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Dr. Antara R Basu-Zych

Photo of ANTARA BASU-ZYCH

Dr. Antara R Basu-Zych

  • RESEARCH SCIENTIST
  • 301.286.1155
  • NASA/GSFC
  • Mail Code: 662
  • Greenbelt , MD 20771
  • Employer: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE CO

    • Brief Bio

    Dr. Basu-Zych is a staff scientist with the High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center (HEASARC) and a research scientist with the X-ray Astrophysics Laboratory.

    As a staff scientist with HEASARC, Dr. Basu-Zych leads the ingest of database tables into the HEASARC's Browse and Xamin systems, monitors the HEASARC usage statistics, and  maintains various HEASARC web pages. In addition, she supports the activities of the NASA Astronomical Virtual Observatory (NAVO) . 

    Dr. Basu-Zych's research interest and expertise involves multi-wavelength studies of starburst galaxies over the history of the Universe to understand the conditions within and surrounding these galaxies. Speci fically, this research targets local analogs of Lyman break galaxies, a key population of high-redshift galaxies, to explore the evolution of galaxy properties in ultraviolet-selected (actively star-forming, dust- and metal-poor) galaxies as compared to other local star-forming galaxies (with lower SFRs) and infrared-selected galaxies (with similarly high SFRs, but with signfii cantly higher dust content) over cosmic time. Within the topic of galaxy evolution, Dr. Basu-Zych's interests include investigating: star formation histories using multi-wavelength diagnostics and approaches; X-ray binary formation and evolution; close pair systems, where the galaxy environment is conducive to interacting and merging galaxies; dust and metallicity properties; HI gas content and the role of gas in star formation efficiency; galaxy kinematics and dynamics and relation to galaxy feedback.

    Positions/Employment

    11/2017 - Present

    Associate Research Scientist

    CRESST II/ University of Maryland, Baltimore County, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
    • HEASARC and NAVO Staff Scientist: monitoring databases, usage and archive growth and health statistics, support activities for outreach and community partnership.
    • Research Scientist: emphasis on X-ray galaxy topics, including simulations of future X-ray telescopes and the studying the implications of X-ray binaries for heating the intergalactic medium (IGM) of the early Universe.  
    11/2015 - Present

    Assistant Research Scientist

    CRESST -- University of Maryland, Baltimore County & NASA/GSFC, Goddard Space Flight Center
    • Physics of the Cosmos support scientist
    • Research focus:  X-ray studies of star-forming galaxies.
    7/2012 - 11/2015

    NASA Postdoctoral Researcher

    CRESST UMBC/NASA, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
    • Research focus:
      • Study of X-ray binary populations in Lyman break galaxies/analogs
      • Radio Investigation of the properties of UV color-selected galaxies
    7/2009 - 7/2012

    NASA Postdoctoral (NPP) Fellow

    Oak Ridge Associated Universities, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
    •  Research focus: X-ray and Swift UVOT Studies of Star-Forming Galaxies

    Education

    Columbia University, New York, NY

    Ph.D., Astronomy, Jan 2009
     Thesis Topic: Nature of z <1 Ultraviolet-Luminous Galaxies
     Advisor: Professor David Schiminovich


    University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley,CA

    B.A., Physics and Astronomy, May 2000

    Selected Publications

    Refereed

    Lehmer, B. D., R. T. Eufrasio, P. Tzanavaris, et al. A. Basu-Zych, T. Fragos, A. Prestwich, M. Yukita, A. Zezas, A. E. Hornschemeier, and A. Ptak. 2019. "X-Ray Binary Luminosity Function Scaling Relations for Local Galaxies Based on Subgalactic Modeling." The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, 243 (1): 3 [10.3847/1538-4365/ab22a8]

