My Research
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My current research is largely focused on theory, which includes modeling Thorne-Żytkow Objects and other systems throughout the universe that contain black holes, big and small. My PhD advisor is Enrico Ramirez Ruiz. My past undergraduate research included the study of barred galaxies using Galaxy Zoo and HST data, the extinction of Active Galactic Nuclei in the Illustris Simulation, and the study of X-ray binary light curve variabilities using CXO data. Scroll down for further details on each of these projects :) <3
Rethinking Thorne-Żytkow Object Formation
Thorne-Żytkow Objects are theoretical stars with an accreting neutron star core. My research on these objects consists of revising their initial model to account for the effects of disk formation and angular momentum. To make the simulation, I used FLASH (a 3D hydrodynamics code). <See more>
Image: Tenley HS; simulated data, Hutchinson-Smith et al. 2023
Evolution of High-Mass X-ray Binaries
Using MESA (a 1D stellar evolution code) I am investigating the evolution of high-mass X-ray binary systems, to accurately model their tides and mass accretion that subsequently causes their orbital tightening. <Details TBA>
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Image: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss; illustration
The Mass Limit of Supermassive Black Holes and Their Impact on the Gravitational Wave Background
Using a supermassive black-hole binary population synthesis code called Holodeck, I am modeling how different universal SMBH mass limits impact the overall gravitational wave background (GWB). I am also using the NANOGrav 15-year pulsar timing array dataset as a point of comparison, to see how well these GWB models line up with observations. <Details TBA>
Image: Scott Noble; simulation data, d'Ascoli et al. 2018
Evolution of Bars and Barred Galaxies in the Early Universe
This project started in the summer of 2016 while I was interning at the University of California, San Diego, and has since continued. Using Hubble Space Telescope Legacy surveys and Galaxy Zoo data, we've examined bars and bar lengths between redshifts 0.25 < z < 1. Paper is currently in prep (Hutchinson-Smith, T., Simmons, B. D. et al.) <Details TBA>
Image: HST image of Spiral Galaxy NGC 6217
Variability of Hundreds of Extragalactic
X-ray Binaries
This was my summer 2018 research project while I interned at Harvard University. I investigated the light curves of X-ray binary systems to search for evidence of passing planets and X-ray flares, using 19 years of archived data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory. <See more>
Image: Tenley HS; CXO data
Extinction of Active Galactic Nuclei in the Illustris Simulation
This was my summer 2017 research project while I interned at Harvard University. This research focused on determining the fraction of light we can observe from galactic centers using the Illustris Simulation, which allows us to know what fraction of the time we can observe AGN and possibly binary AGN in different galaxies. <Details TBA>
Image: The Illlustris Collaboration; simulated data