Astronomy at Queen's University

The Astronomy Group within the Physics Department at Queen's University, Kingston, is an active and multi-faceted one. The University offers an undergraduate Physics program which includes a specialisation in Astrophysics, and has a full graduate program leading to the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees.

At present, our research group includes:

As faculty:

• Martin Duncan, whose research interests include solar system dynamics and orbital stability;
• Dave Hanes, who works on globular clusters, galaxy formation and mergers, and the cosmic distance scale;
• Dick Henriksen, with long-standing interests in cosmology, star formation, magnetohydrodynamics, and relativistic jets;
• Vic Hughes, now emeritus but still very active in research into the astrophysics of star-forming regions;
• Judith Irwin, who studies the interstellar medium in galaxies and galaxy outflows"
• Kayll Lake, a general relativist, is currently working on computer algebra systems for general relativity;
• Larry Widrow, whose interests center on particle astrophysics and the early universe.

As post-doctoral fellows:

• Jayanne English (Ph.D. Australian National University), who has been working with Judith Irwin on the Galactic Plane Survey but who will soon be moving to the Space Telescope Science Institute;
• Man Hoi Lee (Ph.D. Princeton), who has been working with Martin Duncan but who is soon to move to the University of California at Santa Barbara; and
• Thibault Lery (Ph.D. Strasbourg, France), who is working with Dick Henriksen.
  

As graduate students:

• Mahmoud Aburihan (M.Sc., with Dick Henriksen);
• Steve Butterworth (Ph.D., with Dave Hanes);
• Morgan Le Delliou (Ph.D., with Dick Henriksen);
• Nicos Pelavas (Ph.D., with Kayll Lake);
• Kathy Perrett (Ph.D., with Dave Hanes);
• Mike Seymour (M.Sc., with Larry Widrow);
• George Davies (Ph.D. with Larry Widrow); and
• Edward Thommes (Ph.D., with Martin Duncan).

Recent thesis completions include:

• JJ Kavelaars (Ph.D. Dec. 1997, with Dave Hanes; now a post-doctoral fellow at McMaster);
• Siow-Wang Lee (Ph.D. Jan. 1998, with Judith Irwin; now in a research position at Taipei University); and
• Kevin Santusuosso (MSc. Feb. 1998, with Kayll Lake; now working in the commercial sector).

The Immediate Future

In the year to come, our numbers will be somewhat reduced by the coincidence of near-simultaneous sabbaticals to both of our observers. Judith Irwin will be spending the period from May 1998 to May 1999 at the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (Tata Institute of Fundamental Physics), Pune, India; Dave Hanes will be in Victoria, BC, from July to December 1998, and will then spend the next six months at the Anglo-Australian Observatory.

As you can see, the Queen's astronomy group is an active and productive one; indeed, we are always ready and eager to take on well-qualified and motivated students, to whom we promise competitive levels of financial support, a stimulating intellectual environment and a broad astrophysical education. Kingston is a pleasant city in which to live, and the University rightly respected. We would welcome applications from any interested students.

Recent Visitors

Recent special visitors to the Department include David Malin, the Anglo-Australian Observatory's world-renowned astrophotographer par excellence. As part of a round-the-world lecture tour, David accepted an invitation to stop in Kingston for a few days in February to see what a Canadian winter is really like. In addition to presenting a technical departmental colloquium, David spoke to the general public in an evening presentation, and attended a showing of his magnificent photographs at a Kingston art gallery. These events were in support of our collective efforts to raise public awareness of our need for a new telescope for our campus-based observatory.

Renato Portugal, on leave from Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Físicas, Rio de Janeiro, is spending his CAPES Fellowship in the group working with Kayll on computer algebra systems for general relativity.

The Queen's Observatory: A Long Tradition

Our observatory has a long history, dating back almost 140 years (although the present telescope and site are less than forty years old). On 19 January 1861, the Queen's astronomers agreed to take over the observatory, then located in City Park, from the 'gentlemen amateurs' and Corporation of the City. In return they were expected to provide a series of public lectures in perpetuity. Over the years this admirable interest and engagement faded, but we are glad to report that the tradition is again alive and well: the fourth in the modern series of annual Kingston Public Lectures in Astronomy will be presented by Dick Henriksen on March 20.

The Sudbury Neutrino Observatory

The Head Office of the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory is to be found in the Physics Department at Queen's University, although the experiment itself resides deep in the Creighton Mine near Sudbury. As these words are being written, SNO is reaching an exciting and critical stage: within weeks, the acrylic vessel is to be filled with heavy water (while the surrounding chamber is simultaneously filled with ultra-pure water). The first measurements will then be undertaken, with calibration and electronics shakedown the first priorities. It is not an inappropriate metaphor to say that the project is on the verge of seeing ``light at the end [bottom?] of the tunnel.'' As if to highlight this significant step, the announcement has just been made of the awarding of a well-deserved Killam Fellowship to Prof. Art McDonald, the Director of the SNO Project.

Sad News

We end this report with the sad news that Dr. Wai-Yin Chau, a long-time member of the Astronomy Group and the Physics Department, died in mid-February in Hong Kong, his place of origin. Chau had returned there, after many years at Queen's, to take up a position as the Deputy President of Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He is affectionately remembered by all who knew him as an inspirational teacher of great dedication, a respected astronomical colleague, and a dear friend.

Dave Hanes      <hanes@astro.queensu.ca>   Dave has been at Queen's University since 1984. He was an undergrad at Carleton when he was inspired by Apollo 8 flight (Christmas 1968) to go to graduate school in astronomy. At UofT, he was Rene Racine's 1st ever grad student, getting his MSc in 1971 & PhD in 1975. A SRC (now SERC) postdoc took him to Cambridge, UK for 4.5 years & then he was a support astronomer at the AAT for 3.5 years. He and his wife, Ros, (the CASCA admin assistant) have 3 kids. Dave styles himself a "keen hockey player when time permits".