    Lehmer, B. D., R. T. Eufrasio, L. Markwardt, et al. A. Zezas, A. Basu-Zych, T. Fragos, A. E. Hornschemeier, A. Ptak, P. Tzanavaris, and M. Yukita. 2017. "On the Spatially Resolved Star Formation History in M51. II. X-Ray Binary Population Evolution." The Astrophysical Journal, 851 (1): 11 [10.3847/1538-4357/aa9578]

    Eufrasio, R., B. Lehmer, A. Zezas, et al. E. Dwek, R. Arendt, A. Basu-Zych, T. Wiklind, M. Yukita, T. Fragos, A. Hornschemeier, L. Markwardt, A. Ptak, and P. Tzanavaris. 2017. "On the Spatially Resolved Star Formation History in M51. I. Hybrid UV+IR Star Formation Laws and IR Emission from Dust Heated by Old Stars." The Astrophysical Journal, 851 (1): 10 [10.3847/1538-4357/aa9569]

    Basu-Zych, A. R., B. Lehmer, T. Fragos, et al. A. Hornschemeier, M. Yukita, A. Zezas, and A. Ptak. 2016. "EXPLORING THE OVERABUNDANCE OF ULXs IN METAL- AND DUST-POOR LOCAL LYMAN BREAK ANALOGS." The Astrophysical Journal, 818 (2): 140 [10.3847/0004-637x/818/2/140]

    Goncalves, T. S., A. Basu-Zych, R. A. Overzier, L. Perez, and D. C. Martin. 2014. "Molecular gas properties of UV-bright star-forming galaxies at low redshift." Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 442 (2): 1429-1439 [10.1093/mnras/stu852]

    Lehmer, B. D., M. Berkeley, A. Zezas, et al. D. M. Alexander, A. Basu-Zych, F. E. Bauer, W. N. Brandt, T. Fragos, A. E. Hornschemeier, V. Kalogera, A. Ptak, G. R. Sivakoff, P. Tzanavaris, and M. Yukita. 2014. "THE X-RAY LUMINOSITY FUNCTIONS OF FIELD LOW-MASS X-RAY BINARIES IN EARLY-TYPE GALAXIES: EVIDENCE FOR A STELLAR AGE DEPENDENCE." The Astrophysical Journal, 789 (1): 52 [10.1088/0004-637x/789/1/52]

    Fragos, T., B. D. Lehmer, S. Naoz, A. Zezas, and A. Basu-Zych. 2013. "ENERGY FEEDBACK FROM X-RAY BINARIES IN THE EARLY UNIVERSE." The Astrophysical Journal, 776 (2): L31 [10.1088/2041-8205/776/2/l31]

    Basu-Zych, A. R., B. D. Lehmer, A. E. Hornschemeier, et al. T. S. Gonçalves, T. Fragos, T. M. Heckman, R. A. Overzier, A. F. Ptak, and D. Schiminovich. 2013. "EVIDENCE FOR ELEVATED X-RAY EMISSION IN LOCAL LYMAN BREAK GALAXY ANALOGS." The Astrophysical Journal, 774 (2): 152 [10.1088/0004-637x/774/2/152]

    Fragos, T., B. Lehmer, M. Tremmel, et al. P. Tzanavaris, A. Basu-Zych, K. Belczynski, A. Hornschemeier, L. Jenkins, V. Kalogera, A. Ptak, and A. Zezas. 2013. "X-RAY BINARY EVOLUTION ACROSS COSMIC TIME." The Astrophysical Journal, 764 (1): 41 [10.1088/0004-637x/764/1/41]

    Basu-Zych, A. R., B. D. Lehmer, A. E. Hornschemeier, et al. R. J. Bouwens, T. Fragos, P. A. Oesch, K. Belczynski, W. N. Brandt, V. Kalogera, B. Luo, N. Miller, J. R. Mullaney, P. Tzanavaris, Y. Xue, and A. Zezas. 2012. "THE X-RAY STAR FORMATION STORY AS TOLD BY LYMAN BREAK GALAXIES IN THE 4 Ms CDF-S." The Astrophysical Journal, 762 (1): 45 [10.1088/0004-637x/762/1/45]

