Theoretical Astrophysics and Cosmology

Astrophysics

Calculating and modeling the physics of the cosmos. First objects in the universe, relativistic astrophysics, neutron stars, black holes, inflation, cosmic evolution and structure.

Current research in theoretical astrophysics and cosmology at Stanford explores a wide range of critical questions. Major topics include numerical simulations of the formation of structure from small scales (first stars) to large scales (dark matter structure), galaxy formation, black holes (evolution, jets, accretion disks and orbiting objects), neutron stars (pulsars, magnetars), particle acceleration (relativistic shocks, origin of cosmic rays), gravitational lensing, and the very early universe (inflation).

See the section on Observational & Experimental Astrophysics and Cosmology for a description of how scientists at Stanford are probing many of these questions with experiments and telescopes.

The Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology, housed in the the Fred Kavli Building at SLAC and the Physics & Astrophysics Building and the Varian Physics Laboratories on campus, hosts much of the research in astrophysics and cosmology at Stanford and SLAC. Scientists meet through twice-weekly Tea Talks, a weekly Cosmology Seminar and a weekly Astrophysics Colloquium. There are also close ties with the Stanford Institute for Theoretical Physics (SITP) and the SLAC Theory Group.

Related Faculty

Related News

Risa Wechsler

Thirteen Stanford faculty members are among the 269 new members elected to the American Academy…

Peter Graham

Source: Quanta Magazine

Imagine an electron as a spherical cloud of negative charge. If…

Lance Dixon, professor of particle physics and astrophysics at SLAC and Stanford, is one of three recipients of the 2023 Galileo Galilei Medal. (Farrin Abbott...

Lance Dixon, professor of particle physics and astrophysics at the Department of Energy’s SLAC…

Risa Wechsler, a Stanford professor and director of the Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology, describes what kinds of questions the Legacy...

The goal of the project is to map the sky, and this camera is particularly well-attuned to do so…

KIPAC astrophysicist Enrique López Rodríguez stands before the teaching observatory located in the hills above the Stanford golf course. (Image credit: Andrew...

Enrique López Rodríguez grew up surrounded by stars.

His hometown of La Laguna is on…

The Art of Black Holes
 
Artist Pamela Davis Kivelson
Stanford Q-Farm Artist in Residence…

Related Events

KIPAC Lunar Eclipse Viewing Party

Date: -
Ready for the next total lunar eclipse? Join…