research overview
- Prof. Cash's work is in experimental space astronomy. He has two primary interests - spectroscopy of celestial x-ray sources and the search for Earth-like planets.
- Contact Info
CASH, WEBSTER
Positions
- Professor, Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences (APS)
- Professor, Aerospace Engineering Sciences
Research Areas
Research
keywords
- diffractive optics, x-ray optics, x-ray spectroscopy, exoplanets
Publications
selected publications
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chapter
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High resolution x-ray imaging.
AIP Conference Proceedings.
44-57.
1999
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High resolution x-ray imaging.
AIP Conference Proceedings.
44-57.
1999
-
conference proceeding
-
Ground-based testing and demonstrations of starshades.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2016
- Surfing the L2 gradient with the starshade in search of extraterrestrial life 2016
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The Exo-S Probe Class Starshade Mission.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2015
-
X-ray monitoring for astrophysical applications on Cubesat.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2015
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X-ray monitoring for astrophysical applications.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2014
-
Developments in the EM-CCD camera for OGRE.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2014
-
Design of Novel X-ray Optical System for Rocket Experiment.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2013
-
New Worlds Airship.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2013
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Pushing the Boundaries of X-ray Grating Spectroscopy in a Suborbital Rocket.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2013
-
The OGRESS sounding rocket payload.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2013
-
Hybrid X-ray optical system for space astrophysics.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2013
-
Novel design of a large X-ray optical system for astrophysical application.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2012
- Demonstrating Exoplanet Coronagraphs. IEEE Aerospace Conference Proceedings. 2012
-
Development of off-plane gratings for WHIMex and IXO.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2011
-
X-ray Optics for WHIMEx, The Warm Hot Intergalactic Medium Explorer.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2011
-
Compact Optics for High Resolution Spectroscopy of Celestial X-ray Sources.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2011
-
Full-aperture X-ray tests of Kirkpatrick-Baez modules: preliminary results.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2011
-
The CODEX sounding rocket payload.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2011
-
Developments of the Off-Plane X-ray Grating Spectrometer for IXO.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2010
-
Results from the Extended X-ray Off-plane Spectrometer (EXOS) Sounding Rocket Payload.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2010
-
X-ray resolution tests of an off-plane reflection grating for IXO.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2010
-
Alternative Starshade Missions.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2010
-
Direct imaging and spectroscopy of habitable planets using JWST and a starshade.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2010
-
New Worlds Probe.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2010
- INVESTIGATION OF TARGET SELECTION SCHEMES FOR A SPACE TELESCOPE-OCCULTER SYSTEM IN THE SUN-EARTH L2 REGIME. Advances in the Astronautical Sciences. 1005-+. 2010
- The New Worlds Observer: The Astrophysics Strategic Mission Concept Study. 353-360. 2009
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Off-Plane Grating Spectrometer for the International X-ray Observatory.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2009
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The EXOS Sounding Rocket Payload.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2009
-
The new worlds observer: The astrophysics strategic mission concept study.
EPJ Web of Conferences.
2009
-
Off-Plane X-ray Grating Spectrometer for the International X-ray Observatory.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2009
- Detailed Spectroscopy of Exoplanets Using the New Worlds Observer. 209-217. 2008
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Analysis of exoplanet light curves with the New Worlds Observer - art. no. 70103Y.
Proceedings of SPIE.
Y103-Y103.
2008
-
New Worlds Observer telescope and instrument optical design concepts.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2008
-
New Worlds Observer: Minotaur to Ares V.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2008
-
Off-plane reflection gratings for Constellation-X.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2008
-
Sensitivity analysis of the New Worlds starshade's shadow.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2008
-
The Milli-Arc-Second Structure Imager, MASSIM:TB A new concept for a high angular resolution X-ray telescope.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2008
-
The New Worlds Observer: Scientific and technical advantages of external occulters.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2008
-
The future of high angular resolution X-ray astronomy.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2008
-
Laboratory studies of petal-shaped occulters.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2007
-
External occulters for direct observation of exoplanets: An overview.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2007
-
Externally occulted terrestrial planet finder coronagraph: Simulations and sensitivities.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2007
-
High resolution soft X-ray spectroscopy for constellation X.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2007
-
New worlds observer tolerance overview.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2007
-
White light demonstration of one hundred parts per billion irradiance suppression in air by new starshade occulters.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2007
-
A sounding rocket payload for X-ray observations of the Cygnus Loop.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2006
-
High-resolution X-ray spectroscopy with the reflection grating spectrometer of Constellation-X - art. no. 62660C.
Proceedings of SPIE.
C2660-C2660.
2006
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Kirkpatrick Baez spectrograph concepts for future space missions - art. no. 626638.
Proceedings of SPIE.
26638-26638.
