The Center for Advanced Radio Astronomy (CARA)
The Center for Advanced Radio Astronomy (CARA), a center of excellence of The University of Texas System, was created with the mission to create future leaders in space exploration and related technology development. The center was founded by Dr. Fredrick Jenet, a leading advocate of astrophysics research and space technology development in South Texas. It is currently directed by Dr. Teviet Creighton, a Special Breakthrough Prize winner for fundamental astrophysics research.
At the heart of CARA's programs, lies a fine balance between academics and research that leads students into successful careers in science. Within its first five years of operation, CARA placed UTRGV among the top 10 producers of Hispanic physicists in the United States. In 2013, CARA was identified by The University of Texas System Chancellor as the first designated research unit of the new university that will establish a research culture with national and international prominence.
CARA is a leader in developing radio frequency based techniques and other technologies for space exploration as well as for creating innovative programs to attract and train the next generation of scientists and engineers with a strong background in modern radio frequency technology.
CARA strongly networks on behalf of UTRGV students, opening doors and creating new opportunities for further training in other institutions. CARA’s network of collaborating institutions includes NASA’s JPL, NASA Goddard, the US Naval Research Laboratory, the University of New Mexico, the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, and Peking University.
CARA currently runs several integrated research/education programs, including the Arecibo Remote Command Center (ARCC), the Low Frequency All Sky Monitor (LoFASM), and STARGATE. In addition, CARA's founder was also a founding member of the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav). These projects focus on student training and mentoring. Students are actively involved in high priority research efforts and contribute to scientific discoveries.
The Arecibo Remote Command Center
The Arecibo Remote Command Center (ARCC) is a new model of education that uses radio astronomy to attract, train, and retain students into STEM fields. In 2006, ARCC brought the world’s largest and most sensitive radio telescope to South Texas - the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center’s Arecibo radio telescope. The idea was to attract local students into serious research by enabling them to play a role in Arecibo-related science. The ARCC students control many of the world’s major radio telescopes in addition to Arecibo including the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank radio telescope, the Long Wavelength Array, the Effelsberg Radio Telescope. Students also conduct observations with UTRGV's own Low Frequency All-Sky Monitor (LoFASM), a network of "phased array" radio observatories located across the US.
The essence of the ARCC program is to engage students in impactful scientific research as early as possible in their careers, starting from our high school outreach programs and continuing through undergraduate and graduate degrees. Many of these research projects center around radio astronomy: ARCC students are responsible for the discovery of over 50 radio pulsars, including a double neutron star system, one of only 10 ever discovered. Other research areas include space technology development, earth imaging, renewable energy, and phased array communication systems. Students work in research teams that encourage peer mentoring. By their third year, students are expected to work on their own research project supervised by one of the department faculty professor, and assume a leadership position within their team and mentor junior students. By their fourth year, they continue as team leaders and submit a thesis of their research work to the department. Upon graduation the ARCC scholars pursue doctoral programs in physics, astronomy, or related STEM fields.
The ARCC program was developed at the university’s Department of Physics and Astronomy and is one of the top ten programs in the nation to graduate Hispanic students with bachelor degrees in physics and underscores the profound effect research can have on the careers of students. The ARCC program is being replicated at other universities throughout the United States and internationally.
Frank Ceballos, Jesus Rivera, Rossina Miller, Alex Garcia and Louis Dartez were in the inaugural class of ARRC Scholars and earned bachelor’s degrees in physics in 2012.Low Frequency All Sky Monitor (LoFASM)
Funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, the Low Frequency All Sky Monitor (LoFASM) is a system of radio telescope arrays distributed throughout the United States. Currently, LoFASM has four stations on the ground located at Port Mansfield, TX, Socorro, NM, and Green Bank, WV, and NASA's Goldstone deep space communication complex. CARA students have been directly involved in the development of the LoFASM equipment, which is based on technology designed by CARA collaborators at the Naval Research Laboratory.
North American NanoHertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves
The North American NanoHertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav) is a consortium of 14 institutions in the U.S. and Canada that is developing the technique of using radio pulsars to detect and study gravitational waves. CARA plays a leading role in this collaboration. The efforts of NANOGrav were deemed a high priority by the national research council. ARCC students are contributing to the science goals of the collaboration through their pulsar searching efforts. ARCC students train with collaborators within NANOGrav and its international partners in Australia, Germany, and China.