    Alexandroff, R., R. A. Overzier, Z. Paragi, et al. A. Basu-Zych, T. Heckman, G. Kauffmann, S. Bourke, A. Lobanov, A. Ptak, and D. Schiminovich. 2012. "A search for active galactic nuclei in the most extreme UV-selected starbursts using the European VLBI Network." Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 423 (2): 1325-1334 [10.1111/j.1365-2966.2012.20959.x]

    Basu-Zych, A. R., A. E. Hornschemeier, E. A. Hoversten, B. Lehmer, and C. Gronwall. 2011. "A SEARCH FOR LYMAN BREAK GALAXIES IN THE CHANDRA DEEP FIELD SOUTH USING SWIFT ULTRAVIOLET/OPTICAL TELESCOPE." The Astrophysical Journal, 739 (2): 98 [10.1088/0004-637x/739/2/98]

    Heckman, T. M., S. Borthakur, R. Overzier, et al. G. Kauffmann, A. Basu-Zych, C. Leitherer, K. Sembach, D. C. Martin, R. M. Rich, D. Schiminovich, and M. Seibert. 2011. "EXTREME FEEDBACK AND THE EPOCH OF REIONIZATION: CLUES IN THE LOCAL UNIVERSE." The Astrophysical Journal, 730 (1): 5 [10.1088/0004-637x/730/1/5]

    Basu-Zych, A. R., D. Schiminovich, S. Heinis, et al. R. Overzier, T. Heckman, M. Zamojski, O. Ilbert, A. M. Koekemoer, T. A. Barlow, L. Bianchi, T. Conrow, J. Donas, K. G. Forster, P. G. Friedman, Y. Lee, B. F. Madore, D. C. Martin, B. Milliard, P. Morrissey, S. G. Neff, R. M. Rich, S. Salim, M. Seibert, T. A. Small, A. S. Szalay, T. K. Wyder, and S. Yi. 2009. "Studying Large- and Small-Scale Environments of Ultraviolet Luminous Galaxies." The Astrophysical Journal, 699: 1307 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1088/0004-637X/699/2/1307]

    Basu-Zych, A. R., D. Schiminovich, B. D. Johnson, et al. C. Hoopes, R. Overzier, M. A. Treyer, T. M. Heckman, T. A. Barlow, L. Bianchi, T. Conrow, J. Donas, K. G. Forster, P. G. Friedman, Y. Lee, B. F. Madore, D. C. Martin, B. Milliard, P. Morrissey, S. G. Neff, R. M. Rich, S. Salim, M. Seibert, T. A. Small, A. S. Szalay, T. K. Wyder, and S. Yi. 2007. "The Young and the Dustless: Interpreting Radio Observations of Ultraviolet-Luminous Galaxies." The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, 173: 457 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1086/521146]

    Brief Bio

    Dr. Basu-Zych is a staff scientist with the High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center (HEASARC) and a research scientist with the X-ray Astrophysics Laboratory.

    As a staff scientist with HEASARC, Dr. Basu-Zych leads the ingest of database tables into the HEASARC's Browse and Xamin systems, monitors the HEASARC usage statistics, and  maintains various HEASARC web pages. In addition, she supports the activities of the NASA Astronomical Virtual Observatory (NAVO) . 

    Dr. Basu-Zych's research interest and expertise involves multi-wavelength studies of starburst galaxies over the history of the Universe to understand the conditions within and surrounding these galaxies. Speci fically, this research targets local analogs of Lyman break galaxies, a key population of high-redshift galaxies, to explore the evolution of galaxy properties in ultraviolet-selected (actively star-forming, dust- and metal-poor) galaxies as compared to other local star-forming galaxies (with lower SFRs) and infrared-selected galaxies (with similarly high SFRs, but with signfii cantly higher dust content) over cosmic time. Within the topic of galaxy evolution, Dr. Basu-Zych's interests include investigating: star formation histories using multi-wavelength diagnostics and approaches; X-ray binary formation and evolution; close pair systems, where the galaxy environment is conducive to interacting and merging galaxies; dust and metallicity properties; HI gas content and the role of gas in star formation efficiency; galaxy kinematics and dynamics and relation to galaxy feedback.

