Week 4

Marcos V -

Hello and welcome to week 4 of my senior project!

This was a big week, as I’ve finally begun rolling out the code for my first major analysis. A lot of my time has been and will continue to be spent on getting more familiar with Python and SQL, but I have begun to get some actual coding done. Specifically, my first numerical analysis will be performing the Zeeman splitting analysis, where I intend to use spectral line data to measure the existence and strength of magnetic fields in the observed plasma ejections. If everything goes well, I hope to have some major results in by the end of next week. For now, however, I am setting up the Python environment and experimenting with query parameters to filter the best data possible for my analysis.

I’ve also begun drafting my research paper that I will present at the end of the project. I will of course be formatting it using LaTeX, and I have already set down a crude outline in Overleaf. I have begun working on an abstract and introduction, but any writing is hard to do when I don’t have any results to point to yet. Still, I am trying to get as much done as I can early on so that I am not scrambling to throw together a massive paper at the end of the project timeline with little time left.

Thank you for taking the time to read my posts, and I look forward to sharing more updates with you!

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Comments:

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    Anshul Baddi
    Hey Marcos, I like the progress you've been making. I was just wondering how the Zeeman Splitting analysis integrates into your project?
    camille_bennett
    Hi Marcos, sounds like a lot of coding! Can you explain what Zeeman splitting is in simple terms, and why it's important for studying plasma?
    marcos_v
    Hey Anshul, thanks for the support! The Zeeman splitting analysis is essential to my project because it allows me to determine whether magnetic fields are present during ejection events and how much they influence the plasma ejections. My week 5 post goes into a little more detail if you're still curious.
    marcos_v
    Hey Ms. Bennett, good question! A lot of people seem to have this question, so I went into more detail in my week 5 post. In essence, Zeeman splitting is when magnetic fields cause lines on a spectral graph to split into patterned lines due to the influence on electron energy level transitions. As plasma is essentially charged gas, it is very susceptible to Zeeman splitting, and observing that effect is a very good way to analyze how magnetic fields influence V Hydrae's plasma ejections.

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