Superenova is a powerful and luminous stellar explosion. This transient astronomical event occurs during the last evolutionary stages of a massive star or when a white dwarf is triggered into runaway nuclear fusion. The original object, called the progenitor, either collapses to a neutron star or black hole, or it is completely destroyed. The peak optical luminosity of a supernova can be comparable to that of an entire galaxy, before fading over several weeks or months. Recently, we are beginning to see even more luminous versions, we still don't understand what is causing their extreme brightness or their progenitors.
Fast radio burst (FRB) is a transient radio pulse of length ranging from a fraction of a millisecond to a few milliseconds, caused by some high-energy astrophysical process not yet understood. While extremely energetic at their source, we know that they are coming from beyond the Milky Way galaxy. We still don't understand where they are coming from, emission mechanisms and progenitor channels. The Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) has been detecting most of these explosions and therefore has the tendency of revealing their nature.
Pulsars are highly magnetized rotating dead remnant of a massive star (neutron star). Neutron stars are formed when a massive star runs out of fuel and collapses. The very central region of the star – the core – collapses, crushing together every proton and electron into a neutron. If the core of the collapsing star is between about 1 and 3 solar masses, these newly-created neutrons can stop the collapse, leaving behind a neutron star.
Basic Space Science Education is the field concerned with sharing the knowledge of astronomy and space science and process with individuals not traditionally considered part of the scientific community. The learners may be children, college students, or adults within the general public. I am interested in propgating this among young Africans especially females among them from countries where there is little or no access to proper scientific education.
My name is Adaeze Ibik, a doctorate candidate of the David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Toronto, Canada.
I am passionate about astronomy education and research especially in Africa. My research studies centers on very bright explosions in the universe called fast radio bursts (FRBs) and luminous supernovae (SLSNe). Understanding the nature of these explosions will reveal the answers to some open questions in astronomy. One thing that I am excited about is my plan to figure out if there is a connection between FRBs and SLSNe. This work will help constrain lots of theories out there about peculiar transients.
My complete curricurulum vitae can be found here.
Here are the links to some of my talks:
Discover the Universe: Astro at Home Series 2020
Soapbox Science 2020: The exploding Universe as our origin
Science Rendezvous at UofT 2021: A day in my life as a graduate student
David Dunlap Observatory Astronomy Speaker Series in March, 2021
SEDS-CANADA ASCENSION 2021: EDI panel Discussion on Space Science
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