2006
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Studies in thin diffraction gratings for flight applications.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2006
-
The new worlds observer: Using occulters to directly observe planets.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2006
-
Kirkpatrick-Baez optics for the Generation-X mission.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2005
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Sounding rocket payload development for X-ray observations of the Cygnus Loop.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2005
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High resolution x-ray spectroscopy of supernova remnants and the diffuse background.
Proceedings of SPIE.
136-147.
2004
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MAXIM science and technology.
Proceedings of SPIE.
199-211.
2004
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Off-plane grating mount tolerances for Constellation-X.
Proceedings of SPIE.
335-340.
2004
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Off-plane grating performance for Constellation-X.
Proceedings of SPIE.
302-312.
2004
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An X-ray test facility for diffraction gratings.
Proceedings of SPIE.
499-507.
2003
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Maxim Pathfinder: A practical configuration.
Proceedings of SPIE.
435-445.
2003
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Modeling optical performance of grazing incidence X-ray interferometers.
Proceedings of SPIE.
446-458.
2003
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X-ray performance of gratings in the extreme off-plane mount.
Proceedings of SPIE.
492-498.
2003
- X-ray interferometry. Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series. 633-638. 2003
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Maxim: The Micro-Arcsecond X-ray Imaging Mission.
Proceedings of SPIE.
196-209.
2002
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MAXIM interferometer tolerances and tradeoffs.
Proceedings of SPIE.
568-577.
2002
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Off-plane gratings for Constellation-X.
Proceedings of SPIE.
549-556.
2002
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System performance evaluation of the MAXIM concept with integrated modeling.
Proceedings of SPIE.
557-567.
2002
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Alignment of a grazing incidence x-ray interferometer.
Proceedings of SPIE.
17-28.
2001
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X-ray interferometry: Ultra high resolution astronomy.
Proceedings of SPIE.
127-135.
2001
- The maxim mission: X-ray interferometry in the new century. 206-209. 2001
- The Maxim Pathfinder Mission: X-ray imaging at 100 micro-arcseconds. Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series. 619-626. 2000
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High uniformity collimator for x-ray proximity lithography.
Proceedings of SPIE.
228-237.
2000
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Grazing incidence optics for x-ray interferometry.
Proceedings of SPIE.
456-466.
2000
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The Maxim Pathfinder Mission: X-ray imaging at 100 micro-arcseconds.
Proceedings of SPIE.
258-269.
2000
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High uniformity collimator for x-ray proximity lithography.
Proceedings of SPIE.
59-66.
1999
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Development of a grazing incidence x-ray interferometer.
Proceedings of SPIE.
291-299.
1999
- X-ray interferometry: Exciting science and feasible technology. IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference Proceedings. 1123-1128. 1999
- The mission tree. 317-321. 1998
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Sub-arcsec x-ray telescope for imaging the solar corona in the 0.25-1.2 keV band.
Proceedings of SPIE.
121-132.
1996
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ECHELLE CLASS SPECTROSCOPY WITH A SINGLE HOLOGRAPHIC GRATING.
Proceedings of SPIE.
484-487.
1993
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OPTIMIZED HOLOGRAPHIC GRATING SOLUTIONS FOR ROWLAND CIRCLE SPECTROGRAPHS.
Proceedings of SPIE.
361-364.
1993
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Ground-based testing and demonstrations of starshades.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2016
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journal article
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Advances in edge diffraction algorithms.
Journal of the Optical Society of America A: Optics, Image Science and Vision.
275-285.
2018
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High contrast observations of bright stars with a starshade.
Experimental Astronomy: an international journal on astronomical instrumentation and data analysis.
209-237.
2017
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SOFT X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY OF THE CYGNUS LOOP SUPERNOVA REMNANT.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
2013
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Limits on achievable intensity reduction with an optical occulter: comment.
Journal of the Optical Society of America A: Optics, Image Science and Vision.
913-917.
2012
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The Search for Habitable Worlds. 1. The Viability of a Starshade Mission.
Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.
418-447.
2012
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DETECTING THE WARM-HOT INTERGALACTIC MEDIUM THROUGH X-RAY ABSORPTION LINES.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
2012
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ANALYTIC MODELING OF STARSHADES.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
2011
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A suborbital payload for soft X-ray spectroscopy of extended sources.
Experimental Astronomy: an international journal on astronomical instrumentation and data analysis.
23-44.
2011
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CONSTRUCTION OF AN EARTH MODEL: ANALYSIS OF EXOPLANET LIGHT CURVES AND MAPPING THE NEXT EARTH WITH THE NEW WORLDS OBSERVER.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
1428-1439.
2009
- Detecting Biosignatures of an Evolving Earth-Like Atmosphere via New Worlds Observer. Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere. 358-359. 2009
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Soft X-ray spectroscopy of the Cygnus Loop supernova remnant.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
328-335.
