Astrophysics Element

The science element is involved in a wide range of research under the general heading of Astrophysics, as summarized in the descriptions below of the several specialized teams of which it is comprised. The foundation of our work is scientific research, and the element's record of publication in major scientific journals is arguably one of the best at the Laboratory. This capability provides JPL with a scientific backbone for many of its space missions, both in planetary exploration and in pioneering astrophysical missions currently in flight or in the planning stage.

• High Energy Astrophysics Team - High-resolution cosmis gamma-ray observations from balloons and satellites. The team is also involved in the development of advanced sensors to be used on future space mission to obtain high-resolution gamma-ray images.



• Infrared Astrophysics - Observationsal research in infrared astrophysics using state-of-the-art instruments and ground based, airborne, and space telescopes. Development of array-based infrared instrumentatiion for use on the 5-m Hale telescope Mt. Palomar. Research home of the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF0 and the Wide Field Infrared Explorer (WIRE) science offices.



• Radio/Submillimeter Astronomy - Observationsl research in submillimeter and radio astronomy. Both planetary and astrophysics research are performed using ground-based, balloon, aircraft and spacecraft data.



• Relativity and Gravitation - Feasibility and data analysis studies leading to proposals to search for long period gravitational waves. The technique uses high precision Doppler shift measurements of microwaves transponded by interplanetary spacecraft. If found, these gravitational waves of millihertz frequency would come from supermassive cosmic sources such as binary black holes in active galactic nuclei, or from the big bang. Team members are presently selected for Galileo, Ulysses and Cassini. The group also does supporting research in basic mathematical general reltivity and the theory of sources.



• WF/PC 2 Science - Research in optical astronomy using JPL's Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 aboard the Hubble Space Telescope. Calibration and Status monitoring for the WFPC2 instrument. Development and testing of new CCD's and Woods filters for an HST advanced camera. Ground based observing programs in planetary astronomy and young stellar objects. Home base for the WFPC2 Science Team.


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