Fack it.. ill just upload the Mother... Enjoy
Dr Michael G Burton is currently a lecturer in Astronomy and Physics at the University of New South Wales in Sydney.
Born on the 13th July 1961, he attended 7 different High School’s throughout Australia and Britain.
Dr Burton finally completed his school studies at Dulwich College in London.
With a talent and interest for Physics, the stars, and space altogether, Michael Burton went on to –
- Undergraduate Mathematics Degree at Cambridge
- PhD at Edinburgh University for Astrophysics
- Complete post doctorate research in Hawaii at the NASA Ames Research Center
- Studies with the University of California at Berkeley
- Staff astronomer at the Anglo Australian Observatory for 3 years
Responsibilities
· Member, American Astronomical Society
· Member, International Astronomical Union
· Chair, Australian Working Group for Antarctic Astronomy
· Co-chair, Joint Australian Centre for Astrophysical Research in Antarctica
· Councillor, Astronomical Society of Australia
· Member, IAU Commission 34, Interstellar Matter
· Member, Advisory Committe Instrumentation, Anglo Australian Telescope
· Media Officer, School of Physics, UNSW
· Marketting Officer, School of Physics, UNSW.
· Treasurer, Science-in-the-Pub
· Fellow, Astronomical Society of Australia
His primary research is now focused on -
· The Excitation of Molecular Clouds
· Methanol Masers and Massive Star Formation
· The Galactic Centre
· The Interaction of Supernovae and Molecular Clouds
· Antarctic Astronomy
· Millimetre Astronomy
“In the pursuit of more sensitive measurements of these processes, my research has lead me to Antarctica, where the extremely cold and dry air provides the best infrared and sub-mm observing conditions on the Earth” – Dr Michael G Burton
Excitation oF Molecular Clouds
Dr Burton mainly studies the excitation of the hydrogen molecule using Interstellar shock waves and UV fluorescence. To study this, the attention must be focused on star-forming regions on molecular clouds heated by UV radiation resulting in illumination.
This work involves a wide range of observational techniques including imaging, spectroscopic and polarimetric techniques to study the hot illuminated gas in molecular clouds. While it has concentrated on the near-Infrared spectrum, it has progressed to study emission levels of more highly excited gas molecules allowing better understanding of how stars form. Dr Burtons work in observing bow shocks and higher energy emission levels has resulted in him discovering bullets in Orions Nebula.
This investigation helps us understand the working of our nearest massive star formation in the Orion nebula.
In doing so, it has provided invaluable photodissocation regions (PDRs), the surfaces of molecular clouds heated by UV radiation and how they form stars
Methanol Masers & Star Formation
Since the beginning of time, humans have been fascinated by the stars, sun and space.
Ever since the Chinese observed a supernova during the light of day in the last millennium, humans have craved to know how the stars formed and died.
Dr Burtons work has been currently observing and studying the various stages of the star formation in an attempt to define them.
This work carried out by Dr Burton and students at UNSW has allowed new paths to be explored into star formation and methanol maser emissions.
Using near and mid Infrared telescopes, discoveries have been made on 'hot molecular cores', which are alleged to be one of the initial stages of star formation.
Galactic Centre
Our sun and solar system belong to a galaxy known as the Milky Way. This is the basis for some of Michael Burton’s study on stellar populations on young stars in the galactic center. It is here in the galactic center where there is large star formation and molecular clouds building up. Michael studies the stellar population in these young clusters, to help to determine the structure of the forming stars on the near Infrared spectrum.
Interaction oF Supernova & Molecular Clouds
Michael Burton has been studying supernovae interaction with molecular clouds quite recently but with unfortunately little results. Supernovae in their explosion usually blast near their molecular cloud, however such is the force they usually overrun this cloud.
Yet this is rarely observed and the Supernovae remnant looks much different than the conventional sort. These are much harder to spot as the bulk of the emission is in the Infrared spectrum as opposed to the optical. It is in these remnants that the shock wave blast and molecular gas can best be observed compared to normal explosions where the molecular cloud is affected less.
Antarctic Astronomy
With city smog, pollution and city lights now commonplace in cities, astronomers have had to adapt by going to secluded places in order to get the best view.
One of the best-secluded places to view the stars is in fact Antarctica, as a result of the cold, dry and sparsely populated environment. It provides for superior observations of the particle and photon fluxes across much of their energy spectrum allowing enhanced viewing of the infrared and millimeter astronomy mediums.
Dr Burton is currently at the forefront of Antarctic Astronomy, working with the assistance of many other countries and astronomy agencies to further our understanding of universal evolution. In carrying out his studies from the Antarctic plateau, he is able to better analyze the universal evolution and continue his work on molecular clouds.
“By building telescopes in Antarctica we would have the opportunity to study these processes in ways that we haven't yet been able to do”
Millimetre Astronomy
This involved the study of molecules in interstellar space. A rich spectrum of rotational lines emits in the microwave regime with gases such as CO, HCO+ and HCN being emitted on a small scale. As each molecular species has a different critical it allows us to use different millimetre observations us to probe a wide range of parameter space in molecular clouds. Using millimeter astronomy allows us to see deep into the core of molecular clouds right to the collapsing filaments. In doing so, a greater monitoring of new stars being born can be observed.
Dr Burtons work on millimeter astronomy helps understand the overall environment in star forming regions. UNSW upgrading the Mopra telescope at Siding Spring allowing its 22 m surface to be mm capable. When completed, the Mopra antenna will the the 4th largest mm-telescope in the world and the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.
Bibliography
oDr Michael G Burton
Faculty: Physics
The University of New South Wales
SYDNEY 2052
Australia
Ph: 61 02 9385 5618
Fax: 61 02 9385 6060
m.burton@unsw.edu.au
ohttp://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/STAFF/ACADEMIC/burton.html
ohttp://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~mgb/mgb.html
ohttp://www.kumc.edu/SAH/OTEd/jradel/Poster_Presentations/140.html
ohttp://ugrad.phys.unsw.edu.au/~sdr/unswirf/UNSWIRF.html
ohttp://ugrad.phys.unsw.edu.au/~ajw/ajw_stuff/project.html
ohttp://www.scienceinthepub.com/inter/scipubnsw.html
ohttp://www.asnsw.com/meetings/blurb04.htm
ohttp://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~mgb/polepictures.html
ohttp://www.abc.net.au/science/outback/tourdates.htm
ohttp://www.abc.net.au/science/news/space/SpaceRepublish_249630.htm
ohttp://science.uniserve.edu.au/faces/michael/michael.html
ohttp://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~mgb/jacara.html
ohttp://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~mgb/southpole.rep
ohttp://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/sps2/
o(Mark Butler, David Hopkins and John Willis, (2001). “Physics 2”. Australia: Macmillan Education Australia Pty Ltd)
oCollins. (2000). "Collins Concise Dictionary". Australia: Harper-Collins Publishing