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Joseph P. Bernstein
HEP Division
Supervisor: Stephen E. Kuhlmann
Summary of Research:
I am a postdoctoral appointee working as part of the Dark Energy Survey (DES) supernova group. Supernovae are violent explosions involved in the deaths of stars. Distant supernovae are dimmer than predicted by models wherein the Universe contains only matter. Dark energy is thought to pervade the Universe and to have a negative pressure that has accelerated the expansion of the Universe thereby explaining this dimness. The nature of dark energy, however, is currently unknown. The DES collaboration is building a new 500-megapixel digital camera to be mounted on the Blanco 4-meter telescope in northern Chile. In exchange for the camera, which will be available for use by the astronomical community, the DES collaboration will obtain 525 observing nights on the Blanco to investigate the characteristics of dark energy. DES science observations are scheduled to begin in 2011. My work focuses on simulations of DES supernova observations to aid in the development of the observational strategy.
Contact Information:
Email: jpbernst@anl.gov
Phone number: 630-252-7268
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