Author Information

Erin MotherwayFollow

Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?

Undergraduate

Project Type

individual

Campus

Daytona Beach

Authors' Class Standing

Junior

Lead Presenter's Name

Erin Motherway

Lead Presenter's College

DB College of Arts and Sciences

Faculty Mentor Name

Dr. Ted von Hippel

Abstract

This research involves using a Bayesian Statistics software developed by Dr. Ted von Hippel and his team to determine properties of binary stars. This software, titled BASE-9, which stands for Bayesian Analysis of Stellar Evolution, can be used to derive the properties of stars and star clusters including age, metallicity, helium abundance, distance modulus, mass, binary mass ratios, and cluster membership probability. With this information, the impact of environment on the characteristics of binaries over time can be examined. This project has consisted of running thousands of stars within different clusters using the Vega Supercomputer in order to study the properties of binary systems. By using BASE-9 and Vega, these properties can be derived with much more precision and by more direct means than other commonly used methods. This research involves using a Bayesian Statistics software developed by Dr. Ted von Hippel and his team to determine properties of binary stars. This software, titled BASE-9, which stands for Bayesian Analysis of Stellar Evolution, can be used to derive the properties of stars and star clusters including age, metallicity, helium abundance, distance modulus, mass, binary mass ratios, and cluster membership probability. With this information, the impact of environment on the characteristics of binaries over time can be examined.

Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?

No

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Deriving Properties of Stars with BASE-9 Software and the Vega Supercomputer

This research involves using a Bayesian Statistics software developed by Dr. Ted von Hippel and his team to determine properties of binary stars. This software, titled BASE-9, which stands for Bayesian Analysis of Stellar Evolution, can be used to derive the properties of stars and star clusters including age, metallicity, helium abundance, distance modulus, mass, binary mass ratios, and cluster membership probability. With this information, the impact of environment on the characteristics of binaries over time can be examined. This project has consisted of running thousands of stars within different clusters using the Vega Supercomputer in order to study the properties of binary systems. By using BASE-9 and Vega, these properties can be derived with much more precision and by more direct means than other commonly used methods. This research involves using a Bayesian Statistics software developed by Dr. Ted von Hippel and his team to determine properties of binary stars. This software, titled BASE-9, which stands for Bayesian Analysis of Stellar Evolution, can be used to derive the properties of stars and star clusters including age, metallicity, helium abundance, distance modulus, mass, binary mass ratios, and cluster membership probability. With this information, the impact of environment on the characteristics of binaries over time can be examined.

 

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