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 Professor
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
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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
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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
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Developments in the EM-CCD camera for OGRE.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2014
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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
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The OGRESS sounding rocket payload.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2013
-
Hybrid X-ray optical system for space astrophysics.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2013
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Novel design of a large X-ray optical system for astrophysical application.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2012
- Demonstrating Exoplanet Coronagraphs. IEEE Aerospace Conference Proceedings. 2012
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Development of off-plane gratings for WHIMex and IXO.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2011
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X-ray Optics for WHIMEx, The Warm Hot Intergalactic Medium Explorer.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2011
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Compact Optics for High Resolution Spectroscopy of Celestial X-ray Sources.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2011
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Full-aperture X-ray tests of Kirkpatrick-Baez modules: preliminary results.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2011
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The CODEX sounding rocket payload.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2011
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Developments of the Off-Plane X-ray Grating Spectrometer for IXO.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2010
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Results from the Extended X-ray Off-plane Spectrometer (EXOS) Sounding Rocket Payload.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2010
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X-ray resolution tests of an off-plane reflection grating for IXO.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2010
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Alternative Starshade Missions.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2010
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Direct imaging and spectroscopy of habitable planets using JWST and a starshade.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2010
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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
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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
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New Worlds Observer telescope and instrument optical design concepts.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2008
-
New Worlds Observer: Minotaur to Ares V.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2008
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Off-plane reflection gratings for Constellation-X.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2008
-
Sensitivity analysis of the New Worlds starshade's shadow.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2008
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The Milli-Arc-Second Structure Imager, MASSIM:TB A new concept for a high angular resolution X-ray telescope.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2008
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The New Worlds Observer: Scientific and technical advantages of external occulters.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2008
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The future of high angular resolution X-ray astronomy.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2008
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Laboratory studies of petal-shaped occulters.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2007
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External occulters for direct observation of exoplanets: An overview.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2007
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Externally occulted terrestrial planet finder coronagraph: Simulations and sensitivities.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2007
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High resolution soft X-ray spectroscopy for constellation X.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2007
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New worlds observer tolerance overview.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2007
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White light demonstration of one hundred parts per billion irradiance suppression in air by new starshade occulters.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2007
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A sounding rocket payload for X-ray observations of the Cygnus Loop.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2006
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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
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The new worlds observer: Using occulters to directly observe planets.
Proceedings of SPIE.
2006
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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. 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.
121-132.
1996
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ECHELLE CLASS SPECTROSCOPY WITH A SINGLE HOLOGRAPHIC GRATING.
484-487.
1993
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OPTIMIZED HOLOGRAPHIC GRATING SOLUTIONS FOR ROWLAND CIRCLE SPECTROGRAPHS.
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.
275-285.
2018
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High contrast observations of bright stars with a starshade.
Experimental Astronomy.
209-237.
2017
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SOFT X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY OF THE CYGNUS LOOP SUPERNOVA REMNANT.
Astrophysical Journal.
2013
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Limits on achievable intensity reduction with an optical occulter: comment.
Journal of the Optical Society of America A.
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.
Astrophysical Journal.
2012
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ANALYTIC MODELING OF STARSHADES.
Astrophysical Journal.
2011
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A suborbital payload for soft X-ray spectroscopy of extended sources.
Experimental Astronomy.
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.
Astrophysical Journal.
1428-1439.
2009
- Detecting Biosignatures of an Evolving Earth-Like Atmosphere via New Worlds Observer. Origins of life. 358-359. 2009
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Soft X-ray spectroscopy of the Cygnus Loop supernova remnant.
Astrophysical Journal.
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: New biology.
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.
91-136.
2003
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Astronomy - A twisted look at the X-ray sky.
Nature: New biology.
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: New biology.
160-162.
2000
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Overview of the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer Mission.
Astrophysical Journal.
L1-L6.
2000
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The scattering of X-rays by interstellar dust on the microarcsecond scale.
