Dr. Joseph Carson
Assistant Professor
Office: 122 RHSC
Phone: (843) 953-3643
Email: carsonjc@cofc.edu
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Curriculum Vitae
Biography
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- Curriculum Vitae -
If you would like to download a pdf version of this, please click here.Professional Positions
● Assistant Professor, College of Charleston (2009-present).
● MPIA Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (2007-2010).
● NASA NPP Fellow, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2006-2007).
● Adjunct Professor, California State Polytechnic University at Pomona (2006).
● Postdoctoral Scholar, California Institute of Technology (2004-2006).
Education
● Ph.D., Astronomy, Cornell University (2004);
double minor in Physics and English Literature
● M.S., Astronomy, Cornell University (2003)
● B.A., Physics, Pomona College (1999)
Research Interests
● Extrasolar Planets (observational studies)
● Brown Dwarfs (observational studies)
● Monte Carlo Numerical Investigations of Planet/Brown-Dwarf Populations
● Astronomy Instrumentation
Current Projects
● SEEDS Exoplanet Survey
Leading the SEEDS's sub-program to use the Subaru Telescope's HiCIAO adaptive optics instrument to conduct direct-imaging exoplanet searches around higher-mass stars.
● Spitzer IRAC Substellar Companion Searches
Using new and archival data from the Spitzer Space Telescope IRAC camera to search and characterize wide-separation substellar companions to nearby stars.
● Monte Carlo Population Simulations
Leading Monte Carlo numerical studies to derive substellar companion population statistics from Spitzer IRAC and Subaru HiCIAO observational data.
● SPHERE Exoplanet Survey
Working in preparatory science and target selection for the upcoming Very Large Telescope SPHERE direct imaging survey.
● K-12 Teacher Eduction
Co-leading a teacher eduction program to integrate astronomy lesson plans and exoplanet webpage applications in K-12 classrooms.
Awards, Grants, and Fellowships
● Research Corporation Cottrell College Science Award (PI) (2012-2014)
Extrasolar Planet Imaging Studies with the Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes
$35,000
● NASA South Carolina Space Grant (PI) (2012-2013)
Search for Extrasolar Planets of Nearby Young Stars
$30,000.
● Hubble Space Telescope EPO Grant (PI) (2011-2014)
Transporting HST Exoplanet Studies to the Middle/High-School Classroom
$20,000.
● Spitzer Space Telescope General Observing Time (Co-I) (2011-2014)
Search for Planetary Mass Companions of Nearby Young Stars
$44,000.
● NSF AST Grant (PI) (2010-2013)
RUI: Ground-Based and Space-Based Direct Imaging Surveys for Extrasolar Planets
$286,568
● NASA Keck General Observing Time (PI) (2010).
Coldest Imaged Companion of a Sun-like Star
$12,700
● Hubble Space Telescope General Observing Time (co-I) (2010-2013).
Probing for Exoplanets Hiding in Dusty Debris Disks: Inner Disk Imaging, Characterization, and Exploration
$520,000
● MPIA Postdoctoral Fellowship (2007-2010)
Science Observations with SPHERE – Direct Imaging of Exoplanets.
€87,000
● Spitzer Space Telescope General Observing Time (co-I) (2007).
IRAC Search for Planetary Mass Companions of Extrasolar Planetary Systems: Probing the inner 400 AU
$50,000.
● JPL Innovative Spontaneous Concepts Grant (Lead-I) (2006).
A Band Limited Mask for High-Contrast Adaptive Optics Imaging
$30,000.
● NASA NPP Fellowship (2006-2007).
Observational Studies of Substellar Companions Around Nearby Stars and Instrumentation Research to Improve High Contrast Companion Searches
$100,000.
● NSF Major Instrumentation Grant (co-I [science team]) (2006).
Development of a Visible-Light Adaptive Optics Upgrade at Palomar Mountain.
$1.1 million.
● Spitzer Space Telescope General Observing Time (co-I) (2006).
Search for Planetary Companions of Epsilon Eridani and Fomalhaut
$50,000.
● NASA Space Grant Graduate Fellowship (2002).
$40,000.
● Frank P. Brackett Prize in Astronomy, Pomona College (1999).
$3,000.
*Note: all funding values reflect overall grant award, covering all team members.
Publications
● Infrared Non-detection of Fomalhaut b -- Implications for the Planet Interpretation, M. Janson, J. C. Carson, D. Lafreniere, D. Spiegel, J. Bent & P. Wong, 2012, Astrophysical Journal, 747, 116.
● High Contrast NIR Polarization Imaging of MWC480, N. Kusakabe, C. A. Grady, M. L. Sitko, J. Hashimoto, T. Kudo, M. Fukagawa, T. Muto, J. P. Wisniewski, M. Min, C. Werren, A. N. Day, L. C. Beerman, D. K. Lynch, R. W. Russell, S. M. Brafford, L. Abe, W. Brandner, J. C. Carson, et al., 2012, Astrophysical Journal, in press.
