Observing Program Calculator for Eclipsing Binary Star Systems

A Microsoft Excel application has been developed to utilize eclipsing binary elements to calculate binary ephemerides that are useful in a program of observing binary systems. Binary star systems consist of two stars orbiting a common center of mass. Consistent monitoring of eclipsing binary stars is important for establishing fundamental astronomical parameters, such as mass and composition of the stellar system. The application that was developed supports effective use of resources in such monitoring applications. The main quantities computed by the application at the time of the eclipse include: local time, Julian date, starting Epoch, altitude of the system, phase of the moon, Local Mean Sidereal Time, and Local Hour Angle. Other quantities computed by the application include current Universal Time (UT), UT/Local Time correction, Julian Date, and current moon phase/percent illuminated. The observing application has been demonstrated to be effective in practical application to obtain differential photometry data for SV Camelopardalis, a system of interest because of variability in its period caused by a third body. The application can be easily modified for use with other highly periodic astronomical systems, for instance transits of extrasolar planets.

TESTS OF LORENTZ AND CPT VIOLATION WITH MiniBooNE NEUTRINO OSCILLATION EXCESSES

Violation of Lorentz invariance and CPT symmetry is a predicted phenomenon of Planck-scale physics. Various types of data are analyzed to search for Lorentz violation under the Standard Model Extension (SME) framework, including neutrino oscillation data. MiniBooNE is a short-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment at Fermilab. The measured excesses from MiniBooNE cannot be reconciled within the neutrino Standard Model (νSM); thus it might be a signal of new physics, such as Lorentz violation. We have analyzed the sidereal time-dependence of MiniBooNE data for signals of the possible breakdown of Lorentz invariance in neutrinos. In this brief review, we introduce Lorentz violation, the neutrino sector of the SME and the analysis of short-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments. We then present the results of the search for Lorentz violation in MiniBooNE data. This review is based on the published result.