APS Faculty Research

Sub-Links within our "Facilities & Research" section: Faculty Research | Apache Point Observatory Internet Link | Cornell-Caltech-Atacama Telescope Internet Link | Sommers-Bausch Observatory Internet Link

Overview Information

The University of Colorado is involved in research across the forefront of astronomy. Graduate students conduct research in every area in the department, and in many of the affiliated institutions and departments. The department has strengths in observational and theoretical astronomy, instrumentation, planetary science, and solar & space physics. We have particulary distinguished ourselves in the area of space-based astronomy. Our department houses both astrophysicists and planetary scientists, making ours a unique place where observers, theorists, and instrumentationalists from these two disciplines meet on a common ground. What this translates into is an opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities within one department! Most of the rostered faculty conduct their research at one of three institutions: CASA, JILA, and LASP.

Quick Look by Interest Area

B. BrownJ. Toomre
Picture of NGC1741.
Observational Astronomy
J. Bally
J. Burns
W. Cash
J. Comerford
J. Darling
J.M. Desert
E. Ellingson
J. Glenn
J. Green
N. Halverson
M. Shull
T. Snow
J. Stocke
T. Ayres
J. Linsky
Picture of Cosmic Web
Theoretical Astrophysics
P. Armitage
M. Begelman
J. Burns
A. Hamilton
M. Shull
J. Toomre
Picture of COS in the cleanroom.
Instrumentation
W. Cash
R. Ergun
L. Esposito
J. Glenn
J. Green
N. Halverson
Picture of Jupiter.
Planetary Science
F. Bagenal
L. Esposito
N. Schneider
D. Brain
Picture of Sun and Earth's magnetosphere.
Solar & Space Physics
F. Bagenal
D. Baker
R. Ergun
M. Rast
D. Brain

More Detailed Research Interest Information

Discipline Research Areas Investigators
Picture of Jupiter
Research in
Planetary Science
Planetary Rings and Solar System Dynamics L. Esposito
Inner Planet Magnetospheres and Space Physics D. Baker, T. Speiser (Emer.), R. Ergun, D. Brain
Outer Planet Magnetospheres and the Io Plasma Torus N. Schneider, F. Bagenal
Planetary Atmospheres C. Barth (Emer.), G. Thomas (Emer.), D. Brain
NGC1741 (not the LMC!)
Research in
Astrophysics
Computational Fluid Dynamics, Solar Physics J. Toomre, B. Brown, M. Rast
Stellar Atmospheres, Radiative Transfer, Stellar Winds J. Linsky, T. Ayres
Star Formation and Molecular Clouds J. Bally
Interstellar Medium T. Snow
Cosmology, Galaxy Formation, ISM & IGM M. Shull
Cosmic X-ray Sources, Accretion Disks, AGN, Gamma Ray Bursts, Neutron Stars, and Black Holes M. Begelman, P. Armitage
Galaxy Evolution, Quasars, Clusters, and Starbursts E. Ellingson, J. Stocke, J. Burns, J. Darling, J. Comerford
Experimental CMB Cosmology N. Halverson
General Relativity, Cosmology A. Hamilton
Extrasolar Planets J.M. Desert
FUSE
Instrumentation
(Recent Projects and their CU PIs - many graduate and undergraduate students and engineers are involved with these projects)
SPIRE, Bolocam J. Glenn
MAXIM W. Cash
Cosmic Origins Spectrograph on HST, UV Sounding Rockets, FUSE J. Green
Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer (UVIS) on Cassini, Ultraviolet Spectrometer (UVS) on Galileo L. Esposito

Interdisciplinary Research

The APS department encourages scientific collaboration with associated CU academic departments and local research institutes.

Program in Geophysics
The Geophysics program offers an interdisciplinary option for students with particular interests in solid-body geophysics and planetary surfaces. The program is jointly run by the the APS, Physics (Solid Earth Geophysics group), Geology, Aerospace Engineering, and several other departments; students are admitted to their home department but take courses set up by the Geophysics program and take the Geophysics comprehensive exams.
SwRI
Several graduate students are currently employed at Southwest Research Institute in Boulder. Students working at SwRI can write their theses with SwRI researchers.
ATOC
The Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences was until 1997 part of the APS department, and many strong ties exist between the two departments, including joint courses, advising, and scientific collaborations. Faculty and graduate students can be associated with both APS and ATOC.
Physics
Students in the Physics Department frequently do research in planetary science and astrophysics with APS faculty, and APS students may work with physics professors. The Plasma Physics Group, formerly a part of APS, is now associated with Physics and there are current APS students studying plasma physics.