● Discovery of Small-scale Spiral Structures in the Disk of SAO 206462 (HD 135344B): Implications for the Physical State of the Disk from Spiral Density Wave Theory, T. Muto, C. A. Grady, J. Hashimoto, M. Fukagawa, J. B. Hornbeck, M. Sitko, R. Russell, C. Werren, M. Cure, T. Currie, N. Ohashi, Y. Okamoto, M. Momose, M. Honda, S. Inutsuka, T. Takeuchi, R. Dong, L. Abe, W. Brandner, T. Brandt, J. C. Carson, et al., 2012, Astrophysical Journal, 748, 22.
● The Missing Cavities in the SEEDS Polarized Scattered Light Images of Transitional Protoplanetary Disks: A Generic Disk Model, R. Dong, R. Rafikov, Z. Zhu, L. Hartmann, B. Whitney, T. Brandt, T. Muto, J. Hashimoto, C. Grady, K. Follette, M. Kuzuhara, R. Tanii, Y. Itoh, C. Thalmann, J. Wisniewski, S. Mayama, M. Janson, L. Abe, W. Brandner, J. C. Carson, et al., 2012, Astrophysical Journal, 750, 161.
● A Spitzer IRAC Imaging Survey for T Dwarf Companions Around M, L, and T Dwarfs: Observations, Results, and Monte Carlo Population Analyses, J. C. Carson, et al., 2011, Astrophysical Journal, 743, 141.
● Near-Infrared Multi-Band Photometry of the Substellar Companion GJ 758 B, M. Janson, J. C. Carson, et al., 2011, Astrophysical Journal Letters, 728, 85.
● Images of the Extended Outer Regions of the Debris Ring Around HR 4796 A, C. Thalmann, M. Janson, E. Buenzli, T. D. Brandt, J. P. Wisniewski, A. Moro-Martín, T. Usuda, G. Schneider, J. C. Carson, et al. 2011, Astrophysical Journal Letters, in press (2011arXiv1110.2488T).
● Direct Imaging of Fine Structures in Giant Planet Forming Regions of the Protoplanetary Disk Around AB Aurigae, J. Hashimoto, M. Tamura, T. Muto, T. Kudo, M, Fukagawa, T. Fukue, C. A. Grady, T. Henning, K. Hodapp, M. Honda, S. Inutsuka, E. Kokubo, G. Knapp, M. W. McElwain, M. Momose, N. Ohashi, Y. K. Okamoto, M. Takami, E. L. Turner, J. Wisniewski, M. Janson, L. Abe, W. Brandner, J. C. Carson, et al. 2011, Astrophysical Journal Letters, 729, 17.
● Multiwavelength study of Chandra X-ray sources in the Antennae, D. M. Clark, S. S. Eikenberry, B. R. Brandl, J. C. Wilson, J. C. Carson, et al. 2011, MNRAS, 410, 890.
● The Debris Disk Host Star HD 61005: a member of the Argus Association?, S. Desidera, E. Covino, S. Messina, V. D. Orazi, J. M. Alcala, E. Brugaletta, J. C. Carson, et al. 2011, Astronomy & Astrophysics, 529, 54.
● On-sky Demonstration of a Linear Band-limited Mask with Application to Visual Binary Stars, J. Crepp, E. Serabyn, J. C. Carson, J. Ge, & I. Kravchenko, et al. 2010, Astrophysical Journal, 715, 1533.
● Dissecting the Moth: Discovery of an Off-Centered Ring in the HD 61005 Debris Disk with High-Resolution Imaging, E. Buenzli, C. Thalmann, A. Vigan, A. Boccaletti, G. Chauvin, J.C. Augereau, M. R. Meyer, F. Menard, S. Desidera, S. Messina, T. Henning, J. C. Carson, et al., 2010, Astronomy & Astrophysics Letters, 524L, 1.
● Search for Outer Massive Bodies around Transiting Planetary Systems: Candidates of Faint Stellar Companions around HAT-P-7, N. Narita, T. Kudo, C. Bergfors, M. Nagasawa, C. Thalmann, B. Sato, R. Suzuki, R. Kandori, M. Janson, M. Goto, W. Brandner, S. Ida, L. Abe, J. C. Carson, et al. 2010, Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan, 62, 779.
● Imaging of a Transitional Disk Gap in Reflected Light: Indications of Planet Formation Around the Young Solar Analog LkCa 15, C. Thalmann, C. A. Grady, M. Goto, J. P. Wisniewski, M. Janson, T. Henning, M. Fukagawa, M. Honda, G. D. Mulders, M. Min, A. Moro-Martín, M. W. McElwain, K. W. Hodapp, J. C. Carson, et al. 2010, Astrophysical Journal, 718, 87.
