My name is Zach Nasipak, and I am gravitational astrophysicist who models and analyzes potential gravitational wave sources for the future space-based Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). My primary expertise is in the numerical modeling of compact object binaries known as extreme-mass-ratio inspirals (EMRIs).
Zachary Nasipak
(NASA POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW)
| Email: | zachary.nasipak@nasa.gov |
| Phone: | 301.286.1111 |
| Org Code: | 663 |
| Address: |
NASA/GSFC Mail Code 663 Greenbelt, MD 20771 |
| Employer: | UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE CO |
Brief Bio
Research Interests
Modeling EMRIs
Astrophysics: Gravitational WavesAn extreme-mass-ratio inspirals (EMRIs) is a compact object binary composed of a stellar-mass compact object inspiraling into a massive black hole. They are ideal gravitational wave sources for the future space-based LISA detector and are naturally modeled using perturbation theory and the self-force formalism.
EMRI Data Analysis
Astrophysics: Gravitational WavesWhile LISA will be able to measure the gravitational waves produced by EMRIs, EMRI gravitational wave signals must be disentangled from the detector noise and the chorus of other gravitational wave sources that LISA simultaneously observes. Using Bayesian inference methods, researchers can characterize potential EMRI sources from the complicated data stream recorded by LISA.
Current Projects
EMRI resonances
Black Holes
I am developing numerical models that better quantify the impact of consequential orbital r\theta-resonances on the dynamics of EMRIs.
Positions/Employment
NASA Postdoctoral Fellow
NPP Program - NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
January 2021 - Present
Postdoctoral Fellow
Institute for Computational and Experimental Research in Mathematics - Brown University, Providence, RI
September 2020 - December 2020
Education
2020: PhD in Physics - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2015: BA in Physics and Astronomy - Vassar College
Selected Publications
Refereed
2022. "Adiabatic evolution due to the conservative scalar self-force during orbital resonances." Physical Review D 106 (6): 064042 [10.1103/physrevd.106.064042] [Journal Article/Letter]
2021. "Resonant self-force effects in extreme-mass-ratio binaries: A scalar model." Physical Review D 104 (8): 084011 [10.1103/physrevd.104.084011] [Journal Article/Letter]
2019. "Repeated faint quasinormal bursts in extreme-mass-ratio inspiral waveforms: Evidence from frequency-domain scalar self-force calculations on generic Kerr orbits." Physical Review D 100 (6): 064008 [10.1103/physrevd.100.064008] [Journal Article/Letter]