Astronomy Research Faculty

Stellar Astrophysics

Professor Shantanu Basu Dr. Shantanu Basu - Department Chair
Research Areas: I study the dynamics of star and planet formation, as well as that of the larger interstellar medium. Current topics of interest include the fragmentation properties of interstellar clouds, the formation and evolution of circumstellar disks, magnetic fields in the near-stellar environment, and applications of mathematical and statistical methods to astrophysics.
Research web site: http://www.astro.uwo.ca/~basu/rh.htm
Email: basu [at] uwo.ca
Professor Jan Cami Dr. Jan Cami
Research Areas: My main interest is in the circumstellar matter surrounding evolved stars (AGB stars) and in the astrochemistry of the interstellar medium although I have studied the molecular content and dynamics of external galaxies as well. I study the Diffuse Interstellar Bands (DIBs) and their relation to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs).
Research web site: http://www.astro.uwo.ca/~jcami
Email: jcami [at] uwo.ca
Professor David F. Gray Dr. David F. Gray
Research Areas: Stars are not only beautiful, but are one of the cornerstones of astronomy. I study starlight and from it deduce interesting physical characteristics such as a star's rotation rate, the nature of the gas motions (called granulation) at the surface, pulsations & oscillations, and magnetic cycles similar to the sun's 10 year pattern. My work also includes getting precise stellar temperature and some of the most accurate radial velocities yet determined.
Research web site: http://www.astro.uwo.ca/~dfgray
Email: dfgray [at] uwo.ca
Professor Richard Holt Dr. Richard Holt
Research Areas: The Atomic Physics & Laboratory Astrophysics group uses fast-ion-beam laser spectroscopy techniques to measure properties of atoms of astrophysical and fundamental interest. The results have an impact on studies of Galactic nucleosynthesis, stellar interiors, and tests of calculations of relativistic and quantum electrodynamic effects in two-electron atomic systems.
Research web site: http://www.physics.uwo.ca/~holt/Lab_Astro_Research_Group.html
Email: rholt [at] uwo.ca
Professor Martin Houde Dr. Martin Houde
Research Areas: My research is focused on understanding the physical processes that lead to the formation of stars. A substantial part of my efforts is concerned with characterizing the magnetic fields and turbulence that are believed to be important agents that determine the physical conditions in molecular clouds, sites of star formation. My research group also develops and tests instruments within the Submillimetre Astronomical Laboratory, which are then deployed at premier millimetre/submillimetre astronomical observatories.
Research web site: http://www.astro.uwo.ca/~houde/research.html
Email: mhoude2 [at] uwo.ca
Professor Carol Jones Dr. Carol Jones
Research Areas: Circumstellar material is common among massive, early-type stars and often takes the form of an equatorial disk.

I construct computational models of these disks to try to understand how they form and what their physical conditions are. Numerical radiative transfer techniques are used to predict spectra and images of the circumstellar material. Models are constrained by comparison to images obtained via the rapidly developing field of optical interferometry and to spectroscopy obtained at a wide variety of wavelengths. This research offers many computationally challenging problems.
Research web site: http://www.astro.uwo.ca/~cjones/home.html
Email: cejones [at] uwo.ca
Professor John D. Landstreet Dr. John D. Landstreet
Research Areas: I model the intensity and polarisation spectra of various types of stars to try to extract information about the physical state (chemical abundances, presence of convection or of a magnetic field, etc) and atmospheric physical processes (mass loss, mixing, diffusion, etc) in those stars.
Research web site: http://www.astro.uwo.ca/~jlandstr
Email: jlandstr [at] uwo.ca
Professor Aaron Sigut Dr. Aaron Sigut
Research Areas: My main research interests are the radiative transfer and hydrodynamical processes occurring in circumstellar disks surrounding hot stars. I also have research projects involving the modeling of the emission line spectra of active galactic nuclei and the quantitative analysis of stellar atmospheres using non-LTE radiative transfer. All of my research projects involve large-scale, computational modeling.
Research web site: http://altair.astro.uwo.ca/~asigut/
Email: asigut [at] uwo.ca