Past Research Projects
Optical Measurement of Crab Pulsar Rate. Supervisors: Dr Giles Hammond & Prof. Graham Woan
My masters research project in 2012 involved developing apparatus to make optical measurements of the Crab pulsar. This star pulses too fast to be observed using an ordinary astronomical camera (30Hz) so I designed apparatus to mechanically ‘slow down’ the pulse. A measurement of the pulse frequency was made to within 2 mHz of the expected value. |
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Writing Teacher’s Notes for Scottish Schools. Supervisor: Prof. Martin Hendry
In the summer of 2011 I worked with Professor Martin Hendry, assisting him with a Cosmology and Relativity project, funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council, to develop resources for higher and advanced higher physics teachers in support of the Curriculum for Excellence in Scottish Schools.
In the summer of 2011 I worked with Professor Martin Hendry, assisting him with a Cosmology and Relativity project, funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council, to develop resources for higher and advanced higher physics teachers in support of the Curriculum for Excellence in Scottish Schools.
Solar Prominence Characterisation. Supervisor: Dr Nicolas Labrosse
In 2010 I carried out a solar physics project with Dr Nicolas Labrosse, funded by the Royal Astronomical Society. Using the IDL programming language I carried out spectral analysis of the Sun to learn about the plasma that makes up solar prominences. A poster based exclusively on my work was presented by Dr Labrosse at the solar plasma spectroscopy meeting at Cambridge University in September 2010.
In 2010 I carried out a solar physics project with Dr Nicolas Labrosse, funded by the Royal Astronomical Society. Using the IDL programming language I carried out spectral analysis of the Sun to learn about the plasma that makes up solar prominences. A poster based exclusively on my work was presented by Dr Labrosse at the solar plasma spectroscopy meeting at Cambridge University in September 2010.
Creating New Undergraduate Laboratory Class. Supervisor: Prof. Martin Hendry
In the summer of 2009 I developed a new laboratory class for the first year astronomy course. I created a code in the planetarium software “stellarium” to teach students about the classification of galaxies by taking them on a virtual tour through space.
In the summer of 2009 I developed a new laboratory class for the first year astronomy course. I created a code in the planetarium software “stellarium” to teach students about the classification of galaxies by taking them on a virtual tour through space.