About Astrophysics

Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties of celestial objects, as well as their interactions and behavior. Among the objects studied are galaxies, stars, planets, exoplanets, the interstellar medium and the cosmic microwave background. Their emissions are examined across all parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, and the properties examined include luminosity, density, temperature, and chemical composition. Because astrophysics is a very broad subject, astrophysicists typically apply many disciplines of physics, including mechanics, electromagnetism, statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, relativity, nuclear and particle physics, and atomic and molecular physics. In practice, modern astronomical research involves a substantial amount of physics. The name of a university's department ("astrophysics" or "astronomy") often has to do more with the department's history than with the contents of the programs. Astrophysics can be studied at the bachelors, masters, and Ph.D. levels in aerospace engineering, physics, or astronomy departments at many universities. Astrophysics Research Astronomical data arriving at essentially every wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum, this is a fascinating time for astronomy and astrophysics worldwide. Johns Hopkins astrophysicists lead research across the entire range of the discipline, from cosmology to galactic structure to planets, using observational, numerical and theoretical methods. JHU astronomers along with members of the Space Telescope Science Institute just across the street from our building jointly form one of the largest astrophysics communities in the country. The past two years have brought many exciting developments for the astrophysics researchers in our department. Professor Adam Riess received the 2011 Nobel Prize in physics for the discovery of the accelerated expansion of the Universe. The department continued its commitment to leadership in large-scale astronomical surveys and joined the Prime Focus Spectrograph project. Several new astrophysics faculty joined our department: professor Marc Kamionkowski, assistant professors Tobias Marriage, Nadia Zakamska and Brice Menard, and Homewood Professor Joseph Silk in a shared appointment. Below we briefly summarize research interests of our faculty and research staff members, arranged roughly in the following order: Cosmology, Extragalactic Astronomy, Galactic Astronomy, Numerical Simulations, Large Datasets, Instrumentation, Group activities. Goals The science goals of Astrophysics are breathtaking: we seek to understand the universe and our place in it. We are starting to investigate the very moment of creation of the universe and are close to learning the full history of stars and galaxies. We are discovering how planetary systems form and how environments hospitable for life develop. And we will search for the signature of life on other worlds, perhaps to learn that we are not alone. Current Programs Astrophysics comprises of three focused and two cross-cutting programs. These focused programs provide an intellectual framework for advancing science and conducting strategic planning. They include:
•Physics of the Cosmos
•Cosmic Origins
•Exoplanet Exploration
•Astrophysics Explorer Program
•Astrophysics Research