Jesse Hart L&S Math & Physical Sciences
Validating the 3D Position Calibration of the COSI Germanium sensors
Multimessenger astronomy combines gravitational waves and electromagnetic observations to study cosmic events. Due to multimessenger methods, binary neutron star mergers are believed to be the progenitors of the mysterious short gamma ray bursts (sGRBs) observed in telescopes. The joint detection of a gravitational wave (GW) with an associated sGRB demonstrated the potential of GW and sGRB observations to study the progenitors and environments of compact object mergers. However, only one confirmed joint detection exists, leaving sGRB emission mechanisms and their progenitors unclear.
The Compton Spectrometer and Imager (COSI) is a NASA satellite mission that will address an observational gap in the 0.2–5 MeV band, where sGRBs are expected. Germanium detectors enable COSI to reconstruct Compton scattered gamma-rays over a field of view covering ~25% of the sky. I will use a specialized data set to validate the existing position and calibration method for these detectors. This is required to understand sources of systematic uncertainty. My work will allow COSI to characterize measurements that will localize sGRB progenitors.
Message To Sponsor
Thank you so much for supporting my participation in SURF L&S this summer. I am excited to work on improving how gamma-ray detectors measure and reconstruct signals and ensure the accuracy of these measurements. This opportunity allows me to build on my physics training and coursework while gaining hands-on experience with experimental data from a NASA-affiliated project. I am deeply grateful for your support.