X-ray spectroscopy was carried out for separate projects at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Oregon State University. A computational routine, 'Drive XSPEC', was developed to help determine the feasibility of pursuing various science goals with future X-ray calorimeter spectrometer missions, most significantly the NASA Advanced X-ray Spectroscopy Imaging Observatory (AXSIO) mission concept. 'Drive XSPEC' can run spectroscopic simulations with various physical models and telescope designs. ‘Drive XSPEC’ can be applied to developing proposals for telescope time.
At OSU, X-ray emissions in neutron capture spectra of the production of 197Hg and 197Pt near 77 keV were analyzed to determine the thermal cross section and resonance integral for the production of 197Hg and 197Pt. Through correcting for X-ray emissions, peak intensities from the 77.3 keV gamma ray produced in beta decay of 197Hg and 197Pt were analyzed. From this analysis, thermal cross section and resonance integral values were determined to be 448 ± 27 and 2088 ± 133 for the production of 197Hg, and thermal cross section and resonance integral values were determined to be 6.72 ± 0.51, and 0.615 ± 0.054 for the production of 197Pt. These values agree with those found from the analysis of the 191 keV gamma ray produced in in beta decay of 197Hg and 197Pt.
Bio: Mason grew up in Florence and Canyonville, Oregon, and graduated from Siuslaw High School in Florence, Oregon. Mason’s parents are Linda Keck, who worked in K-12 education, and Gerald Keck, who works as a forester. Mason will be graduating from OSU this spring and entering the Boston University Astronomy Graduate Program in the fall. Mason also worked on the Radio Telescope Project at OSU. Mason played on the Ultimate (Frisbee) Club Team at OSU for two years and was a member of the Society of Physics Students for two years. Mason also enjoys playing guitar. Mason enjoyed track and field in high school.