Present PositionAstrophysicistAssociate Project Scientist for the Hubble Space Telescope Brief Bio09/2004 – present: Astrophysicist, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 665Associate Project Scientist, Hubble Space Telescope Deputy Principal Investigator, Space Infrared Interferometric Telescope Study Deputy Principal Investigator, Wide Field Imaging Interferometry Testbed 08/2001 – 08/2004: National Research Council Resident Research Associate, Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 685. 05/1999 – 05/2001: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Queen Mary & Westfield College. 01/1999 – 05/1999: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Cornell University. Educational BackgroundPh.D., Physics, Cornell University. Ithaca, NY, January 1999. Advisor: J. R. Houck.Thesis: “Infrared Astronomy and Stellar Evolution” M.S. Physics, Cornell University. Ithaca, NY, August 1996. B.S. Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Cambridge, MA, May 1993. Thesis: “Characterization of Ultraviolet Optics for HETE” Research InterestsDr. Rinehart has long experience with the development of infrared instrumentation, including work for both ground and space-based facilities, and is particularly familiar with, and interested in, infrared spectroscopy and interferometry. He is presently working in the technical arena on developing the technologies and techniques that will make space-based FIR interferometry possible, building on his key role in the SPIRIT and SPECS mission studies. This work includes building mission simulation tools, testbed experimentation, and algorithm development. In addition, he is collaborating with other groups at Goddard to develop technical capabilities for analysis of interplanetary and interstellar dust. His astronomical interests include the role of dust in the universe, and more specifically how it interacts with gas in circumstellar disks during star and planet formation. He is also interested in the structure of hot plasma disks around emission line stars.Current ProjectsPrincipal Investigator: The Interferometric Mission Simulation Environment (IMSE)The IMSE is a simulation environment designed to provide insight into interferometerdesign at the earliest stages of mission development. This will allow us to assess engineering challenges for such missions, as well as providing data for developing new image reconstruction tools. Principal Investigator: Diagnostic Properties of Astronomical Silicates in the Far-Infrared Dust is ubiquitous in the universe, and plays an important role in a wide variety of astrophysical processes. Understanding the impact of dust on such processes requires accurate data on the optical properties of interstellar dust grains under realistic conditions. We will measure the optical properties of silicate smokes over a wide range of temperatures and wavelengths using multiple complimentary experiments. Deputy PI: Wide-field Imaging Interferometry Testbed (WIIT) WIIT was developed to provide the proof-of-concept for wide-field imaging interferometry. I have assisted with the fabrication, testing, and characterization of this instrument, and am leading the acquisition of new data using the facility. This testbed is a unique tool for improving the capabilities of future interferometers. Deputy PI: The Space Infrared Interferometric Telescope (SPIRIT) SPIRIT is a proposed far-infrared interferometer, providing high angular resolution using a 36 meter boom, studied as a potential NASA Origins Probe. I helped define the scientific objectives of this future space-based interferometer, as well as providing analysis of the operational requirements and error budgets for the mission. I have also provided simulations for prediction of the quality of reconstructed images. Co-Investigator: The Submillimeter Probe of the Evolution of Cosmic Structure (SPECS) SPECS is a future space-based inteferometer, making use of large telescopes with interferometric baselines of up to 1 km, ultimately providing Hubble-quality angular resolution at far-infrared wavelengths. SPECS was studied under the NASA Vision Mission program. I assisted with science definition and contributed to a wide variety of engineering elements for the Vision Mission study. Other projects I am currently involved with include: The Fourier-Kelvin Stellar Interferometer (FKSI): a mid-infrared interferometer designed to detect and characterize giant exoplanets. Studying the infrared line emission from early-type stars Selected Publications1. “The Space Infrared Interferometric Telescope (SPIRIT): High-resolution imaging and spectroscopy in the far-infrared,” D. Leisawitz et al., Adv. Sp. Res., in press (2007)2. “The Mathematics of Double-Fourier Interferometers”, Elias, Harwit, Leisawitz, & Rinehart, 2007. ApJ, 657, 1178. 3. “Far-infrared/Submillimeter Astronomical interferometry with Spaceborne Tether Formations”, Lorenzini, Bombardelli, Cosmo, Harwit, Leisawitz, Farley, Rinehart, Quinn, & Miller, 2006. Ap&SS, 302, 255. 4. “A Far-Infared/submillimeter kilometer baseline interferometer in space”, Harwit, Leisawitz, and Rinehart, 2006. New Astronomy Reviews, v 50, p 228. 5. “First ground-based 200 micron observing with THUMPER on JCMT – sky characterization and planet maps”, Ward-Thompson, et al. 2005. MNRAS, v 364, p 843. 6. “Wide-Field Imaging Interferometry Testbed I: Developing Interferometric Techniques”, Rinehart, et al. In preparation. 7. “Wide-Field Imaging Interferometry Testbed II: Implementation and Characterization”, Leisawitz, et al. In preparation. An additional 6 papers were presented at the SPIE meeting in August 2007. Over 30 total publications since 1998.
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