jovian planets in large orbits

15 Other planetary systems Deming & Seager Nature (19 Nov 2009) Jupiter planets in other solar systems Earth No one expected to find planets in this region of parameter space

16 Searching for habitable worlds Studying superearths

17 superearths M ~ 2 20 M Earth mass range is somewhat arbitrary upper limit a core that can accrete H 2 gas from the disk two generic families depends on H 2 O content none in Solar System

18 superearths M ~ 2 20 M Earth mass range is somewhat arbitrary upper limit a core that can accrete H 2 gas from the disk two generic families depends on H 2 O content none in Solar System confusion region

19 superearths Deming & Seager Nature (19 Nov 2009)

20 HD system three superearths within 1 AU of parent star orbital migration & shepherding Lovis, Mayor, Pepe, Alibert et al. 2006

21 The tree of superearths rocky ocean

22 superearths The tree of superearths terrestrial planets dry, rocky planets Fe-rich mantle? H 2 O-rich mantle??? ocean planets? aqua planets? mini-neptunes M ~ 2 20 M Earth

23 superearth models Input M, P surf, T surf, R (guess), g surf, composition Output R, ρ(r), P(r), g(r), m(r), phase transitions

24 Toblerone diagram Valencia, Sasselov, O Connell 2007

25 Valencia, Sasselov, O Connell 2007 Toblerone diagram Diana Valencia (BSc Toronto; PhD Harvard) was just awarded a Sagan Postdoctoral Fellowship from the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute

26 Toblerone diagram Valencia, Sasselov, O Connell 2007

27 superearth models transits and photometry mass, radius, [M/H] star mass radius relation + orbital characteristics 11 different mineral compositions (Earth-like) Valencia, O Connell, Sasselov M E 2M E 5M E 10M E

28 superearth models transits and photometry mass, radius, [M/H] star mass radius relation + orbital characteristics 11 different mineral compositions (Earth-like) Valencia, O Connell, Sasselov M E 2M E 5M E 10M E

29 superearth models transits and photometry mass, radius, [M/H] star mass radius relation + orbital characteristics planet Valencia, Sasselov, O Connell 2007 formation models H 2 O

30 superearth models transits and photometry mass, radius, [M/H] star mass radius relation + orbital characteristics planet Valencia, Sasselov, O Connell 2007 formation models H 2 O To constrain planet formation models we need a sample of super Earths with radii known to 5% and masses to 10%

31 superearth models Earth-like ocean planet Valencia, Thomsen & Sasselov 2007

32 superearth models phase diagram of H 2 O Valencia, Thomsen & Sasselov 2007

33 Planet radius uncertainties superearth models new high-p phases, e.g. ice XI: 0.4% Equation of State extrapolations: + 0.9% iron core alloys (Fe vs. FeS): 0.8% viscosity, etc.: + 0.2% The net model uncertainties are around 2%

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36 Planet radius uncertainties superearth models new high-p phases, e.g. ice XI: 0.4% Equation of State extrapolations: + 0.9% iron core alloys (Fe vs. FeS): 0.8% viscosity, etc.: + 0.2% The net model uncertainties are around 2% What about data?

37 Space missions Three space telescopes have expanded the search and the study of exoplanets Other planetary systems MOST CoRoT smsc.cnes.fr/corot/ GP_actualite.htm Kepler kepler.nasa.gov

38 Other planetary systems Space missions When most people think of a space telescope, they think of this one

39 Hubble Space Telescope America s space telescope

40 Canada s space telescope MOST Hubble Space Telescope

41 Canada s space telescope Microvariability & Oscillations of STars Microvariabilité et Oscillations STellaire MOST Hubble Space Telescope

42 Canada s space telescope The Humble Space Telescope MOST Hubble Space Telescope

43 Canada s space telescope Microvariability & Oscillations of STars Microvariabilité et Oscillations STellaire First Canadian space telescope all-canadian scientific satellite in over 30 years continuing legacy of.alouette 1 Canadian Space Agency (CSA)

44 MOST at a glance Satellite 54 kg, cm Power: solar panels peak ~ 38 W Communication: radio power of a cell phone Attitude Control System: pioneering technology pointing 4000 better Lifetime: 5 9 years +? CONTRACTORS: Dynacon Inc. U of T Institute for Aerospace Studies PROJECT BUDGET ~ $10M

45 MOST at a glance Mission Scientist > 54 kg, 182 cm tall Power: hydrocarbons peak ~ 12 MW at clubs Communication: loud no cell phone Attitude uncontrolled pionerd technology doesn t always have a point Lifetime: fun while it lasts CONTRACTORS: my parents MY SALARY << $10M

46 MOST at a glance Instrument Maksutov telescope aperture = 15 cm field of view = 2 diameter single broadband filter 380 λ 750 nm twin E2V CCDs Science and Startracker Fabry microlenses produce.pupil images of Primary.Star and sky backgrounds University of British Columbia CRESTech, Spectral Applied Research

47 MOST at a glance Instrument Maksutov telescope aperture = 15 cm field of view = 2 diameter single broadband filter 380 λ 750 nm twin E2V CCDs Science and Startracker Fabry microlenses produce.pupil images of Primary.Star and sky backgrounds Ceravolo Optical Systems (Ottawa) Custom Scientific (Phoenix) baffles corrector & secondary filter primary mirror CCD QE camera optics

48 Instrument ultraprecise photometer which can see oscillations in starlight as small as 1 part per million (0.0001%) MOST at a glance University of British Columbia CRESTech, Spectral Applied Research Ceravolo Optical Systems

49 Instrument Ultraprecise lightmeter MOST can detect changes as small as 1 part per million (1 ppm = %) How sensitive is this? MOST at a glance

50 Instrument Ultraprecise lightmeter MOST can detect changes as small as 1 part per million (1 ppm = %) How sensitive is this? If you were looking at the Empire State Building at night with all the lights on and office blinds open MOST at a glance

51 Instrument Ultraprecise lightmeter MOST can detect changes as small as 1 part per million (1 ppm = %) How sensitive is this? If you were looking at the Empire State Building at night with all the lights on and office blinds open, you could reduce its luminosity by 1 ppm by having one person pull down one blind 3 centimetres MOST at a glance

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53 29 metres 3 rd stage ROCKOT 3-stage former ICBM (SS-19) with low-orbit lift capacity ~1900 kg Eurockot = Astrium + Khrunichev Space Research Centre mass = 107 tonnes

54 Jaymie M. George W.

55 Jaymie M. George W.

56 Jaymie M. George W. as of 20 Jan 2009

57 Launch: 30 June :15: UTC Plesetsk Cosmodrome

58 MOST at a glance Orbit circular polar orbit altitude h = 820 km period P = 101 min inclination i = 98.6º Sun-synchronous stays over terminator Continuous Viewing Zone CVZ ~ 54 wide -18º < δ < +36º stars visible for up to 8 weeks without interruption CVZ = Continuous Viewing Zone MOST

59 Wondering about anything?