Astrophysics

JILA astrophysicists investigate a broad range of topics including the evolution of stars, the formation of planets, the dynamics of black holes, and even the fundamental properties that give rise to the Universe itself.
 
JILA’s astrophysics research is aided by data gathered by ground- and space-based instruments. Our researchers use this astronomical data to test and refine theoretical simulations of processes that occur in our solar system and throughout the Universe.

Researchers in Astrophysics

Photograph of Mitchell C. Begelman Mitchel C. Begelman
Focus: Astrophysical Gas Dynamics, Magnetohydrodynamics, Radiative Transfer Theory, Astrophysical Phenomena Role: Theorist
Photograph of Andrew Hamilton Andrew Hamilton
Focus: Black Holes, Galaxies, Cosmology Role: Theorist
Photograph of Ann-Marie Madigan Ann-Marie Madigan
Focus: Stellar and gas dynamics near massive black holes, Solar systems and exoplanets Role: Theorist
Photograph of Juri Toomre Juri Toomre
Focus: Structure & Evolution of Stars Role: Theorist
Photograph of Jason Dexter. Jason Dexter
Focus: Black hole accretion, radiative transfer, interferometry Role: Theorist

Recent Highlights in Astrophysics

Planetesimal orbits around a white dwarf. Initially, every planetesimal has a circular, prograde orbit. The kick forms an eccentric debris disk which with prograde (blue) and retrograde orbits (orange).
Hungry, Hungry White Dwarfs: Solving the Puzzle of Stellar Metal Pollution

Dead stars known as white dwarfs, have a mass like the Sun while being similar in size to Earth. They are common in our galaxy, as 97% of stars are white dwarfs. As stars reach the end of their lives, their cores collapse into the dense ball of a white dwarf, making our galaxy seem like an ethereal graveyard. 

Despite their prevalence,…

Coulomb crystals are surrounded by molecules used in the Lewandowski laboratory to study astrochemical reactions
Cold Coulomb Crystals, Cosmic Clues: Unraveling the Mysteries of Space Chemistry

While it may not look like it, the interstellar space between stars is far from empty. Atoms, ions, molecules, and more reside in this ethereal environment known as the Interstellar Medium (ISM). The ISM has fascinated scientists for decades, as at least 200 unique molecules form in its cold, low-pressure environment. It’s a subject that ties…

The transition in star formation rates and black hole growth as redshift decreases from regimes where positive feedback dominates to a later epoch when feedback is largely negative.
New Findings From the JWST: How Black Holes Switched from Creating to Quenching Stars

Astronomers have long sought to understand the early universe, and thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), a critical piece of the puzzle has emerged. The telescope's infrared detecting “eyes” have spotted an array of small, red dots, identified as some of the earliest galaxies formed in the universe. 

This surprising discovery…

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