Carter Rhea

Carter Rhea

Ph.D. Observational Astrophysics

Algorithm & Software Developer at Dragonfly FRO

dfreproject

Astrophysics GPU Computing

GPU-Optimized Astronomical Image Reprojection

dfreproject is a high-performance Python package for astronomical image reprojection, optimized for both GPU and CPU execution. Developed for the Dragonfly Telephoto Array, it addresses the computational bottleneck of aligning and stacking astronomical images by providing GPU-accelerated coordinate transformations and interpolation.

The package achieves up to 20X speedup on GPUs and 10X on CPUs compared to traditional methods, making it essential for processing large volumes of data from modern wide-field imaging surveys. Published in the Journal of Open Source Software (JOSS), dfreproject follows FITS and SIP standards for maximum compatibility.

Key Features

  • GPU-accelerated Gnomonic projection transformations
  • Up to 20X speedup over traditional methods
  • FITS and SIP format compliant
  • Single function call for complete reprojection
  • Designed for Dragonfly Telephoto Array
Python CuPy NumPy Astropy CUDA

LUCI

Astrophysics Machine Learning

General Purpose Line Fitting Pipeline

LUCI is a comprehensive line fitting pipeline built specifically for the SITELLE IFU at the Canada-France-Hawai'i Telescope. It natively integrates cutting-edge machine learning techniques to provide accurate and efficient spectral analysis.

The software features extensive documentation, including detailed examples, explanations of the underlying algorithms, and complete API documentation. LUCI represents a significant advancement in automated spectroscopy analysis for large-scale IFU surveys.

Key Features

  • ML-powered emission line detection and classification
  • Automated velocity field extraction
  • Multi-component spectral fitting
  • Comprehensive documentation and examples
  • Integration with SITELLE data pipeline
Python TensorFlow Astropy NumPy

Pamplemousse

Astrophysics Machine Learning

Advanced ML Tools for SITELLE Spectroscopy

Pamplemousse is a suite of advanced machine learning applications designed specifically for the SITELLE imaging Fourier transform spectrometer at CFHT. Building on the LUCI pipeline, Pamplemousse provides cutting-edge tools for emission line classification, kinematic analysis, and spectral decomposition using state-of-the-art deep learning architectures.

The package implements convolutional neural networks for automated HII region classification, mixture density networks for multi-component line fitting, and specialized algorithms for handling the unique characteristics of SITELLE data. These tools have been instrumental in several publications and are used by the SIGNALS collaboration.

Key Features

  • CNN-based emission line region classification
  • Mixture density networks for spectral decomposition
  • Automated HII region identification
  • Kinematic analysis tools
  • Integration with SIGNALS survey data
Python PyTorch TensorFlow Scikit-learn

Deep Learning for X-ray Spectral Deconvolution

This project introduces a novel recurrent neural network architecture for deconvolving X-ray spectra from galaxy clusters. The Recurrent Inference Machine (RIM) addresses the fundamental challenge of extracting accurate temperature and abundance measurements from complex, multi-temperature X-ray emission by learning to iteratively refine spectral decompositions.

Presented at the NeurIPS 2023 Machine Learning and the Physical Sciences workshop, this work demonstrates how physics-informed deep learning can solve inverse problems in astrophysics. The method achieves superior performance compared to traditional fitting techniques, particularly in handling overlapping spectral components and low signal-to-noise data.

Key Features

  • Recurrent neural network for iterative refinement
  • Physics-informed architecture design
  • Multi-temperature component separation
  • Robust to low signal-to-noise conditions
  • Published at NeurIPS ML4PS 2023
Python PyTorch XSPEC Astropy

Valence

Web Development

Cognitive Affective Mapping Software

Valence is a sophisticated web application built with Django and jQuery that enables users to create cognitive-affective maps—visual representations of complex mental models and emotional associations. The platform provides researchers with powerful tools for qualitative and quantitative analysis of these cognitive structures.

Originally developed for the Basilie School at the University of Waterloo and later enhanced through a contract with the University of Freiburg, Valence has been instrumental in several published research studies on cognition and decision-making.

Key Features

  • Interactive mind-map creation interface
  • Real-time collaborative mapping
  • Advanced analytics and visualization tools
  • Export capabilities for research publication
  • Multi-institutional deployment
Django jQuery PostgreSQL D3.js

LEMUR

Astrophysics

X-ray Galaxy Cluster Archive

The LEMUR (Led by Extreme Multi-wavelength Understanding Research) X-ray Galaxy Cluster Archive provides open access to a comprehensive catalog of X-ray observations of galaxy clusters. This project combines automated data reduction pipelines with systematic analysis to create a valuable resource for the astrophysics community.

The archive serves as a foundation for large-scale statistical studies of galaxy cluster properties, evolution, and cosmological implications. It showcases advanced X-ray data analysis techniques and effective presentation of complex scientific data.

Key Features

  • Automated Chandra X-ray data reduction
  • Systematic spectral and spatial analysis
  • Interactive catalog with search capabilities
  • Downloadable reduced data products
  • Publication-ready visualizations
Python CIAO Astropy Web Scraping

Cadena

Web Development

Fee-Free Book Marketplace

Cadena is an innovative sharing economy platform that enables users to buy and sell books without the typical 20% platform fees charged by competitors. Built as a full-stack Django application, Cadena operates on a donation-based model, encouraging users to contribute voluntarily after successful transactions.

This was my first major web development project, developed in collaboration with Christian Thibeault. Through this project, I gained expertise in Django, built a complex authentication system, payment processing, and learned the fundamentals of creating a production-ready web application ecosystem.

Key Features

  • User authentication and profile management
  • Book listing with image uploads
  • Integrated messaging system
  • Transaction management
  • Voluntary donation system
Django PostgreSQL Bootstrap Stripe API

AstronomyTools

Astrophysics Machine Learning

Open Source Astronomy Data Analysis Suite

AstronomyTools is a comprehensive collection of Python utilities and analysis scripts for astronomical data processing. Born from a commitment to open science, this repository shares battle-tested code developed throughout my research career, making advanced analysis techniques accessible to the broader astronomy community.

The toolkit includes modules for X-ray spectroscopy, optical data reduction, machine learning applications in astronomy, and various visualization utilities. All tools are well-documented and designed to be easily integrated into existing analysis pipelines.

Key Features

  • X-ray spectral analysis tools
  • IFU data reduction utilities
  • ML-based source classification
  • Automated data quality assessment
  • Publication-ready plotting functions
Python Scikit-learn Matplotlib Astropy