Laya Binu

About

Education: University of California, San Diego (2024–2028)

Research Interests: binary stellar evolution, binary stellar population synthesis codes, gravitational wave astronomy

Publications: arXiv:2607.26147

Projects

Rapid Stellar Population Synthesis Code Differences

Investigating differences in rapid stellar population synthesis using COMPAS and StarTrack.

CIERA REU: Neutron Star Kick Velocity Distribution

Impact of binary systems on observed pulsar velocity distribution.

Posters

AAS Poster Presentation

MURALS Poster Presentation

CU*iP Poster Presentation

Talks

Summer Research Conference (URS)

GravNu Lightning Talk

Programs and Awards

CIERA REU Program

Undergraduate Research Scholarship: Robert C Dynes and An Parode Dynes Research Scholarship for Physics

TRELS Program

Rapid Stellar Population Synthesis Code Differences

CIERA REU: Neutron Star Kick Velocity Distribution

During the core-collapse of massive stars, asymmetries in the supernova explosion can eject the newly formed compact object, such as a neutron star, in what is known as a supernova kick. The natal kick velocity of neutron stars is found to follow a distribution that can be observed through the velocity distribution of pulsars.

For binary systems, however, the natal kick velocity distribution is not the same as what would be observed. The conditions of the binary system immediately before the progenitor's core-collapse affect the neutron star's final velocity.

Using POSYDON to simulate varying values of σ for the Maxwellian distribution from which natal kicks are drawn, we use Normalizing Flows to create a model that generates velocity distributions from binaries for any σ. Hierarchical Bayesian Inference is then used to determine the σ and fractional contribution of binary and Maxwellian distributions that best fit observational data.

We find that σ = 265 km/s and f = 0.55 provide the best fit to observations, with a Bayes factor of 1.25 relative to a single Maxwellian. The best fit of the binary-only model compared to a single Maxwellian has a Bayes factor of 1.48.

These results indicate that the inclusion of binaries provides little evidence for a positive correlation compared to single stars, and demonstrate the need for more observations to reach a more conclusive result.

Projects

VIMES: Visualization of Massive Evolving Stars

Creates an animation of the evolution of any binary system in COMPAS

GitHub

Outreach

AstroReach

Ran a coding workshop for high school students as part of the AstroReach Program.

SPS

Society of Physics Students (SPS) Outreach Board Member

Contact

Email: layambinu@gmail.com