The PhD project is тАЬProbing the existence of Black Holes in Globular Star Clusters тАУ by identifying and tracking their high-velocity starsтАЭ. This is a collaboration between the project P.I. in the Centre for Astronomy at the National University of Ireland, Galway (Dr. Ray Butler) and researchers in the University of California at Santa Cruz (Prof. Jean Brodie), the Institute for Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh (Dr. Dougal Mackey), and Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Massachusetts (Dr. Jay Strader).
The research focuses on the development, validation and deployment of advanced image enhancement methods for Hubble Space Telescope (HST) imagery of the centres of Globular Clusters. These are believed to harbour intermediate-mass Black Holes тАУ the тАЬmissing linkтАЭ between stellar black holes and galactic supermassive black holes. Near-miss encounters with a massive black hole would greatly speed up passing stars. The project will identify such anomalous stars, by tracking their motion across the cluster, in images taken over baselines of a few years (1990s to the present) by HST and by the Keck Telescope with adaptive optics.
This project offers the opportunity to gain experience and develop practical expertise in the technologies which are driving the future of astronomical research: image processing and simulation, space telescopes, adaptive optics, precision astrometry, crowded-field photometry, N-body dynamical simulations, data-archive mining, and project co-ordination via Web3.0 instruments.
Travel for training and research exchange to the collaborating institutes in California and Edinburgh, and to the Keck Observatory (Hawaii), is anticipated. Funding is available for 3 years. The student will receive a monthly tax-free stipend, worth тВм16k-17k annually. In addition, University registration fees and all other research costs will be covered.
Requirements: Candidates should have, or expect to obtain, a minimum of a 2.1 (Second Class Honours Grade 1) honours degree in Physics, Astronomy, Astrophysics, or a related discipline. This position is available from September 1st 2008.
Contact: Dr. Ray Butler, Centre for Astronomy, School of Physics, National University of Ireland, Galway
Phone: 091 493788.
Email: ray.butler.AT.nuigalway.ie
Web:http://www.astro.nuigalway.ie/
Closing date: Friday 18 July 2008.
