1. The Nearby Supernovae Factory: Monitoring Spectrograph Calibration Lamp Ben Dilday Advisor: Rick Kessler, CfCP Physics 335 March 10, 2004

2. Project Overview SNFactory –Observe low-Z Type Ia supernovae –Correlate intrinsic brightness with light curve characteristics –Reduce statistical error in cosmological parameters

3. Project Overview Calibration –Blackbody emission source (lamp at T~3000K) calibrates spectrograph University of Chicago CfCP Role –instrumentation to confirm stability of blackbody source –Measure red-blue ratio

4. Physics 335 Project Objectives Hardware –Construct casing for pin diodes –Remotely controlled roof Opens to allow light onto PIN diodes Closes to protect from environment –Instrument installation Software –Stepper motor (roof) interface –Analysis

5. Physics 335 Objectives Casing for pin diodes COMPLETED 16 1/2” x 15 1/2” x 10 1/4” 1/4” garolite on 1/2” aluminum base 1/32” garolite roof on 1/8” garolite frame

6. Physics 335 Objectives 1.8 degree stepper motor - interfaced via AllMotion EZHR23 stepper motor controller Previous controller: EZ17 - coarse step resolution - inadequate Remotely controlled roof

7. Physics 335 Objectives Stepper motor (roof) interface COMPLETED Allows remote operation and status checks

8. Physics 335 Objectives Instrument Installation Mauna Kea Observatories, Hawaii http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/mko/maunakea.htm INSTALLATION SCHEDULE March 22 nd – Hilo Reassemble instrument March 29 th – Mauna Kea Install on UH 2.2 meter

9. Physics 335 Objectives Analysis of PIN diode data SOFTWARE In progress SN OBSERVATIONS ~Late Spring ? http://harris.roe.ac.uk/~jkd/startrails.html Gemini, the UH88 inch and UKIRT

10. Conclusion & Project Outlook Casing with Roof –COMPLETE Stepper motor (Remote Operation) –COMPLETE Installation –Scheduled for end of March Analysis –PIN diode analysis software likely finished by late April –Application of PIN diode data Techniques not certain until experiments can be carried out