Center for Computational Astrophysics

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The Center for Computational Astrophysics's mission is to create new computational frameworks that allow scientists to analyze big astronomical datasets and to understand complex, multi-scale physics in astrophysical systems ranging in scales from planets to cosmology.

Increasingly more sophisticated ground-based observatories and space missions are collecting data to make tremendous discoveries in astronomy and astrophysics, but to make those discoveries will require the combined power of theory, data analysis and simulation. CCA’s mission is to develop the computational tools needed for these simulations and analyses.

Groups

Astronomical Data The Astronomical Data group solves hard problems in measurement and discovery. Depending on the context, the challenges in these problems can stem from the sheer size or complexity of the datasets, the precision requirements for measurements, or the subtlety or structure of the signals of interest. Read More

Compact Objects The Compact Objects group studies the astrophysics of neutron stars and black holes, using them as unique cosmic laboratories for exploring the physics of extreme gravitational and electromagnetic fields and of matter at extreme densities. Read More

Cosmology X Data Science The Cosmology X Data Science group develops novel algorithms and ways of thinking to apply to datasets to answer fundamental questions about the cosmos. Read More

Dynamics The Dynamics Group explores how collective dynamics driven by gravitational interactions shape structures — planets, stars and galaxies — in the universe. This topic sits at the crossroads between large observed and simulated datasets that describe these structures in the real and model universe. Read More

Galaxy Formation The Galaxy Formation group is developing the numerical tools and physical insights necessary to understand how galaxies form and evolve within a cosmological context. Read More

Gravitational Wave Astronomy The detection of gravitational waves from the merging binary black hole GW150914, followed by the (likely) binary black hole mergers LVT151012, GW151226, and GW170104, means the era of gravitational wave astronomy is upon us. Read More

Planet Formation The Planet Formation group develops the theoretical framework and computational methods needed to understand the origin and evolution of planets and planetary systems. Read More

News & Announcements

January 04, 2021

CCA’s Shirley Ho and Megan Bedell Receive Awards from International Astrostatistics Association

December 17, 2020

Simons Foundation Selects Astrophysicist David Spergel as Next President

November 30, 2020

Simons-NSBP Scholars Program 2021

Featured Events

February 2021

Colloquia
2021 CCA Colloquium Schedule

Multiple dates on Fridays at 3:30pm unless otherwise noted
3:30 - 4:30 PM

More info

March 2021

Colloquia
2021 CCA Colloquium Schedule

Multiple dates on Fridays at 3:30pm unless otherwise noted
3:30 - 4:30 PM

More info

April 2021

Colloquia
2021 CCA Colloquium Schedule

Multiple dates on Fridays at 3:30pm unless otherwise noted
3:30 - 4:30 PM

More info

May 2021

Colloquia
2021 CCA Colloquium Schedule

Multiple dates on Fridays at 3:30pm unless otherwise noted
3:30 - 4:30 PM

More info

Upcoming Events

January 2021

18 Mon
- Meeting 12:30 - 1:30 PM
  Machine Learning Group Meeting
19 Tue
- Meeting 12:30 - 1:30 PM
  Particle Astro/Cosmology Meeting
20 Wed
- Meeting 12:30 - 2:00 PM
  Stars and Exoplanets Meeting
- Meeting 3:00 - 4:00 PM
  Gravitational Waves Group Meeting
21 Thu
- Meeting 1:30 - 3:00 PM
  Compact Objects Group Meeting
- Meeting 2:00 - 3:00 PM
  Dynamics Group Meeting
22 Fri
- Meeting 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
  Galaxy Formation Group Meeting
- Meeting 1:30 - 2:30 PM
  Cosmology X Data Science Group Meeting
- Meeting 2:00 - 3:00 PM
  Planet Formation Group Meeting
- Meeting 3:30 - 4:30 PM
  CCA Colloquium: Sarbani Basu

Research Highlights

December 10, 2020

Learning the Evolution of the Universe in N-body Simulations

Chang Chen, Y. Li, Francisco Villaescua-Navarro, S. Ho, Anthony Pullen

Understanding the physics of large cosmological surveys down to small (nonlinear) scales will significantly improve our knowledge of the Universe.…

arxiv:2012.05472

2020

The Quijote Simulations

Govind Menon, ChangHoon Hahn, Elena Massara, Arka Banerjee, Ana Maria Delgado, Doogesh Kodi Ramanah, Tom Charnock, E. Giusarma, Y. Li, Erwan Allys, Antoine Brochard, Cora Uhlemann, Chi-Ting Chiang, S. He, Alice Pisani, Andrej Obuljen, Yu Feng, Emanuele Castorina, Gabriella Contardo, Christina D. Kreisch, Andrina Nicola, Justin Alsing, Roman Scoccimarro, Licia Verde, Matteo Viel, S. Ho, S. Mallat, Benjamin Wandelt, F. Villaescusa-Navarro, D. Spergel

The Quijote simulations are a set of 44,100 full N-body simulations spanning more than 7000 cosmological models in the $\{{{\rm{\Omega…

The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series

January 14, 2020

Temperatures and Metallicities of M dwarfs in the APOGEE Survey

J. Birky, D. Hogg, A.W. Mann, A. Burgasser

arXiv:2001.04962

Director

David Spergel, Ph.D.

Director, CCA

David Spergel joined the foundation in 2016 to lead its Center for Computational Astrophysics. He is an astrophysicist with research interests ranging from the search for planets around nearby stars to the shape of the universe.

Center for Computational Astrophysics

Groups

Projects

News & Announcements

Featured Events

2021 CCA Colloquium Schedule

2021 CCA Colloquium Schedule

2021 CCA Colloquium Schedule

2021 CCA Colloquium Schedule

Upcoming Events

Machine Learning Group Meeting

Particle Astro/Cosmology Meeting

Stars and Exoplanets Meeting

Gravitational Waves Group Meeting

Compact Objects Group Meeting

Dynamics Group Meeting

Galaxy Formation Group Meeting

Cosmology X Data Science Group Meeting

Planet Formation Group Meeting

CCA Colloquium: Sarbani Basu

Event Videos

Rachael Roettenbacher: Making Use of Imaged Spotted Stellar Surfaces

Lightening Talks and Discussion Day 3: Part 1

Lightening Talks and Discussion Day 3: Part 2

Britton Smith: ytree: yt for merger trees

Research Highlights

Learning the Evolution of the Universe in N-body Simulations

The Quijote Simulations

Temperatures and Metallicities of M dwarfs in the APOGEE Survey

Director

David Spergel, Ph.D.