Senior Theses
Elizabeth Adams, 2007
Title: An Examination of the Kinematical Properties of Dwarf Irregular Galaxies
Abstract: We present an investigation of the kinematic properties of twenty eight dwarf irregular galaxies using spatially resolved neutral hydrogen maps from the Very Large Array. We explore several scaling relations, including both the classical and baryonic Tully-Fisher relations and mass relations and offer comparisons to gas rich late-type spirals. In addition, we examine correlations between dark and luminous matter (stellar and gaseous) for the dwarf irregular galaxies with both optical and neutral hydrogen images. While it is known that dwarf irregular galaxies fall off the classical Tully-Fisher relation, further support is offered for the baryonic Tully-Fisher relation being the underlying relation for both spiral and dwarf irregular galaxies.
Elisabeth Mills, 2007
Title: Multiwavelength Study of Potential Regions of Star Formation in the Galactic Center
Abstract: We present a multiwavelength analysis of giant molecular cloud cores over two square degrees in the Galactic Center region. Fifty three cores are detected using Clumpfind with a detection significance of 2sigma. Masses, szes, spectral indices, and dust emissivity spectral indices are determined for a subset of these cores. The cores are found to have major axes ranging in size from 3 to 8 pc, and have masses ranging from 2.5 x 105 to 7 x 106 Mo. The average spectral index in this region is found to be alpha=4.3, consistent with steep values observed in this region reported in the literature.
Ian Roederer, 2005
Title: WIYN Open Cluster Study: Photometric Analysis of the Fundamental Parameters of the Open Cluster NGC 6633
Abstract: This study reports photometrically revised values for the reddening, metallicity, distance, and age of the open cluster NGC 6633. Observations were made in the U, B, V, R, and I filters using the WIYN 0.9m telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory. Photometry was performed using DAOPHOT, and small aperture corrections were applied. This study finds E(B-V) = 0.15 +/- 0.01 +/- sys, [Fe/H] = -0.10 +/- 0.05 +/- sys, (m-M)_0 = 7.94 +/- 0.02 +/- sys (= 388 +/- 4 +/- sys pc), and age = 650 +/- 25 +/- sys Myr. These results support the claim that NGC 6633 is a Hyades-age open cluster that is slightly metal-poor. This research falls under the auspices of the WIYN Open Cluster Study (WOCS), which was established to create a database of open cluster photometry, astrometry, and spectroscopy.
Jun Omori, 2005
Title: Link Between Neutral Gas Distribution, Mergers and Star Formation: Interacting Dwarf Galaxy Pair UGC 5205 and CGCG 007-025
Abstract: The results of moderate spatial resolution, HI synthesis observations of the interacting dwarf galaxy pair UGC 5205 and CGCG 007-025 are presented. UGC 5205 is a galaxy with no current star formation and CGCG 007-025 is currently star bursting. The correlation between neutral hydrogen distribution and the star formation activity is investigated. The peak gas column density of CGCG 007-027 was observed at the site of H alpha emission while a double peaked column density distribution was observed in UGC 5205.
The velocity fields of both galaxies are distorted such that no rotation curve can be fit. A model rotation curve for UGC 5205 shows that the star formation threshold is higher than the observed column density, and there is no H alpha emission detected. From the observed tidal tails, the system is found to be an intermediate state Disk/Halo merger.
