Galaxy Formation, Intergalactic Medium, Active Galactic Nuclei, Galaxy-Black Hole Coevolution, Galaxy Clusters, Early Universe
Image Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/MSSL/R.Soria et al, Optical: AURA/Gemini OBs
The most obvious large structures in the Universe are the galaxies, which over the span of cosmic time have been the nexus for both the evolution of stars and large-scale structure in the Universe. CIERA researchers are engaged in understanding both the evolution of the galaxies and the environments they are embedded in, as well as the stellar populations they are comprised of and the supermassive black holes they host.
Research at CIERA
CIERA researchers work on understanding the origins of structure in the Universe. Professor Faucher-Giguère’s group develops sophisticated cosmological hydrodynamic simulations of galaxy formation. The simulations are used to answer a wide variety of science questions, including how star formation is regulated in galaxies, how galaxies interact with the circum-galactic medium and the intergalactic medium, and how galaxies and their black holes co-evolve.
Opportunities
Deadline: 11:59pm, May 31, 2019
CIERA is pleased to announce the Summer Research Experience in Astronomy at Northwestern for high school students during Summer 2019. This highly-interactive, small-cohort program provides exposure to real astronomy research experiences in an atmosphere of team-style learning, hands-on training, and individual mentorship and advising. Students enrolled in the research experience program will take computer programming
News
Gallery
Kavli Fulldome Lecture Series: The Cosmos in a Heartbeat
Kavli Fulldome Lecture Series: The Cosmos in a Heartbeat
The length of a human life barely registers on the scale of cosmic time. In spite of our relatively tiny size and our limited time here on Earth, a single generation of humans can take giant leaps forward in our understanding of the Universe. Join us to find out how dramatically our story of the
The Kavli Foundation / Adler Planetarium
Exploring the Invisible Universe with Computer Simulations
Exploring the Invisible Universe with Computer Simulations
Northwestern Physics and Astronomy student Alex Gurvich presents a talk as part of the Northwestern Ready Set Go (RSG) program. The goals of the program are to increase awareness for the urgent need for excellent research communicators and to coach graduate and post doctoral researchers to improve their own presentation skills. The program focuses on three important
Northwestern's RSG Program
Exploring the Universe with Virtual Galaxies
Exploring the Universe with Virtual Galaxies
Northwestern Physics and Astronomy student Zachary Hafen presents a talk as part of the Northwestern Ready Set Go (RSG) program. The goals of the program are to increase awareness for the urgent need for excellent research communicators and to coach graduate and post doctoral researchers to improve their own presentation skills. The program focuses on three important
Northwestern's RSG Program
Isolated Disc Galaxy
Isolated Disc Galaxy
Simulation of an isolated disc galaxy, looking at the disc of the galaxy face on (top panels) and edge on (bottom panels). The left-hand panels show images of the stellar light, and is what we would see if we viewed this galaxy with a telescope such as Hubble. The right-hand panels show the gas in
Alex Richings / Northwestern
Density and Temperature Snapshots
Density and Temperature Snapshots
Density (top) and temperature (bottom) snapshots from an idealized hydro-simulation of the circum-galactic medium of a Milky-Way-like galaxy. Note the outskirts (>70 kpc) are cool and free-falling, while the inner region is hot and pressure-supported.
Jonathan Stern in collaboration with D. Fielding.
Radiative-hydrodynamic Simulation of a Dusty Cloud Irradiated by a Quasar
Radiative-hydrodynamic Simulation of a Dusty Cloud Irradiated by a Quasar
The figure shows a radiative-hydrodynamic simulation of a dusty cloud irradiated by a quasar (located at r = 0). Radiation pressure is set to be the dominant pressure source. Left panel shows the initial conditions, while the right panel shows the cloud 10^4 years after exposure to the quasar radiation. A quasi-static density gradient develops at
Jonathan Stern in collaboration with J. Onorbe.
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Core Astronomy Faculty
Faculty
Kari Frank
Director of Operations of CIERA, Research Assistant Professor
Postdocs
Graduate Students
