Astrophysics
Professor Emerita, School of Physics and Astronomy
Roberta Humphreys' studies of “Luminous Stars in Nearby Galaxies” (Papers 1 – VIII) demonstrated the existence of an empirical upper luminosity boundary in the HR Diagram and by implication an upper limit to the masses of stars that could evolve to become red supergiants (Humphreys & Davidson 1979). This upper limit, sometimes called the Humphreys-Davidson limit, was not predicted by theory and greatly influenced future work on massive star…
Postdoctoral Researcher, Lucy Fortson Research Group
Assistant Professor, School of Physics and Astronomy
Theoretical astrophysics with a focus on time-domain astronomy, including: neutron star mergers, gravitational-wave events, fast radio bursts (FRBs), gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), supernovae (SNe), fast blue optical transients (FBOTs), shock-breakout emission. This revolves around the physics of: radiative processes, compact objects, neutron star equation-of-state, circumstellar interaction, non-thermal emission, accretion, nuclear astrophysics, shocks (…
Director of Undergraduate Studies for MIfA
Professor, School of Physics and Astronomy
My research centers on the role of gravity in cosmology: I use gravitational lensing and classical dynamics to study the mass distribution in the Universe, from sub-galactic to galaxy-cluster scales, with the goal of elucidating the nature of dark matter and constraining cosmological parameters. Gravitational lensing is the deflection of light from distant background sources by the intervening mass distribution, like galaxies and clusters of galaxies…
Gloria Becker Lubkin Chair in Theoretical Physics, William I. Fine Theoretical Physics Institute
Distinguished McKnight University Professor, School of Physics and Astronomy
Member, Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics
My research is in the area of particle physics and cosmology. The main topics on which I work are: big bang nucleosynthesis, which is an explanation of the origin of the light element isotopes through 7Li; particle dark matter; big bang baryogenesis, which is an explanation of the matter-antimatter asymmetry observed in nature; and inflation which is a theory constructed to resolve many outstanding problems in standard cosmology.
- Accepting new graduate research students
Assistant Professor, School of Physics and Astronomy
Theoretical astrophysics with a focus on time-domain astronomy, including: neutron star mergers, gravitational-wave events, fast radio bursts (FRBs), gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), supernovae (SNe), fast blue optical transients (FBOTs), shock-breakout emission. This revolves around the physics of: radiative processes, compact objects, neutron star equation-of-state, circumstellar interaction, non-thermal emission, accretion, nuclear astrophysics, shocks (…
Assistant Professor, School of Physics and Astronomy
Supernova (SN) explosions, Gravitational lensing, SN host-galaxy environments, SN Ia cosmology, Stellar populations, Star formation, Dark matter
Professor, School of Physics and Astronomy
Theoretical and computational astrophysics, acceleration of cosmic rays, physics of diffusive shock acceleration, magnetohydrodynamics, galaxy clusters and the intracluster medium, radio galaxy dynamics, supernova remnant dynamics.
https://homepages.spa.umn.edu/~twj/
- Accepting new undergraduate research students
- Accepting new graduate research students
Professor (MIfA Director of Undergraduate Studies), Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics (MIfA)
My research centers on the role of gravity in cosmology: I use gravitational lensing and classical dynamics to study the mass distribution in the Universe, from sub-galactic to galaxy-cluster scales, with the goal of elucidating the nature of dark matter and constraining cosmological parameters. Gravitational lensing is the deflection of light from distant background sources by the intervening mass distribution, like galaxies and clusters of galaxies…