Astrophysics in Physics
The cosmic setting allows us to test physical theories to limits inaccessible on Earth. Cosmic events accelerate particles energies far beyond terrestrial accelerators, and explosions destroy entire stars.
Within the Physics Department, separate from the Department of Astronomy , the Astrophysics Group interacts and cooperates closely with members of the Astronomy Department, with joint research programs and teaching in areas of common interest. Areas of primary activity include X-ray, gamma-ray and neutrino astronomy, optical studies of the interstellar and interplanetary media, observation of the cosmic microwave background, studies of stellar remnants (white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes), and theoretical investigations of these and other areas of astrophysics.
Development, testing and calibration of new instruments and detectors is an integral part of these research programs. A very active X-ray astronomy program involves instruments on Space Shuttle Missions, free flying satellites, and sounding rocket flights. The IceCube Project is building a neutrino telescope to investigate the most energetic events in the Universe, assembling a cubic-kilometer array of photodetectors deep in the polar ice of Antarctica, 1.5-2.5 km below the surface. Microwave polarimeters and bolometers are under development to study the cosmic microwave background radiation. Other projects include sophisticated Fabry-Perot instruments for high spectral resolution studies of optical and infrared emissions from cometary plasmas, planetary magnetospheric plasmas and interstellar gas. A fundamentally new spectroscopic technique, the Spatial Heterodyne Spectrometer, is being developed to study important ultraviolet lines from the interstellar medium and the earth's atmosphere.
Physics faculty and scientists involved in Astrophysics research
A. B. Balantekin, Ph.D. Yale, 1982
Theoretical Physics at the interface of nuclear physics, particle physics and astrophysics; neutrino physics and astrophysics.
Daniel Chung, Ph.D. University of Chicago, 1998
Theoretical physics at the the interface of cosmology and high energy theory.
D. P. Cox, Emeritus, Ph.D UC-San Diego, 1970
Astrophysics and space physics; theoretical studies of interstellar matter.
Francis Halzen, Ph.D. Louvain, 1969
PI for IceCube Antarctic neutrino telescope, which probes the Universe by detecting cosmic neutrinos. Phenomenological and theoretical studies of particle astrophysics fundamental particle interactions; gauge theory of quarks and leptons.
Albrecht Karle, Ph.D. Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, Germany, 1990
High energy astrophysics, neutrino and gamma-ray astronomy; IceCube Antarctic neutrino telescope.
Jim Lawler, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1978
Physics of discharge plasmas and basic atomic spectroscopy.
Dan McCammon, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1971
Investigation of the diffuse x-ray background; instrumentation development.
Teresa Montaruli, Ph.D. University of Bari, 1998
High energy astrophysics, neutrino and gamma-ray astronomy; IceCube Antarctic neutrino telescope.
R. M. Morse, Emeritus, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1969
High energy astrophysics, neutrino and gamma-ray astronomy; IceCube Antarctic neutrino telescope.
Hakki Ögelman, Ph.D. Cornell University, 1966
Compact objects; neutron stars; white dwarfs; black holes; x-rays.
F. L. Roesler, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1961
Astrophysics, space physics, atmospheric sciences, optical remote sensing, interference spectroscopy.
W. T. Sanders, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1976
Astrophysics; x-ray astronomy; x-ray background; interstellar medium; galactic halo; x-ray spectroscopy; plasma diagnostics.
Peter Timbie, Ph.D. Princeton, 1985
Observational cosmology;measurements of the 2.7K comic microwave background radiation; sensitive microwave and far-IR detectors.
Frank Scherb, Emeritus, Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1958
Space plasma physics (Jupiter plasma torus, solar wind interaction with comets); Fabry-Perot observations of faint emissions from the interstellar medium (with new CCD camera for imaging sources of emission).