[Baps] SOFIA seminar at BU tomorrow (Tues. Dec. 1)

[Paul Withers]

Details below.
Paul

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [Announce] 2 seminars tomorrow (Tues. Dec. 1)
Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:52:03 -0500 (EST)
From: Alan Marscher <marscher at bu.edu>
Reply-To: marscher at bu.edu
To: announce at skynet.bu.edu

Dr. B-G Andersson, Science Operations Manager of the SOFIA stratospheric
infrared telescope, will be visiting us tomorrow. His formal Astrophysics
Seminar at 4:00 will discuss SOFIA. He will also give a brown-bag-lunch
seminar at 12:30 on his research on insterstellar dust grains. Details of
both seminars are given below.

Please let me know if you would like to chat with B-G and when you would
be available to do so. within the time periods 10-noon and 2-3:30.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Brown-Bag-Lunch Seminar  12:30 room 500

Observational Constraints of Interstellar Grain Alignment

I will discuss three sets of recent observations, aimed at constraining
the mechanism causing interstellar dust grains to become aligned with
the magnetic field.  These observations form part of a comprehensive
program studying grain alignment physics using the wavelength of maximum
polarization in the optical/near infrared as the primary tracer.  This
method has the advantage of being insensitive to line-of-sight
turbulence, which cause uncertainties in the interpretation of p/A$_V$
vs. A$_V$ data, and also independent of grain temperature, an issue for
FIR polarimetry.

In a recent survey of six near-by molecular clouds we showed that the
alignment is anti-correlated with the extinction, supporting modern
grain alignment theory.  We have now confirmed this result with an
expanded observation sample in the Taurus complex.  Direct support for
radiative grain alignment comes from recent observations of sightlines
in the Chamaeleon cloud, directly, radiatively, affected by a bright and
hot, exposed YSO, showing enhanced grain alignment driven by the
radiation from the YSO.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Astrophysics Seminar, 4:00 with cookies & coffee at 3:45

The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) Status and
Science overview


The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is now in
its final development phase. The airplane is flying, the telescope
assembly has been operated in flight, instruments are ready to go. First
light observing and the first open call for proposals will both occur
this winter. A revised Science Vision for SOFIA has been generated
showing that the observatory will provide an important complement to the
Herschel and JWST missions and as a platform for technology development.
I will discuss the status of the observatory, highlight selected parts
of the SOFIA Science Vision and preview some opportunities for community
participation in both research and Education/Public Outreach with the
observatory.



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Paul Withers                            Center for Space Physics
Office  +1 617 353 1531                 Boston University
Fax     +1 617 353 6463                 725 Commonwealth Avenue
Email   withers at bu.edu                  Boston MA 02215, USA
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