Kendra Gillis

Brigham Young University Idaho

REU Student - Summer 2015
Montana State University

Advisors: Dr. Joseph Shaw

Picture of detector

Research Project

I am working on a multi-wavelength aurora detector. This works on the principle that auroras only give off light at certain wavelengths. On the aurora detector there are three PMTs which act as light detectors. One detects light at 557.7nm, one at 630nm and one at roughly 570nm. Auroras give off light at 557.7nm and 630nm but not at 570nm. Therefore, if the 557.7 and 630 PMTs spike but the 570 PMT doesn't, we'll know that it is an aurora and not stray light.


Resources

Research Log

Midterm Presentation

Final Presentation

Picture provided by NASA