    Selected Publications

    Refereed

    Lehmer, B. D., R. T. Eufrasio, P. Tzanavaris, et al. A. Basu-Zych, T. Fragos, A. Prestwich, M. Yukita, A. Zezas, A. E. Hornschemeier, and A. Ptak. 2019. "X-Ray Binary Luminosity Function Scaling Relations for Local Galaxies Based on Subgalactic Modeling." The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series 243 (1): 3 [10.3847/1538-4365/ab22a8]

    Lehmer, B. D., R. T. Eufrasio, L. Markwardt, et al. A. Zezas, A. Basu-Zych, T. Fragos, A. E. Hornschemeier, A. Ptak, P. Tzanavaris, and M. Yukita. 2017. "On the Spatially Resolved Star Formation History in M51. II. X-Ray Binary Population Evolution." The Astrophysical Journal 851 (1): 11 [10.3847/1538-4357/aa9578]

    Eufrasio, R., B. Lehmer, A. Zezas, et al. E. Dwek, R. Arendt, A. Basu-Zych, T. Wiklind, M. Yukita, T. Fragos, A. Hornschemeier, L. Markwardt, A. Ptak, and P. Tzanavaris. 2017. "On the Spatially Resolved Star Formation History in M51. I. Hybrid UV+IR Star Formation Laws and IR Emission from Dust Heated by Old Stars." The Astrophysical Journal 851 (1): 10 [10.3847/1538-4357/aa9569]

    Basu-Zych, A. R., B. Lehmer, T. Fragos, et al. A. Hornschemeier, M. Yukita, A. Zezas, and A. Ptak. 2016. "EXPLORING THE OVERABUNDANCE OF ULXs IN METAL- AND DUST-POOR LOCAL LYMAN BREAK ANALOGS." The Astrophysical Journal 818 (2): 140 [10.3847/0004-637x/818/2/140]

    Goncalves, T. S., A. Basu-Zych, R. A. Overzier, L. Perez, and D. C. Martin. 2014. "Molecular gas properties of UV-bright star-forming galaxies at low redshift." Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 442 (2): 1429-1439 [10.1093/mnras/stu852]

    Lehmer, B. D., M. Berkeley, A. Zezas, et al. D. M. Alexander, A. Basu-Zych, F. E. Bauer, W. N. Brandt, T. Fragos, A. E. Hornschemeier, V. Kalogera, A. Ptak, G. R. Sivakoff, P. Tzanavaris, and M. Yukita. 2014. "THE X-RAY LUMINOSITY FUNCTIONS OF FIELD LOW-MASS X-RAY BINARIES IN EARLY-TYPE GALAXIES: EVIDENCE FOR A STELLAR AGE DEPENDENCE." The Astrophysical Journal 789 (1): 52 [10.1088/0004-637x/789/1/52]

    Fragos, T., B. D. Lehmer, S. Naoz, A. Zezas, and A. Basu-Zych. 2013. "ENERGY FEEDBACK FROM X-RAY BINARIES IN THE EARLY UNIVERSE." The Astrophysical Journal 776 (2): L31 [10.1088/2041-8205/776/2/l31]

    Basu-Zych, A. R., B. D. Lehmer, A. E. Hornschemeier, et al. T. S. Gonçalves, T. Fragos, T. M. Heckman, R. A. Overzier, A. F. Ptak, and D. Schiminovich. 2013. "EVIDENCE FOR ELEVATED X-RAY EMISSION IN LOCAL LYMAN BREAK GALAXY ANALOGS." The Astrophysical Journal 774 (2): 152 [10.1088/0004-637x/774/2/152]

