Speaker
Description
The study of astrophysical transients has traditionally been hampered by delays
between multi-wavelength observations, often causing crucial early-time information
to be lost. The MeerLICHT optical telescope at SAAO in Sutherland was designed to
overcome this limitation by operating simultaneously with the MeerKAT radio
telescope, enabling a novel, commensal approach to exploring the transient
Universe as part of the ThunderKAT Large Survey Project. In this presentation, I will
introduce my project to construct a volume-limited sample of Cataclysmic Variables
(CVs) using the MeerLICHT Southern All-Sky Survey (MLSASS). By correlating the
extensive MLSASS optical light curves and multi-filter photometry (Sloan ugrizq) with
astrometric data from Gaia, I aim to identify both known and new CV candidates
through their distinct positions in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram as outliers from
the main stellar populations. The primary goal is to obtain a complete census of CVs
within 150 and 300 parsecs in the MLSASS. I will discuss the methodology for this
data fusion and source association, the optical and radio properties of the CVs in the
sample, and outline my plans for the characterisation of the most compelling new
candidates using the facilities at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO)
and the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT).
| Apply for student award at which level: | MSc |
|---|---|
| Consent on use of personal information: Abstract Submission | Yes, I ACCEPT |