Astrophysical Journal.
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.
Astrophysical Journal.
976-982.
1995
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THE EXTREME-ULTRAVIOLET SPECTROGRAPH - A RADIAL GROOVE GRATING, SOUNDING ROCKET-BORNE, ASTRONOMICAL INSTRUMENT.
Astrophysical Journal Supplement.
211-220.
1993
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EXTREME ULTRAVIOLET SPECTROSCOPY OF CAPELLA.
Astrophysical Journal.
L99-L102.
1992
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EXTREME ULTRAVIOLET SPECTROSCOPY OF G191-B2B - DIRECT OBSERVATION OF IONIZATION EDGES.
Astrophysical Journal.
L51-L54.
1992
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THE ANOMALOUS EXTINCTION CURVE IN THE DIRECTION OF RHO OPHIUCHI FROM 950-A TO 1180-A.
Astrophysical Journal.
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.
Astrophysical Journal.
L81-L84.
1989
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A far ultraviolet rocket-borne spectrograph.
Experimental Astronomy.
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.
Astrophysical Journal.
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.
Astrophysical Journal.
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.
Astrophysical Journal.
264-270.
1983
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HIGH-EFFICIENCY SPECTROGRAPHS FOR THE EUV AND SOFT X-RAYS.
IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science.
1535-1538.
1983
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A STUDY OF X-RAY-EMISSION FROM AP AND AM STARS.
Astrophysical Journal.
L59-L62.
1982
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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
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THE DETECTION OF X-RAY VARIABILITY IN O-STARS.
Astrophysical Journal.
L19-L22.
1981
-
X-rays from RS Canum Venaticorum systems - A HEAO 1 survey and the development of a coronal model.
Astrophysical Journal.
212-212.
1980
- HR976 AND 4C34.13 - AN X-RAY ODD COUPLE. Astronomy and Astrophysics. L7-L8. 1980
- STALKING THE CYGNUS SUPERBUBBLE. Sky and telescope. 455-460. 1980
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THE CORONAE OF 40 ERIDANI.
Astrophysical Journal.
L23-L26.
1980
-
THE X-RAY SUPERBUBBLE IN CYGNUS.
Astrophysical Journal.
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.
Astrophysical Journal.
939-939.
1979
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DISCOVERY OF X-RAYS FROM THE 40-ERIDANI SYSTEM.
Astrophysical Journal.
L137-L140.
1979
-
X-RAY-EMISSION FROM AN AP-STAR (PHI-HERCULIS) AND A LATE B-STAR (PI-CETI).
Astrophysical Journal.
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.
Astrophysical Journal.
L21-L21.
1978
-
X-ray and radio emission from the compact galaxy III ZW 2.
Astrophysical Journal.
L91-L91.
1978
-
Extreme ultraviolet observation of Sirius - Evidence against a photospheric origin of the 0.25 keV flux.
Astrophysical Journal.
L87-L87.
1978
-
Possible detection of an extreme-ultraviolet source at 500 A.
Astrophysical Journal.
585-585.
1978
-
A soft X-ray map of the Perseus cluster of galaxies.
Astrophysical Journal.
L111-L111.
1976
-
An observation of the diffuse soft X-ray/extreme-ultraviolet background.
Astrophysical Journal.
L7-L7.
1976
-
Possible Detection of Very Soft X-Rays from SS Cygni.
Astrophysical Journal.
L5-L5.
1974
-
Discovery of a Central X-Ray Object in the Cygnus Loop.
Astrophysical Journal.
L115-L115.
1973
-
Advances in edge diffraction algorithms.
Journal of the Optical Society of America A.
275-285.
2018
Teaching
courses taught
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ASTR 3800 - Introduction to Scientific Data Analysis and Computing
Primary Instructor - Spring 2018 / Fall 2018 / Fall 2019
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
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
global connections related to teaching and scholarly work (in recent years)
- Czech Republic Country
- Italy Country