2008
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Optical performance of the new worlds occulter.
Comptes Rendus Physique.
438-447.
2007
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Detection of Earth-like planets around nearby stars using a petal-shaped occulter.
Nature.
51-53.
2006
- High resolution X-ray spectroscopy: Is it interesting? Is it possible?. Symposium- International Astronomical Union. 790-792. 2005
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Imaging a black hole: MAXIM.
Advances in Space Research.
122-129.
2005
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X-ray interferometry.
Experimental Astronomy: an international journal on astronomical instrumentation and data analysis.
91-136.
2003
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Astronomy - A twisted look at the X-ray sky.
Nature.
644-647.
2001
- X-ray interferometry. Symposium- International Astronomical Union. 457-462. 2001
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Laboratory detection of X-ray fringes with a grazing-incidence interferometer.
Nature.
160-162.
2000
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Overview of the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer Mission.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
L1-L6.
2000
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The scattering of X-rays by interstellar dust on the microarcsecond scale.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
306-309.
2000
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The 825-1110 angstrom EUV spectrum of Venus.
Icarus.
200-204.
1996
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ROCKET FUV OBSERVATIONS OF THE IO PLASMA TORUS DURING THE SHOEMAKER-LEVY/9 IMPACTS.
Geophysical Research Letters.
1837-1840.
1995
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FAR-ULTRAVIOLET SPECTROGRAPHS - THE IMPACT OF HOLOGRAPHIC GRATING DESIGN.
Applied Optics.
2241-2246.
1995
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A SEARCH FOR AN X-RAY-SCATTERING HALO AROUND SCORPIUS X-1.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
976-982.
1995
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THE EXTREME-ULTRAVIOLET SPECTROGRAPH - A RADIAL GROOVE GRATING, SOUNDING ROCKET-BORNE, ASTRONOMICAL INSTRUMENT.
Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series.
211-220.
1993
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EXTREME ULTRAVIOLET SPECTROSCOPY OF CAPELLA.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
L99-L102.
1992
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EXTREME ULTRAVIOLET SPECTROSCOPY OF G191-B2B - DIRECT OBSERVATION OF IONIZATION EDGES.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
L51-L54.
1992
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THE ANOMALOUS EXTINCTION CURVE IN THE DIRECTION OF RHO OPHIUCHI FROM 950-A TO 1180-A.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
289-294.
1992
- HELIUM AND ARGON ABUNDANCE CONSTRAINTS AND THE THERMAL EVOLUTION OF COMET AUSTIN (1989C1). Icarus. 157-161. 1992
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THE SPECTRUM OF COMET AUSTIN - REPLY.
Science.
452-453.
1991
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X-ray optics 2: A technique for high resolution spectroscopy.
Applied Optics.
1749-1749.
1991
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THE SPECTRUM OF COMET AUSTIN FROM 910 TO 1180-A.
Science.
408-410.
1991
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FUV and EUV spectrographs: Development in the 1980s for astronomy in the 1990s.
Advances in Space Research.
171-179.
1991
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Far ultraviolet spectrophotometry of BD +28 4211.
Advances in Space Research.
29-32.
1991
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FAR-ULTRAVIOLET SPECTROPHOTOMETRY OF SPICA.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
L81-L84.
1989
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A far ultraviolet rocket-borne spectrograph.
Experimental Astronomy: an international journal on astronomical instrumentation and data analysis.
123-143.
1989
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Optical constants for thin films of C, diamond, Al, Si, and CVD SiC from 24 Å to 1216 Å.
Applied Optics.
279-279.
1988
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Optical constants for thin films of Ti, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Ir, Os, Pt, and Au from 24 Å to 1216 Å.
Applied Optics.
246-246.
1988
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X-RAY OPTICS - A TECHNIQUE FOR HIGH-RESOLUTION IMAGING.
Applied Optics.
2915-2920.
1987
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ULTRAVIOLET AND X-RAY OBSERVATIONS OF NGC-2264.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
542-550.
1985
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Aspheric concave grating spectrographs.
Applied Optics.
4518-4518.
1984
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Line profile variation in delta-Orionis A, l-Orionis A, and 15 Monocerotis.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
218-218.
1984
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NEW APPLICATIONS OF X-RAY OPTICAL TECHNIQUES.
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors, and Associated Equipment.
251-264.
1984
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X-ray spectrographs using radial groove gratings.
Applied Optics.
3971-3971.
1983
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EINSTEIN OBSERVATIONS OF X-RAY-EMISSION FROM A-STARS.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
264-270.
1983
-
HIGH-EFFICIENCY SPECTROGRAPHS FOR THE EUV AND SOFT X-RAYS.
IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science.
1535-1538.
1983
-
A STUDY OF X-RAY-EMISSION FROM AP AND AM STARS.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
L59-L62.