    Fragos, T., B. Lehmer, M. Tremmel, et al. P. Tzanavaris, A. Basu-Zych, K. Belczynski, A. Hornschemeier, L. Jenkins, V. Kalogera, A. Ptak, and A. Zezas. 2013. "X-RAY BINARY EVOLUTION ACROSS COSMIC TIME." The Astrophysical Journal 764 (1): 41 [10.1088/0004-637x/764/1/41]

    Basu-Zych, A. R., B. D. Lehmer, A. E. Hornschemeier, et al. R. J. Bouwens, T. Fragos, P. A. Oesch, K. Belczynski, W. N. Brandt, V. Kalogera, B. Luo, N. Miller, J. R. Mullaney, P. Tzanavaris, Y. Xue, and A. Zezas. 2012. "THE X-RAY STAR FORMATION STORY AS TOLD BY LYMAN BREAK GALAXIES IN THE 4 Ms CDF-S." The Astrophysical Journal 762 (1): 45 [10.1088/0004-637x/762/1/45]

    Alexandroff, R., R. A. Overzier, Z. Paragi, et al. A. Basu-Zych, T. Heckman, G. Kauffmann, S. Bourke, A. Lobanov, A. Ptak, and D. Schiminovich. 2012. "A search for active galactic nuclei in the most extreme UV-selected starbursts using the European VLBI Network." Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 423 (2): 1325-1334 [10.1111/j.1365-2966.2012.20959.x]

    Basu-Zych, A. R., A. E. Hornschemeier, E. A. Hoversten, B. Lehmer, and C. Gronwall. 2011. "A SEARCH FOR LYMAN BREAK GALAXIES IN THE CHANDRA DEEP FIELD SOUTH USING SWIFT ULTRAVIOLET/OPTICAL TELESCOPE." The Astrophysical Journal 739 (2): 98 [10.1088/0004-637x/739/2/98]

    Heckman, T. M., S. Borthakur, R. Overzier, et al. G. Kauffmann, A. Basu-Zych, C. Leitherer, K. Sembach, D. C. Martin, R. M. Rich, D. Schiminovich, and M. Seibert. 2011. "EXTREME FEEDBACK AND THE EPOCH OF REIONIZATION: CLUES IN THE LOCAL UNIVERSE." The Astrophysical Journal 730 (1): 5 [10.1088/0004-637x/730/1/5]

    Basu-Zych, A. R., D. Schiminovich, S. Heinis, et al. R. Overzier, T. Heckman, M. Zamojski, O. Ilbert, A. M. Koekemoer, T. A. Barlow, L. Bianchi, T. Conrow, J. Donas, K. G. Forster, P. G. Friedman, Y. Lee, B. F. Madore, D. C. Martin, B. Milliard, P. Morrissey, S. G. Neff, R. M. Rich, S. Salim, M. Seibert, T. A. Small, A. S. Szalay, T. K. Wyder, and S. Yi. 2009. "Studying Large- and Small-Scale Environments of Ultraviolet Luminous Galaxies." The Astrophysical Journal 699 1307 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1088/0004-637X/699/2/1307]

    Basu-Zych, A. R., D. Schiminovich, B. D. Johnson, et al. C. Hoopes, R. Overzier, M. A. Treyer, T. M. Heckman, T. A. Barlow, L. Bianchi, T. Conrow, J. Donas, K. G. Forster, P. G. Friedman, Y. Lee, B. F. Madore, D. C. Martin, B. Milliard, P. Morrissey, S. G. Neff, R. M. Rich, S. Salim, M. Seibert, T. A. Small, A. S. Szalay, T. K. Wyder, and S. Yi. 2007. "The Young and the Dustless: Interpreting Radio Observations of Ultraviolet-Luminous Galaxies." The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series 173 457 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1086/521146]

                                                                                                                                                                                            
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    • Last Updated: 06/02/2023