September 08 Issue - Employee Monthly Magazine

Pushing the limits

Star says gamma rays may shed light on universe

Brenda Dingus shows four of the 1,000 recycled photomultiplier tubes that will be used for the High Altitude Water Cherenkov telescope in Mexico. Photo by Sandra Valdez

Brenda Dingus of Neutron Science and Technology likes to live on the edge— in scientific theory, that is. "Gamma-ray astronomy allows us to look at the sky in a way that pushes our theories of physics to the limits," she said.

Recognized for her involvement in large-scale projects such as the Laboratory's Milagro Observatory at Fenton Hill and the High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) telescope at Volcàn Sierra Negra, Mexico; her collaboration with international physicists; and teaching astronomy at the Universities of Wisconsin and Utah, Dingus was named a 2008 LANL Star by the Women's Diversity Working Group.

"It's important to recognize the efforts and valuable contributions women make to the Lab," Dingus said of her LANL Star recognition.

A 2007 American Physical Society Fellow, Dingus sees gamma-ray astronomy as an innovative and interdisciplinary field at the intersection of astronomy and particle physics. "Gamma rays can tell us many interesting things about our universe," she said. "We use novel detection technology to study extreme phenomena in space, such as neutron stars, supernova explosions, and black holes."

Dingus said she enjoyed collaborating with students and faculty on the now-retired Milagro project. "It involved having many conversations to find creative solutions," she said. Now, she's looking forward to getting HAWC, a joint U.S.-Mexican project that incorporates recycled Milagro components, up and running.

A native of Los Alamos, Dingus obtained her doctorate in physics from the University of Maryland and later worked for NASA. Although her work allowed her to travel extensively, something always pulled her back to Los Alamos, she said. "I did research at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center as a graduate student at Maryland and worked on Milagro when I was a faculty member at Utah and Wisconsin," Dingus explained. "I've always loved it here."

—Tatjana K. Rosev