● Optimal method for exoplanet detection by spectral and angular differential imaging, A. Cornia, L. M. Mugnier, D. Mouillet, A. Vigan, A. Eggenberger, G. Rousset, A. Boccaletti, M. Carbillet, K. Dohlen, T. Fusco, J. C. Carson, & G. Montagnier, 2010, SPIE, 7736E, 47C.
● On-sky demonstration of optical speckle stabilization using the SPIFS-POC, M. Keremedjiev, S. S. Eikenberry, & J. C. Carson, 2010, SPIE, 7735, 60.
● Performance characterization of the HiCIAO instrument for the Subaru Telescope, R. Suzuki, T. Kudo, J. Hashimoto, J. C. Carson et al. 2010, SPIE, 7735E, 101.
● A Distance-Limited Imaging Survey of Sub-Stellar Companions to Solar Neighborhood Stars, J. C. Carson, K. D. Hiner, G. G. Villar, M. G. Blaschak, A. L. Rudolph, and K. R. Stapelfeldt, 2009, Astronomical Journal, 137, 218.
● Discovery of the Coldest Imaged Companion of a Sun-like Star, C. Thalmann, J. C. Carson, et al. 2009, Astrophysical Journal, 707, 123.
● Spitzer/Infrared Array Camera Limits to Planetary Companions of Fomalhaut and epsilon Eridani, M. Marengo, K. Stapelfeldt, M. W. Werner, J. L. Hora, G. G. Fazio, M. T. Schuster, J. C. Carson, & S. T. Megeath, 2009, Astrophysical Journal, 700, 1647.
● Frame Combination Techniques for Ultra High-Contrast Imaging, J. C. Carson, M.
Feldt, S. Desidera, M. Langlois, F. Joos, D. Mouillet, and J.-L. Beuzit, 2008b, SPIE, 7014E, 115C.
● Stabilized-Speckle Integral Field Spectroscopy, S. S. Eikenberry, M. Keremedjev, and J. C. Carson, 2008, SPIE, 70145P.
● SPIFS Performance Simulations:achieving diffraction-limited spatial resolutions for spectroscopy, M. Keremedjev, S. S. Eikenberry, and J. C. Carson, 2008, SPIE, 70145Q.
● A First Estimate of the X-Ray Binary Frequency as a Function of Star Cluster Mass in a Single Galactic System, D. M. Clark, S. S. Eikenberry, B. R. Brandl, J. C. Wilson, J. C. Carson, et al., 2008, Astrophysical Journal, 678, 798C.
● Hale and Hearty, J. C. Carson, 2007, Saveur Magazine, 99, 20.
● Erratum:Infrared Counterparts to Chandra X-Ray Sources in the Antennae, D.M.
Clark, S. S. Eikenberry, B. R. Brandl, J. C. Wilson, J. C. Carson et al., 2007, Astrophysical Journal, 658, 319.
● Infrared Counterparts to Chandra X-Ray Sources in the Antennae, D. M. Clark, S. S. Eikenberry, B. R. Brandl, J. C. Wilson, J. C. Carson et al., 2007, Astrophysical Journal, 658, 319.
● The Effects of Instrumental Elliptical Polarization on Stellar Point Spread Function Fine Structure, J. C. Carson, B. D. Kern, J. T. Trauger, & J. B. Breckinridge, 2006a, SPIE, 6265, 62653M.
● The Cornell High-Order Adaptive Optics Survey for Brown Dwarfs in Stellar
Systems-II: Results from Monte Carlo Population Analyses, J. C. Carson, S. S. Eikenberry, J. J. Smith, J. M. Cordes, 2006b, Astronomical Journal, 132, 1146.
● Graded Coronagraphic Masks for High-Contrast Near-Infrared Imaging, J. C. Carson, D. W. Wilson, and J. T. Trauger, 2005a, Proc. SPIE, 5905, 59051D.
● The Cornell High-Order Adaptive Optics Survey for Brown Dwarfs in Stellar Systems-I: Observations, Data Reduction, and Detection Analyses, J. C. Carson, S. S. Eikenberry, B. R. Brandl, J. C. Wilson, and T. L. Hayward, 2005b, Astronomical Journal, 130, 1212.
● The Ultraluminous X-Ray Source X-37 Is a Background Quasar in the Antennae Galaxies, D. M. Clark, M. H. Christopher, S. S. Eikenberry, B. R. Brandl, J. C. Wilson, J. C. Carson, et al., 2005, Astrophysical Journal, 631, 109.
● Deep Near-Infrared Imaging and Photometry of the Antennae Galaxies with WIRC, B. R. Brandl, D. M. Clark, S. S. Eikenberry, J. C. Wilson, C. P. Henderson, D. J. Barry, J. R. Houck, J. C. Carson, et al., 2005, Astrophysical Journal, 631, 109.
● A Wide-Field Infrared Camera for the Palomar 200-inch Telescope, J. C. Wilson, S. S. Eikenberry, C. P. Henderson, T. L. Hayward, J. C. Carson, et al., 2003, SPIE 4841, 451.
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webpage modified: 12 May 2012