Abstract
(I)
In this talk, we describe an educational University & College collaborative program realized jointly by Cégep Beauce-Appalaches (data analysis), Cégep de Sherbrooke (theoretical approach to physical modeling) and Université Laval (Research expertise in Astrophysics). The project has demonstrated the importance of mastering and understanding the theoretical and experimental concepts and skills relating to a major scientific undertaking: from theory to practice. This project aims to encourage scientific and technical careers by allowing college students to live the life of a scientist from within even before their arrival at the university level. In this paper, we will present how college students have taken an active part in the development of an astrophysics research project of vocational and university level under supervision of their college's physics professors and of the university team. College students have been matched with PhD students who worked together toward the resolution of a complex and unsolved research problem.
(II)
We suggest an indirect method which allows us to infer the electron density and temperature in 3D of a planetary nebula. The method uses a spatial statistical analysis of imagery of the object in some emission lines along with the theory of the atomic physics assuming simplistic object shapes described by two spherical shells of higher non uniform electron density with an arbitrary internal and external uniform electronic density. We model many combinations of shell sizes, shell thicknesses, intershell distances, object inclinations, and internal/external electron densities from which we simulate the spectral lines imagery with a photoionization model. This methodology has been applied to a hyperspectral cube of the M27 planetary nebula.
Coffee and tea will be served 20 minutes prior to the seminar.
Anyone interested is welcome to attend.