Free Electron Collisions with Neutral Gold

Presenter(s)

Lo Bailey Laboda

Abstract or Description

In the 80s, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) recorded gravitation waves of the first collision of two neutron stars. This detection proved the existence of binary neutron star mergers, which was already theorized. During a binary neutron star merger, two neutron stars begin to orbit around each other and quickly spiral inward until they violently collide. This extreme collision rips apart the atoms of both stars which allows for new elements to be formed. In recent years, scientist have discovered that iron, and all the elements heavier than iron, are created during this intense process. This means that gold, a highly valuable metal, is also created from binary star mergers. By calculating the energy cross section of electron collision with neutral gold, the most abundant form of gold, experimental scientists can use this data to determine the light spectra of neutral gold. The gold spectra value can then be used during analysis of observational data from binary star mergers to find the time interval during the merger in which the most amount of neutral gold is created. To calculate the electron cross section of gold, we will be using two world-leading atomic physics codes, the Dirac B-Spine R-Matrix Hartree-Fock code (DBSR_HF) and the Dirac B-Spline atomic R-Matrix code (DBSR). The calculations from these codes and the data collection process will be performed using the US-based Frontera Supercomputer. This project could therefore help answer an important question in astrophysics, and help us increase our understanding of the early universe.

Mentor

Dr. Kathryn R. Hamilton