66th Annual STS (2006-2007)
Finalists
Temple Mu He

MICHIGAN
Temple Mu He, 17, of Troy, studied the cause of low states of x-ray emission in cataclysmic variables (CV) hoping to improve our understanding of CVs and other x-ray binary stars for his Intel Science Talent Search project in space science. CVs are binary star systems with a white dwarf star (the primary) and a low mass star (the secondary). As matter flows from the secondary onto the primary in a magnetic CV, x-rays are produced. During low states, x-ray emission from the secondary rapidly decreases. Temple analyzed data from Chandra X-ray Observatory showing low states for CV X10 in 2005 and created a mathematical model that suggests the magnetic interactions between the secondary's starspots, regions of reduced brightness that form at the poles and migrate toward the equator, and the primary can decrease x-ray production and cause extended low states. Temple, an award-winning violinist and pianist, is fluent in Chinese. An advocate for the nascent biology club at Troy High School, he plans to study physics or biophysics at Princeton or MIT. Born in China, Temple is the son of Yuanzhan He and Wendy Gang Wu. He hopes to become a professor and foster "humanity's spirit of curiosity."