1982
-
ECHELLE SPECTROGRAPHS AT GRAZING-INCIDENCE.
Applied Optics.
710-717.
1982
- GRAZING-INCIDENCE OPTICS - NEW TECHNIQUES FOR HIGH-SENSITIVITY SPECTROSCOPY IN THE SPACE ULTRAVIOLET. 321-333. 1982
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VERY HIGH X-RAY EFFICIENCY FROM A BLAZED GRATING.
Applied Optics.
17-18.
1982
-
THE DETECTION OF X-RAY VARIABILITY IN O-STARS.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
L19-L22.
1981
-
X-rays from RS Canum Venaticorum systems - A HEAO 1 survey and the development of a coronal model.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
212-212.
1980
- HR976 AND 4C34.13 - AN X-RAY ODD COUPLE. Astronomy and Astrophysics: a European journal. L7-L8. 1980
- STALKING THE CYGNUS SUPERBUBBLE. Sky and telescope. 455-460. 1980
-
THE CORONAE OF 40 ERIDANI.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
L23-L26.
1980
-
THE X-RAY SUPERBUBBLE IN CYGNUS.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
L71-L76.
1980
-
WOLTER-SCHWARZSCHILD OPTICS FOR THE EXTREME ULTRAVIOLET - THE BERKELEY STELLAR SPECTROMETER AND THE EUV EXPLORER.
Optical Engineering.
211-218.
1980
-
Parameter estimation in astronomy through application of the likelihood ratio.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
939-939.
1979
-
DISCOVERY OF X-RAYS FROM THE 40-ERIDANI SYSTEM.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
L137-L140.
1979
-
X-RAY-EMISSION FROM AN AP-STAR (PHI-HERCULIS) AND A LATE B-STAR (PI-CETI).
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
L111-L115.
1979
-
Extreme ultraviolet reflection efficiencies of diamond-turned aluminum, polished nickel, and evaporated gold surfaces.
Applied Optics.
3309-3309.
1978
-
The soft X-ray spectrum of Capella - Discovery of intense line emission.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
L21-L21.
1978
-
X-ray and radio emission from the compact galaxy III ZW 2.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
L91-L91.
1978
-
Extreme ultraviolet observation of Sirius - Evidence against a photospheric origin of the 0.25 keV flux.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
L87-L87.
1978
-
Possible detection of an extreme-ultraviolet source at 500 A.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
585-585.
1978
-
A soft X-ray map of the Perseus cluster of galaxies.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
L111-L111.
1976
-
An observation of the diffuse soft X-ray/extreme-ultraviolet background.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
L7-L7.
1976
-
Possible Detection of Very Soft X-Rays from SS Cygni.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
L5-L5.
1974
-
Discovery of a Central X-Ray Object in the Cygnus Loop.
The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics.
L115-L115.
1973
-
Advances in edge diffraction algorithms.
Journal of the Optical Society of America A: Optics, Image Science and Vision.
275-285.
2018
Teaching
courses taught
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ASTR 2600 - Introduction to Scientific Programming
Primary Instructor - Fall 2021 / Fall 2022
Introduces principles, methods and tools of scientific programming commonly used in research. Topics include an introduction to programming in Python, data structures, numerical methods for calculus and data manipulation/visualization. Techniques covered are relevant to many technical fields but emphasis is placed on application to problems in astronomy and planetary science. Class time is split between lectures and in-lab tutorials. Degree credit not granted for this course and PHYS 2600. -
ASTR 3730 - Astrophysics 1 - Stellar and Interstellar
Primary Instructor - Fall 2020 / Fall 2023
Provides a quantitative introduction to the radiative and gravitational physics relevant to stellar and galactic astrophysics, as applied to understanding observations of tars, stellar evolution, stellar remnants and the structure of the Milky Way. Elective for APS major and minor. -
ASTR 3800 - Introduction to Scientific Data Analysis and Computing
Primary Instructor - Spring 2018 / Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2021 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2023 / Spring 2024
Introduces scientific data analysis from a practical perspective. Covers statistical analysis, model fitting, error analysis, theoretical compliance and image analysis with examples from space-based and ground-based astronomy. Elective for APS major. Opened to qualified non-majors with instructor consent. -
ASTR 3830 - Astrophysics 2 - Galactic and Extragalactic
Primary Instructor - Spring 2020 / Spring 2023
The second semester of a year-long introduction to astrophysical processes. The physical processes developed in ASTR 3730 are applied to topics in extragalactic astronomy, including galaxies, supermassive black holes, galaxy clusters and cosmology. Elective for APS major and minor.
Background
education and training
- Ph.D., University of California-Berkeley 1977
- B.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1973
International Activities
geographic focus
- China Country
- Czech Republic Country
- Europe Continent
- France Country
- Italy Country
- United Kingdom Country