Dr. Jonah T. Hansen

About Me

My name is Jonah Hansen and I am a postdoctoral researcher in the Exoplanets and Habitability Group at ETH Zurich. I have a passion for space and for the technology that is associated with it, be that telescopes, satellites or scientific instruments. I currently am working in the novel field of space inteferometry in the hope of improving the readiness level for a large scale space interferometry mission ( such as this one ) to directly image an exoplanet and its atmosphere. Find out more about my research interests here.

I completed my undergraduate studies in astrophysics at the Australian National University, graduating with first class honours and a university medal in 2019. I then completed my PhD also at the Australian National University, working with Prof. Mike Ireland on the Pyxis interferometer (you can find my doctoral thesis here.) Along with my studies, I have been employed as an outreach assistant at Mount Stromlo Observatory, and give a lot of talks and run stargazing nights for public, private and school groups. I am also a regular contributor to the "Sunday Space" column in the local Canberra Times newspaper. See some of my outreach activities here.

Research Interests

My current research focusses on space interferometry, particularly with regards to analysing exoplanets. Currently, I am working on the Nulling Interferometry Cryogenic Experiment (NICE), which aims to demonstrate a deep, stable null under cryogenic conditions. I am also involved with the Large Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE) initiative, where I have run simulations for different configurations of telescopes, as well as different beam combiner designs, for a future mid-infrared space interferometer concept. This concept is based around the idea of "nulling interferometry", where on-axis light is extinguished and off-axis light is enhanced. This technique should allow such a mission detect and characterise Earth-like exoplanets around solar-type stars, where otherwise the star would outshine the planet by a factor of much more than a million! More information on LIFE can be found on its website.

In the past, I was one of the lead contributors to the Pyxis project, a set of three robotic platforms in the carpark of Mt Stromlo Observatory, with the aim of identifying whether a large scale space-based interferometer would be feasible from both a technological and scientific standpoint. This involves designing and building some robotic platforms and constructing the scientific beam combiner for the interferometer. More information on Pyxis can be found on this website and it's initial paper.

Some of my other past projects have included: simulating the orbital dynamics of a small formation flying CubeSat interferometer, identifying the properties of stars hosting exoplanets, searching for Planet 9 using the Skymapper telescope, and building a turbulence sensor for the interiors of telescope domes.

Outreach Experience

As well as my research, I enjoy doing astronomy outreach. In the past, I spent a number of years as an outreach assistant at Mount Stromlo Observatory. I have hosted public, private and school group stargazing nights; gone on tours around Australia, giving talks to regional communities; and hosted livestreams for prospective students at the Australian National University. I have also been a regular contributor to the Canberra Times Sunday Space newspaper column.

Links to some of my outreach activities

• 2023 Canberra Times article on the zodiacal light
• 2023 Canberra Times article on the Pyxis interferometer
• 2023 Canberra Times article on biosignatures
• 2023 Canberra Times article discussing phosphine on Venus (Part 1)
• 2023 Canberra Times article on Saturn's polar hexagon
• 2023 Canberra Times article on the Alpha Centauri system
• 2023 Canberra Times article on "What is light?" (Part 2)
• 2023 Canberra Times article on "What is light?" (Part 1)
• 2023 Canberra Times article on some of the fiery and icy moons of the Solar System
• 2022 Canberra Times article on the Gaia telescope and DR3
• 2022 Canberra Times article on Mira variables
• 2022 Canberra Times article on finding life on other planets (Part 2)
• 2022 Canberra Times article on finding life on other planets (Part 1)
• 2022 Canberra Times article on Sgr A*, the black hole at the centre of our galaxy
• 2021 Canberra Times article: Telescopes 101 The future of the telescope
• 2021 Canberra Times article: Telescopes 101 Today's biggest and best telescopes
• 2021 Canberra Times article: Telescopes 101 How do astronomers use modern telescopes?
• 2021 Canberra Times article: Telescopes 101 The keys to choosing an observatory site
• 2021 Canberra Times article: Telescopes 101 The history of the telescope
• 2021 Canberra Times article: Telescopes 101 How do telescopes work?
• 2021 Canberra Times article on Breakthrough Starshot
• 2020 Canberra Times article on the temperatures of space
• 2020 Canberra Times article on the benefits and concerns of Starlink
• 2020 Canberra Times article on the wild weather of exoplanets
• 2020 Canberra Times article on the Event Horizon Telescope
• 2020 public outreach talk on the lifecycle of stars

Publications

You can access my research papers below. Furthermore, you can view my honours and doctoral theses by clicking on the respective links at the end of the page.

Access my Honours thesis here

Access my PhD thesis here

Presentations

As well as working as a PhD student, I am employed as a senior outreach assistant at Mount Stromlo Observatory. I have hosted public, private and school group stargazing nights; gone on tours around Australia, giving talks to regional communities; and hosted livestreams for prospective students at ANU. Furthermore, I have volunteered with the Science Experience for four years - showing year 9/10 students around the ANU campus and describing to them all the cool places that science can take them.

Links to some of my outreach activities

• 2023 Canberra Times article on the Alpha Centauri system
• 2023 Canberra Times article on "What is light?" (Part 2)
• 2023 Canberra Times article on "What is light?" (Part 1)
• 2023 Canberra Times article on some of the fiery and icy moons of the Solar System

CV

You can find a copy of my full CV below.

Access my CV here

LIFE 3D Render with Unity

As part of some of my work on the Large Interferometer For Exoplanets , I have created a 3D simulation of the mission in the Unity game engine. It is meant to be a small demonstration on how the mission may look and modulate. Please check it out below! If you have any advice or suggestions on how I may be able to make it better, or if there is some functionality that may be helpful, please send me an email.

Access the program here

Elements

i = 0;

while (!deck.isInOrder()) {
print 'Iteration ' + i;
deck.shuffle();
i++;
}

print 'It took ' + i + ' iterations to sort the deck.';