Michael Zemcov Headshot

Michael Zemcov

Associate Professor

School of Physics and Astronomy
College of Science

585-475-2338
Office Location

Michael Zemcov

Associate Professor

School of Physics and Astronomy
College of Science

Education

BSc, University of British Columbia (Canada); Ph.D., Cardiff University (United Kingdom)

Bio

I am a research professor in the School of Physics and Astronomy and director of RIT's Experimental Astrophysics Laboratory. My research centers on instrumentation for cosmological observations, including the cosmic microwave and infra-red backgrounds. I develop instruments and data analysis methods for a variety of platforms, including ground-based, sub-orbital rockets, and orbital observatories. Currently, my scientific focus is on the epoch of reionization, secondary anisotropies in the cosmic microwave background, and studies of the history of star formation in the Universe using novel techniques and experiments. I have extensive experience with instrumentation, observation and data analysis for astrophysics throughout the electromagnetic spectrum from the optical to the radio, with particular emphasis on the infra-red and sub-mm/mm regimes. My group is currently involved in several projects in a variety of roles, ranging from technology development to the scientific interpretation of data from mature instruments.

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585-475-2338

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Areas of Expertise

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Published Game, Application or Software
Zemcov, Michael, Richard Feder, and Ryan Wills. SPIRE HeRS/HeLMS Combined SHIM Maps. Software. Zendod. 2024.
Journal Paper
Raghunathan, S, et al. "First Constraints on the Epoch of Reionization Using the Non-Gaussianity of the Kinematic Sunyaev-Zel'dovich Effect from the South Pole Telescope and Herschel-SPIRE Observations." Physical Review Letters 133. 12 (2024): 8. Web.
Bulter, Victoria, et al. "TIME: the Tomographic Ionized-carbon Mapping Experiment: an update on design, characterization, and data from the 2022 commissioning observations." Proceedings of the SPIE 13102. (2024): 11. Web.
Content, Robert, et al. "SIRMOS: NIR spectroscopy of 131,000,000 galaxies over 1 < z < 4 and R 1300." Proceedings of the SPIE 13092. (2024): 13. Print.
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Published Conference Proceedings
Silich, E, et al. "Improved Constraints on Mergers with SZ, Hydrodynamical simulations, Optical, and X-ray (ICM-SHOX). Paper II: Galaxy cluster sample overview." Proceedings of the mm Universe 2023 - Observing the Universe at mm Wavelengths. Ed. F Mayet, et al. Grenoble, France: EPJ Web of Conferences, 2024. Web.
Vaughan, Benjamin, et al. "Reducing Information Loss due to Atmospheric Noise using Cross-linking with TIME." Proceedings of the American Physical Society April Meeting 2024. Ed. N/A. Washington, DC: n.p., 2024. Web.
Mercado, Dale, et al. "Development of a Fourier transform spectrometer for the calibration of THz on-chip spectrometers." Proceedings of the Proceedings Volume 12190, Millimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy XI. Ed. Jonas Zmuidzinas, Jian-Rong Gao. Montreal, Canada: SPIE, 2022. Web.
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Invited Keynote/Presentation
Zemcov, Michael. "Seeing the Universe in Technicolor though Intensity Spectrometry with TIME and SPHEREx." NRAO and U.Va. Department of Astronomy Colloquium Series. University of Virginia. Charlottesville, VA. 25 Sep. 2024. Lecture.
Zemcov, Michael. "Fluctuation measurements of the cosmic optical and infrared backgrounds." AstroParticle Symposium 2024. Institut Pascal, Université Paris-Saclay. Paris, France. 13 Nov. 2024. Guest Lecture.
Zemcov, Michael. "An Opportunity for Astrophysics from the Outer Solar System." 42nd COSPAR Meeting. COSPAR. Pasadena, CA. 1 Jul. 2018. Conference Presentation.

Currently Teaching

ASTP-790
1 - 3 Credits
Masters-level research by the candidate on an appropriate topic as arranged between the candidate and the research advisor.
ASTP-791
0 Credits
Continuation of Thesis
ASTP-799
1 - 4 Credits
An independent study in an area of astrophysical sciences and technology not covered in the available courses. This study may be reading study of an appropriate textbook, literature review, or other appropriate work. The course requires a formal proposal, faculty sponsor, and program approval.
ASTP-890
1 - 6 Credits
Dissertation research by the candidate for an appropriate topic as arranged between the candidate and the research advisor.
ASTP-891
0 Credits
Continuation of Thesis
PHYS-493
1 - 4 Credits
This course is a faculty-directed student project or research involving observational or theoretical work in astrophysics that could be considered of an original nature.
PHYS-616
3 Credits
This course is an introductory graduate-level overview of techniques in and applications of data analysis in physics and related fields. Topics examined include noise and probability, model fitting and hypothesis testing, signal processing, Fourier methods, and advanced computation and simulation techniques. Applications are drawn from across the contemporary physical sciences, including soft matter, solid state, biophysics, and materials science. The subjects covered also have applications for students of astronomy, signal processing, scientific computation, and others.
PHYS-790
1 - 4 Credits
Graduate-level research by the candidate on an appropriate topic as arranged between the candidate and the research advisor.
PHYS-791
0 Credits
Graduate-level research by the candidate on an appropriate topic as arranged between the candidate and the research advisor.

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