Supernovae in 3-D: Bridging the Gap Between Observations and Theory

AST-0302123霍夫曼，詹尼弗博士。霍夫曼被授予NSF天文学和天体物理学博士后奖学金，以在加州大学伯克利分校开展一项研究和教育计划。她将开发一种三维蒙特卡罗辐射转移程序，该程序将预测最新超新星爆炸模型的可观测光谱偏振特征。计算能力的提高鼓励了美国最大的超级计算机中心开发三维流体力学超新星爆炸模型。然而，这些模型及其基本假设的有效性只能通过与观测结果的直接比较来检验。她的计算将有助于根据最近在8米级望远镜上对超新星喷发进行的光谱偏振观测来测试这些模型。除了她的研究之外，霍夫曼还将推行一项三管齐下的计划，以促进在所有教育水平上为物理学领域的女性建立一个地方支持网络。她将(A)为打算在加州大学伯克利分校主修物理科学的一年级女生组织一次新的学生迎新活动，(B)通过为加州大学伯克利分校的物理科学女学生安排机会参加现有的湾区旨在女孩科学教育的教育和外展计划，在大学和当地社区之间建立伙伴关系，以及(C)赞助一系列研讨会，邀请女科学家到加州大学伯克利分校校园谈论她们的研究并与她们的女同事建立联系。

AST-0302123Hoffman, JenniferDr. Hoffman is awarded an NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowship to carry out a program of research and education at the University of California, Berkeley. She will develop a three-dimensional Monte Carlo radiative transfer code that will predict the observable spectro-polarimetric features of the newest supernova explosion models. Increases in computing capabilities have encouraged the development of three-dimensional hydrodynamical supernova explosion models at the nation's largest supercomputer centers. The validity of such models and their fundamental assumptions can only be tested, however, by direct comparison with observations. Her calculations will facilitate the testing of these models against the recently available spectro-polarimetric observations of supernova ejecta on 8-m class telescopes.In addition to her research, Dr. Hoffman will pursue a three-pronged plan to foster the development of a local support network for women in the physical sciences at all educational levels. She will (a) organize a new student orientation for first-year female students intending to major in physical sciences at UC Berkeley, (b) forge partnerships between the University and the local community by arranging opportunities for female physical science students at UC Berkeley to participate in existing Bay Area educational and outreach programs aimed at girls' science education, and (c) sponsor a colloquium series that will bring female scientists to the UC Berkeley campus to speak about their research and to network with their female colleagues.***