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.
 

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 M_o. 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.
 

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.
 

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.
 

Title: Stellar and Gaseous Kinematics of Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxies

Abstract: The high star formation rate in blue compact dwarf galaxies suggests that these galaxies are in a temporary phase of their evolution.  Over the last few decades, numerous studies have searched for possible triggers of the star formation activity (including tidal triggers by nearby companions or merger induced starbursts) and for indications of the ultimate fate of these galaxies once the starburst ends. Here, we present a kinematic study of the stellar and gaseous components of starbursting dwarf galaxies in order to further our understanding of these enigmatic galaxies.  We present resolved rotation curves of ten blue compact dwarf (BCD) galaxies obtained with the RC Spectrograph on the CTIO 4m; the wavelength range of the optical spectra includes both the calcium triplet lines (stellar) and the [S III] emission lines (ionized gas).Analysis of the spectra indicates that the majority of these galaxies are rotation dominated, and that the gaseous and stellar components are kinematically coupled.  Interestingly, a few of the galaxies appear to have decoupled kinematics, suggesting that their high star formation rate may have been induced by a catastrophic event.  In these cases, the gaseous component has a significant velocity gradient while the stellar component is highly perturbed.

Title: UBVRI CCD Photometry of Open Cluster NGC 2420

Abstract: The WIYN Open Cluster Study (WOCS) is a WIYN wide collaboration to study open clusters. Cluster members are thought to have formed at the same time and out of the same material and can therefore be used to study specific astrophysical problems.

I chose NGC 2420 because it is the nearest metal poor open cluster known and it is very rich. It is designated as a fundamental WOCS cluster. Its metallicity makes it ideal for distance calculations to the LMC, for examining the Milky Way metallicity gradient, and probing stellar interiors. The goal for this project is to derive the following cluster parameters: reddening, metallicity, distance, and age.

Title: Precision BVRI CCD Photometry of the Young Open Cluster M34

Abstract: We completed precision BVRI photometry of a 40 x 40 arc minute area M34 as part of the continuing WOCS study. WOCS itself stand for WIYN Open Cluster Study. WIYN is an excellent choice of instrument for this study for several reasons, including its capability of achieving subarcsecond seeing on photometric nights, has a large field of view, and incorporates a host of newer technologies.

Title: Testing the Post-Big Bang Origins of Lithium

Abstract: Halo dwarfs exhibit a plateau of lithium abundances near 12 + log [N(Li)/N(H) ] = A(Li) = 2.1-2.3, whereas young open cluster stars that are minimally depleted in lithium and the meteoritic abundance are A(Li) = 3.2-3.4.  Although the amount of depletion of the halo star Li abundances is still vigorously debated, it is generally agreed that their initial abundances were not as high as A(Li) = 3.2-3.4; therefore, lithium production processes in the Galaxy raised the ambient Li abundance from its Big Bang value (whatever that may be) to about A(Li) = 3.2-3.4.  In a plot of Li versus [Fe/H], one sees a rather flat plateau of Li abundances from the lowest metallicities near [Fe/H] = -3.5, all the way up to [Fe/H] -0.3, then a very steep rise to A(Li) = 3.2-3.4 at solar metallicity. Attempts to explain this steep rise in Li have invoked models using lithium production from (1) cosmic rays, (2) Type II supernovae, (3) novae, and (4) the 7Be-transport mechanism in AGB stars, in various combinations.  The models vary in success; the cosmic ray models adequately match a possible slight rise in the Li abundances with [Fe/H] at [Fe/H] < -1.  However, these models invariably produce a factor of 2-4 more Li than is actually observed at intermediate metallicities (-1 < [Fe/H] < -0.3).  To help determine whether this is a deficiency in the models, or an artifact of the small number of observations available at intermediate metallicity, we present high S/N, high resolution observations of Li in 115 stars with 0.6 < [Fe/H] < -0.4, taken at the WIYN telescope.  We find that the 56 stars of our sample with measurable Li do not conclusively indicate or contradict a trend of higher Li abundance than previously observed at intermediate metallicities.

Title: Connector Tests Measurements for the Minos Detector

Abstract: Optical connectors are a vital component of the MINOS experiment. These connectors are needed to mate fiber optic cables from one component of the detector to another. It is important the connectors mate these fibers together with minimal attenuation. The connectors were tested to verify that the attenuation was small. This paper presents the results of a number of those tests showing the compatibility between connectors from the same shot and different shots. A shot refers to one production run in which the hot plastic was literally shot into the mold to solidify. Each shot used the same mold and had around 250 connectors of each type made, except for shot 8. Shot 8 was the shot for the final production and so contained twenty-two thousand connectors, the entire total needed for the near and far detectors.