About Me
An image of me presenting at NSBP 2022.
I am currently the executive director of the NoVEL Cosortium, a program dedicated to provide students from three HBCUs: Norfolk State University, Virginia State University, and Elizabeth City State University with professional development skills and research oppurtunities through areas of materials science and photonics.
My research focuses on analyzing the physical behaviors of accreting neutron stars using radio telescopes. I recieved my PhD in Astrophysics and Astronomy from Michigan State University in 2023 and my Bachelor of Arts in physics from the City University of New York at Hunter College in 2018.
If you would like me to give a talk or participate in a science outreach event, please contact me at: tpanurach at nsu dot edu
Research & Publications
My PhD thesis involved looking at deep radio and X-ray observations of accreting neutron stars X-ray binaries in Galactic globular clusters to understand the coupling relationship of their jet and accretion disk. I am currently focusing my efforts on accreting neutron stars outside our galaxy, such as ultraluminious X-ray sources. Here is the link to my publications!
Bright Accreting Neutron Stars
Radio and X-ray correlation plane for accreting compact sources from Panurach et al. 2021. Adapted from Bahramian et al. 2018
We analyze quasi/strictly-simultaneous radio and X-ray observations of eight bright accreting neutron stars (six persistenly accreting and two transients) to get an insight on the relationship between accretion inflow and jet/outflow. We find that these sources do follow the standard behaviors of accreting neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries, but with greater extremes of luminous radio emission. This work is currently accepted and published (Panurach et al. 2021, ApJ, 923, 88 ).
X1850-087 in NGC 6712
Artistic rendition of a low-mass X-ray binary by Rob Hynes.
X1850-087 is a persistently, accreting ultracompact neutron star X-ray binary from NGC 6712. In 2014, we saw this system showed unusual extreme radio variability. We undertook a radio monitoring program of X1850-087 using the Karl G. Jansky, with simultaneous Swift/X-ray telescope observations to understand what is driving the variability. This work is currently accepted and published (Panurach et al. 2023, ApJ, 946, 88).
Radio Studies of Neutron Star Ultraluminious X-ray Sources
A combination X-ray image of M82's core showing the ultraluminios X-ray sources from NuSTAR and Chandra X-ray Telescope.
Ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) were once largely believed to be powered by super-Eddington accretion onto stellar-mass black holes, although in some rare cases, ULXs also serve as potential candidates for (sub-Eddington) intermediate mass black holes. However, a total of eight ULXs have now been confirmed to be powered by neutron stars, which may act as contaminants for radio/X-ray selection of intermediate mass black holes. We undergo the first comprehensive radio study of these systems using new and archival VLA and ATCA data. Our paper is currently under review.
CV & Highlights
View my full curriculum vitae!
Education
- Michigan State University, Ph.D. in Astrophysics and Astronomy (2023)
- Michigan State University, M.S. in Astrophysics and Astronomy (2021)
- City University of New York: Hunter College, B.A. in Physics (2018)
Awards, Grants, and Fellowships
- #iteachmsu Educator Award (2021)
- NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2020 - 2023)
- AstroCom NYC Fellowship (2016 - 2018)
- American Astronomical Society FAMOUS Travel Grant (2018)
- AstroCom NYC Senior Scholarship (2017)
DEI
In 2020, along with Profs. Laura Chomiuk, Paul Guèye and I founded PAREDS (Physics and Astronomy Research Experiences for Drew Scholars), which provides career guidence, professional development workshops, and paid research oppurtunities with Michigan State faculty and scientists for historically underrepresented astronomy undergraduates.
My personal responsibilities as co-director is to match students with mentors that fit their research interests, organize weekly summer professional development workshops, promote peer relationships within their cohort, and participate in bi-weekly leadership meetings.
I am now the executive director of the NoVEL Consortium at Norfolk State University. To learn more about what we do, please visit our website.
In 2023, Dr. Kristen Dage and I recieved funding from the LSST Discovery Alliance Inclusive Collaboration to develop and create resources how LSST scientists can actively engage with students from under-resourced institutions, such as community colleges.
