麻豆社madou
麻豆社madou Canberra

Astronomy & astrophysics

PhD opportunities
Astronomy & astrophysics banner

Discovering how the universe works

Few things听in the universe hold a unique fascination like space, stars, and the creation of the elements.听Humans have long gazed towards the sky, searching for meaning and order to the universe around them. Astronomy is one of the oldest sciences. It is the study and observation of celestial objects and phenomena, like stars, planets听and the Milky Way Galaxy, that lie听beyond Earth鈥檚 atmosphere.

Astrophysics is concerned not only with the observation of our galaxy but also听how the universe originated and how it has evolved (cosmology). Astrophysicists apply听the physical laws of听microphysical processes to explain听astronomical events. These laws determine听the lifecycle of stars, planets听and galaxies in the universe as well as how the universe has changed with time.

Associated schools, institutes & centres

Impact

Our astronomical research focuses on the numerical simulation of binary star mergers, supernova explosions, and nucleosynthesis.听Stars are the building blocks of the galaxy. These luminous balls of light helped explorers navigate the seas and now help modern-day scientists understand听the universe. When a dying star explodes, it ejects its mass and heavy elements into the surrounding space. Everything on Earth, including life, is composed of the chemical elements produced in stars and supernova听explosions, which is what makes astrophysics research important.听

We perform theoretical and observational research using Big Data methodologies to understand: 听

  • how stars explode as supernovae听
  • the origin of the elements听
  • gravitational wave sources in the galaxy听
  • interacting binary star systems (binary star evolution).听

Competitive advantage

  • Numerical simulations on the fastest supercomputer (Gadi) in the southern hemisphere.
  • Observations with the world鈥檚 most productive ground-based observatory ().
  • Unique group expertise on the binary star progenitors, explosion mechanisms, nucleosynthesis, and remnants of Type Ia supernovae.
  • Publications in leading journals, including听Nature, Science, Physical Review Letters, Nature Astronomy, and听Astrophysical Journal Letters.
  • 麻豆社madou to two ARC Future Fellows.
  • Invited to write a review (2020) for Astronomy and Astrophysics Reviews (impact factor 11.6) on Models of Type Ia Supernova Progenitors.
  • Participation in several invited talks and reviews at international and national conferences.
  • Members of:

Our researchers

Associate Dean (Research) Warrick Lawson
Warrick Lawson
Associate Dean (Research)
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ARC Future Fellow, Physics & Oceanography Stream Coordinator Ashley Ruiter
Ashley Ruiter
ARC Future Fellow, Physics & Oceanography Stream Coordinator
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Lecturer in Astrophysics Simon Murphy
Simon Murphy
Lecturer in Astrophysics
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    • ,听IR听Seitenzahl, P听Ghavamian, JM Laming, FPA Vogt (2019),听Physical review letters 123 (4), 041101

    • ,听AJ Ruiter, L Ferrario, K听Belczynski, IR听Seitenzahl, RM Crocker, AI Karakas (2019), Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 484 (1), 698-711听

    • ,听FH Panther, IR听Seitenzahl, AJ Ruiter, RM Crocker, C Lidman, EX听Wang, (2019),听Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia 36

    • 鈥,听FPA Vogt, ES Bartlett, IR听Seitenzahl, MA Dopita, P听Ghavamian, AJ听Ruiter,听 (2018),听Nature Astronomy 2 (6), 465-471听

    • ,听IR听Seitenzahl, DM听Townsley听 (2017),听Handbook of听Supernovae:听1955

    • ,听RM Crocker, AJ Ruiter, IR听Seitenzahl, FH Panther, S Sim, H Baumgardt, (2017),听Nature Astronomy 1 (6), 1-6听

    • ,听IR听Seitenzahl, F听Ciaraldi-Schoolmann, FK听R枚pke, M Fink, W Hillebrandt, (2013),听Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 429 (2), 1156-1172

    • 听AJ Ruiter, SA Sim, R听Pakmor, M Kromer, I听Seitenzahl, K听Belczynski, M Fink, M Herzog, W Hillebrandt, FK Roepke, S Taubenberger (2013), Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 429 (2), 1425-1436

    • ,听R听Pakmor, M Kromer, FK听R枚pke, SA Sim, AJ Ruiter, W Hillebrandt (2010),听Nature 463 (7277), 61-64

    • 听AJ Ruiter, K听Belczynski, C Fryer (2009),听The听Astrophysical听Journal 699 (2), 2026

  • Students wishing to pursue studies in astronomy and astrophysics can choose from the following degree programs:

    听is also taught in 2nd year as part of the undergraduate physics curriculum ().