Research
I study the physical properties and ionization sources of the diffuse
ionized gas (DIG) in the disks and halos of galaxies. DIG is the most
massive ionized component of the intersellar medium (ISM) in spiral
galaxies. Studying the properties of DIG to understand the ways in
which energy is deposited into DIG is necessary if we are to
understand the phase balance of the ISM and thus star formation and
galaxy evolution.
In an effort to constrain the ionization source of the DIG, I am
working with Dr. Rene Walterbos and Dr. Sally Oey (University of
Michigan) on massive star feedback in the Large Magellanic Cloud.
Using publicly available catalogs of spectral types and optical and
FUV photometry, along with the latest stellar ionization models, we
have developed a scheme to compare predicted and inferred ionizing
fluxes for HII regions. Such a comparison helps determine whether
"leaky" HII regions may be the dominant ionization source for the DIG
in galaxies.
Recently I and Dr. Walterbos were awarded 20 hours on Gemini North to
obtain high resolution spectroscopy of the DIG in M33 and NGC 891 as
part of my dissertation project. The goal is to detect critical
diagnostic emission lines that are very difficult to observe, namely
[NII]5755, He I 5876, and [OI]6300,6363. From these lines we will
gain knowledge of the electron temperature in the DIG, the spectral
type of the ionizing stars, and the contribution from shocks to the
ionization. None of these lines have been measured before in M33, and
[NII]5755 has not yet been detected in NGC 891.
Teaching
I am currently the graduate instructor for EE 109.
Publications
Detection of [OI] 6300 and Other Diagnostic Emission Lines in the Diffuse Ionized Gas of M33 with Gemini-North
Voges, E. S. & Walterbos, R. A. M. 2006, ApJ, 644, L29
Testing Photoionization Models in the Large Magellanic Cloud and M33
Voges, E. S., Walterbos, R. A. M., Hoopes, C. G., and Oey, M. S. 2005, ASP Conf. Ser. 331: Extra-Planar Gas, 331, 225
Meetings
January 2005: American Astronomical Society meeting,
The Radial Variation of the Diffuse H-alpha Fraction in 12 Nearby Galaxies
June 2004: Extra-Planar Gas meeting in Dwingeloo,
Testing Photoionization Models for the Diffuse Ionized Gas
January 2004: American Astronomical Society meeting,
HII Regions in the LMC: A Comparison of Predicted and Observed Fluxes
Future Work
I successfully defended my PhD Thesis, The Ionization Sources of the
Diffuse Ionized Gas in Nearby Disk Galaxies, on August 7, 2006.
In the fall, I will begin work as a College Assistant Professor in the Math
Department at NMSU. I will be teaching classes, as well as using my
science background to develop activities to make the department's algebra
classes more activity-based. I will also continue to pursue research in
the fields of math and science education.
I would like to acknowledge generous support from the New Mexico Alliance for Minority Participation, the New Mexico
Space Grant Consortium, and the Commission on Higher Education.
