The Astronomy, Astrophysics, and Space Technology (AAST) Group offers students the opportunity to participate in collaborative research projects with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This partnership facilitates access to world-class scientific environments and cutting-edge research in space sciences.
Undergraduate Students:
Must have completed second-year requirements in the Faculty of Science, Faculty of Information Technology, or Faculty of Engineering
Minimum GPA of “Very Good”
Graduate Students:
Open to students at any stage of their graduate studies
Project Duration:
Approximately six months
Interested students should contact Dr. Ala’a Azzam via email: Alaa.azzam@ju.edu.jo
Objective:
To study the formation and evolution of the Galactic disk by combining chemical abundance surveys (such as GALAH and LAMOST) with astrometric data from Gaia DR3.
Approach:
Using a chemo-dynamical method to analyze stars in the Galactic disk, aiming to place constraints on its formation and evolutionary history.
Significance:
This research will deepen our understanding of the Milky Way’s structure and its development over time.
For further reading, see:
The Atari Disk, a Metal-poor Stellar Population in the Disk System of the Milky Way
Evidence for the Third Stellar Population in the Milky Way’s Disk
Exploring the Galaxy's Halo and Very Metal-Weak Thick Disc with SkyMapper and Gaia DR2
Cosmological Insights into the Early Accretion of r-Process-Enhanced Stars: II. Dynamical Identification of Lost Members of Reticulum II
Icarus Revisited: An Ancient, Metal-poor Accreted Stellar Stream in the Disk of the Milky Way
Galactic Archaeology with Gaia
The Metal-poor Edge of the Milky Way’s “Thin Disc”
Stellar archaeology investigates ancient stars and stellar remnants to uncover the history and evolution of the universe, much like how traditional archaeology studies past civilizations.
Tracing the Early Universe
Metal-poor stars, which contain few heavy elements, are among the earliest stars formed after the Big Bang.
Analyzing their chemical compositions helps reconstruct early universe conditions and the formation of the first stars (Population III).
Understanding Stellar Evolution
Metal-poor stars evolve differently from metal-rich stars; studying their life cycles refines stellar evolution models.
These stars may be descendants of the first stars, revealing their final stages (e.g., supernovae, black holes).
Probing Galactic Formation
Metal-poor stars primarily reside in galactic halos and old regions, helping map galaxy formation and growth.
Their distribution provides insights into early galactic structures and mergers.
Constraining Nucleosynthesis Processes
Studying elemental abundances in metal-poor stars informs models of how the first heavy elements were formed.
Determining Cosmic Ages
Metallicity correlates with age; studying metal-poor stars aids in estimating the age of the Milky Way and the universe.
Examining Stellar Populations
These stars belong to ancient populations, tracing star formation history and chemical enrichment of the interstellar medium.
Metal-poor stars serve as cosmic time capsules that preserve information about the early universe, helping to answer fundamental questions about star formation, galactic evolution, and cosmology, including dark matter and dark energy.
For more detailed reading, consult:
Metal-Poor Stars in the Milky Way System
Near-Field Cosmology with Extremely Metal-Poor Stars
Stellar Archaeology: Exploring the Universe with Metal-Poor Stars
From Nuclei to the Cosmos: Tracing Heavy-Element Production with the Oldest Stars
The Discovery and Analysis of Very Metal-Poor Stars in the Galaxy