The field of astronomy and astrophysics is on the verge of a burst of discovery and synthesis, driven by the convergence of sophisticated technology - advanced detectors and instrumentation, and supercomputers -- with new platforms of unprecedented power, like the NASA Great Observatories, 8-10 meter ground-based telescopes, and a revitalized NASA Explorer satellite program. These advances will decisively affect many of the fundamental studies of origins, dynamics, and emission for all scales of astrophysical phenomena -- from large scale structure in the universe, to galaxies, to stars and planetary systems

Department faculty conduct research in astrophysics that embraces both the development of astronomical technology and the interpretation of its results. Profs. Forrest, Pipher and Watson are members of instrument science teams on the fourth of the NASA Great Observatories, the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF), which is expected to contribute crucially to all of the "origins" studies. They specialize in observational studies of Galactic and extragalactic star formation, of planetary system formation through the evolution of the disks surrounding young stars, and in the development of sensitive infrared detector arrays and instruments for astronomy (see page of the infrared astronomy group). Our newest faculty member, Prof. Quillen, carries out space and ground-based observations, and analytical and numerical modelling, in studies of the origin, structure and evolution of astrophysical disks -- spiral galaxies, active galaxy nuclei, and protoplanetary systems. The C.E.K. Mees Observatory is operated by the Department and supports the activites of the observational group. See the Annual Report of the C.E.K. Mees Obseravatory.

The Theoretical Astrophysics group explores a wide range of phenomena in astrophysical sources from the sun to the most distant active galaxies. As many of the sources in the universe contain magnetized fluids or plasma, the themes of hydrodynamics, magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) and plasma astrophysics have played a role in the theoretical research programs of Profs. Blackman, Frank, Helfer, Thomas and Van Horn. With both computational and analytical approaches, the group explores such issues as the origin of magnetic fields, interstellar clouds and galaxies, accretion disks, the roles of mass outflows and magnetism in the formation and death of stars, and the physics of active galactic nuclei.

The plasma astrophysics/physics group and the Laboratory for Laser Enegetics (LLE) have also combined their resources and talents to create a new program in High Energy Density Laboratory Astrophysics. The use of high energy density devices like Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) lasers for investigations of cosmic environments is a new development in astrophysics which holds great promise. Increased collaborations between astrophysicsts and plasma scientists are essential for progress in this new field and together UR astro/plasma physicists and LLE scientists are pushing the frontiers of recreating the Univerese's most exotic phenomena.

Information about our astrophysics seminars and visitors, and additional astrophysics research in the Rochester area can be found on the Rochester Astrophysics Consortium page.

Of special interest:

• The University of Rochester is home to a branch office of The Astrophysical Journal; Prof. Thomas is a Scientific Editor of the Journal.

Astronomy and Astrophysics Seminars

Astronomy and Astrophysics Links

Faculty

Eric G. Blackman	William J. Forrest	Adam Frank	Harry W. Fulbright
H. Lawrence Helfer	Judith L. Pipher	Alice C. Quillen	Malcolm P. Savedoff
John A. Tarduno	John H. Thomas	Hugh M. Van Horn	Dan M. Watson

Senior Associates, & Visiting Faculty Timothy Collins Postdocs and Fellows Timothy J. Dennis Richard G. Edgar Joachim Moortgat Zoran Ninkov Manoj Puravankara

Graduate Students Anabil Chaudhuri Justin N. Comparetta Joel D. Green Alexander I. Hubbard  Irfan Kyoung Hee Kim Mayukh Lahiri Ivan D. Minchev Jason T. Nordhaus Douglas A. Orbaker Jaehong Park David B. Rhodes Benjamin A. Sargent Mihir R. Upadhyaya Amrita Urdhwareshe Kristopher T. Yirak