I'm an astronomer at the University of Arizona and the current Director of the MMT Observatory. I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from the University at Buffalo in 1994 and a PhD from Clemson University in 2000.
Respect the glass, because a single lapse of attention could cause irreparable damage.
Marcus H. Brown, Chief Optician for the Palomar 200-inch Primary Mirror for the Hale Telescope
My research focuses on the study of very evolved high mass stars and supernovae. The principal objective of this work is to probe the three-dimensional (3-D) nature of massive stars before and after they explode as supernovae with the goal of improving our understanding of the characteristics and importance of asymmetries in supernova explosions. I'm currently searching for signatures of aspherical explosions of supernovae using spectropolarimetry. I also have a strong interest in instrumentation, observatory operations, and site-protection.
This project aims to complete a long term comprehensive spectropolarimetric survey of all types of supernovae (SNe). The principal goal of this effort is to improve our understanding of the characteristics and importance of asymmetries in supernova explosions by focusing on the observable evolution. The 61” Kuiper, the 90” Bok, and the 6.5-m MMT telescopes together with the CCD Imaging/Spectropolarimeter (SPOL) instrument are being used to identify and monitor asymmetries in supernovae as they evolve. Polarimetry allows us to probe spatial scales in a supernova that cannot be resolved through direct imaging from earth or space. Spectropolarimetry further enhances the power of this technique by revealing wavelength dependent variations which may result from optical depth dependent geometries.
Polarimetry is a powerful but somewhat underutilized technique for probing the nature of astrophysical objects. Appreciation for the diagnostic potential of polarimetry will likely increase in the near future as a result of: a.) the increased collecting area of 8-m and 30-m class telescopes, b.) developments in instrumentation and detector technology, c.) demands from LSST for understanding transient and variable phenomenon, and d.) advances in modeling and theory which include full 3-D simulation.
I've worked a few instrumentation projects over the years including the Super-LOTIS, the 90Prime instrument for the 90-inch Bok telescope, and commissioning the f/5 instruments for MMT.
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SNSPOL
This project aims to complete a long term comprehensive spectropolarimetric survey of all types of supernovae (SNe). The principal goal of this effort is to improve our understanding of the characteristics and importance of asymmetries in supernova explosions by focusing on the observable evolution. The 61” Kuiper, the 90” Bok, and the 6.5-m MMT telescopes together with the CCD Imaging/Spectropolarimeter (SPOL) instrument are being used to identify and monitor asymmetries in supernovae as they evolve. Polarimetry allows us to probe spatial scales in a supernova that cannot be resolved through direct imaging from earth or space. Spectropolarimetry further enhances the power of this technique by revealing wavelength dependent variations which may result from optical depth dependent geometries.
Astronomical Technique
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Instrumentation
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Below are some life snapshots of my personal interests.
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Steward Observatory Room 460A
MMT Observatory
P.O. Box 210065
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ 85721-0065
ggwillia@arizona.edu
ggwilli@mmto.org
ggwilli@gmail.com
Director's Office: (520) 621-1269
MMT Office: (520) 621-1558
MMT Mountain: (520) 879-4570
