Astrophysics

I discuss two grand challenges within cosmic origins studies. First, how do the supermassive black holes (SMBHs) that reside in the centers of large galaxies come into being? After a short review of different ideas, I present a model (“Pop III.1”)...

The Bahcall Lunch follows the astrophysics colloquium lecture. Registration is required by 4pm the previous Thursday so a meal can be provided. Email Amanda at cenker@ias.edu with questions.

Over a five-year period, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) will spectroscopically classify nearly 40 million galaxies and quasars over 1/3 of the sky and to redshifts z 3.5. The DESI collaboration has completed measurements of the...

Abstract: Classical black holes obey laws of thermodynamics, which suggests that quantum black holes are complicated statistical systems. This supposition has been validated in specific examples using string theory and holography, but a general...

We are in an era where widefield galaxy surveys cover more than half the sky, and have nearly perfect overlap with many other surveys. While these datasets were designed for probing the late Universe, they can also be used to study primordial...

The two subfields of planetary structure evolution and planetary dynamics are two rich and complex fields that have advanced in lockstep, but independently of one another. I will discuss how accounting for minor interior structure evolution of a...

Each week, we hold a relatively informal seminar/discussion series with an emphasis on extra-galactic and large-scale structure astrophysics.

During Galread a leader/visitor presents a recent paper to the discussion group. The PDF of the paper is...