Getting logged into the QUEST supercomputing cluster
My advisor, Scott Coughlin
This week went very well! I was kept very busy for the most part and had to submit files to QUEST, a supercomputing cluster, to get data about Double White Dwarf binary systems so I could make graphs about their spins, eccentricity, mass transfer rate and semimajor axis. One system ended up having too many data points for me to make a file of, topping out at over 86,000 lines of data. Other than that, I had to read and extract parameter data from papers on the neutron star binary system, Scorpius X-1, and put the data in a spreadsheet for my mentor, Aprajita, to read. This did not take too long, however, so she put me on the task of finding new papers to extract data from, using a Harvard database.
Me playing a Paul McCartney-style Hofner bass in my free time
Outside the lab, I’ve been playing a lot more music. Some by myself, and other times with friends of mine that I met through Christian Schumacher (the son of the host family I am staying with). We’ve spent a lot of time running through classic Weezer, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana and Black Sabbath songs on the guitar, drums, bass and piano. I am quite the music addict, and when I’m not at the lab, I usually can be found by myself sitting down on the piano bench or with my guitar in my lap. A lot of time has been spent with the other interns here as well. During our lunch breaks, we all end up at the beach by the lake right outside the Northwestern campus, or playing soccer, where once I ended up falling down completely on my back after failing to trap the ball.
Fellow intern, Tatum Ewing
Other interns, Sophie Haight and Andrew Kim
Next week, Kevin Ensor, Tatum Ewing (another intern) and I will have a meeting with our project adviser, Kyle Kremer, about what all of us are going to do next in terms of working with Double White Dwarf binary systems. I can say with great confidence that the most exciting part about next week will have a lot to do with finally meeting the famous Vicky Kalogera, one of the leading scientists in the field of Gravitational Waves in the world, and also much of the reason why I am here. Next week will be fantastic!
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