Project Overview
Laboratory recreation of the photon sphere of a black hole
Department(s)
Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
Recent astrophysical observations have been able to capture the deflection of light originating behind a black hole. There is interest in imaging the photon sphere, or the deflection of the light after orbiting the black hole at least once. In this project, we will use lasers, optics, and an electro-optic device to simulate this deflection. By using lasers, we can image the diffraction of the light, which is not possible in astrophysical settings. The student will be involved in doing optical alignments, programming in Matlab, taking imaging data, and analyzing it. We expect to publish this work.
Student Qualifications
Experience with basic physics and programming with Matlab. Willingness to do research and curiosity.
Project Length
1 week
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