Research Programs
Research activity in the Department of Astronomy includes observational and theoretical investigations of a wide array of astronomical objects:
- Large-scale structure of the universe (galaxy clusters, cosmic nucleosynthesis, cosmic microwave background, and cosmology)
- Extragalactic systems (galaxy structure and evolution, interacting galaxies, active galaxies, jets, and quasars)
- Interstellar medium (multiple phases, molecular clouds, HII regions, bubbles and superbubbles, planetary nebulae, supernova remnants, magnetic fields, and galactic structure)
- Stars (formation, structure and evolution, atmospheres, nucleosynthesis, novae, supernovae, pulsars, and stellar statistics)
- Comets (chemistry)
Theoretical astrophysics is also a strong research interest many faculty members in the Department of Astronomy and the Department of Physics. Current activity centers on :
- Astrophysical fluid dynamics, magnetohydrodynamics and radiation hydrodynamics
- Physics of dense stellar matter
- Accretion phenomena
- High energy and relativistic astrophysics
- Nuclear and particle processes in cosmology and astrophysics
- Black hole physics and astrophysics
- Gravitational wave phenomena