Dynamics

Synthetic Milky Way model Ananke/FIRE collaboration

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.

We anticipate group interests evolving dynamically with our membership. A common theme among current members is mining massive modern stellar surveys such as Gaia, GALAH, APOGEE and SDSS-V to learn about our home galaxy, the Milky Way. These rich datasets are bringing into sharp focus the complex interplay between stars, gas and dark matter in the Milky Way, adding fine detail to the cosmological context of galaxy formation and allowing unique tests of the nature of dark matter.

Research Highlights

July 24, 2019

In the Galactic disk, stellar [Fe/H] and age predict orbits and precise [X/Fe]

M. Ness, K. Johnston, K Blancato, HW Rix, A Beane, JC Bird, K. Hawkins

We explore the structure of the element abundance–age–orbit distribution of the stars in the Milky Way’s low-α disk, by (re-)deriving…

arXiv:1907.10606

June 7, 2019

Detecting Thin Stellar Streams in External Galaxies: Resolved Stars & Integrated Light

S. Pearson, T. Starkenburg, K. Johnston, BF Williams, RA Ibata

The morphology of thin stellar streams can be used to test the nature of dark matter. It is therefore crucial…

arXiv.:1906.03264

May 21, 2019

The Galactic Midplane Is Not a Plane: Implications for Dynamical Analysis with Gaia Data and Beyond

A Beane, R. Sanderson, M. Ness, K. Johnston, DG Filho, M. Mac Low, D. Angles-Alcazar, D. Hogg, C. Laporte

Orbital properties of stars, computed from their six-dimensional phase space measurements and an assumed Galactic potential, are used to understand…

arXiv:1905.08803

Group Members

Kathryn Johnston, Ph.D.

Group Leader, Dynamics

Kathryn Johnston joined the Center for Computational Astrophysics as a Group Leader for the Dynamics Group in 2019.

Emily Cunningham, Ph.D.

Flatiron Research Fellow, Astronomical Data

Emily joined the Center for Computational Astrophycis as a Flatiron Research Fellow in September, 2019.

Elena D’Onghia, Ph.D.

Visiting Scholar

She is an Associate Professor in the Astronomy Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and on sabbatical leave at the Center for Computational Astrophysics in 2019.

John Forbes, Ph.D.

Flatiron Research Fellow, Galaxy Formation

John joined the Center for Computational Astrophysics as a Flatiron Research Fellow.

David W. Hogg, Ph.D.

Group Leader, Astronomical Data

David W. Hogg is an astrophysicist at New York University’s Center for Cosmology and Particle Physics and the group leader of CCA’s Astronomical Data group. His research has ranged from fundamental cosmological measurements to stellar dynamics to exoplanet searches and characterization.

Jason Hunt, Ph.D.

Flatiron Research Fellow, Astronomical Data

Jason joined the Center for Computational Astrophysics as a Flatiron Research Fellow.

Mordecai-Mark Mac Low

Research Scientist, Planet Formations

Mordecai-Mark Mac Low joined the Center for Computational Astrophysics at the Flatiron Institute in September, 2018.

Melissa Ness, Ph.D.

Associate Research Scientist, Dynamics

Melissa Ness joined the foundation in 2018 as an associate research scientist at the Center for Computational Astrophysics.

Sarah Pearson, Ph.D.

Flatiron Research Fellow, Dynamics

Sarah Pearson joined the foundation in 2018 as a Flatiron Research Fellow at the Center for Computational Astrophysics.

Adrian Price-Whelan, Ph.D.

Flatiron Research Fellow, Dynamics

Adrian Price-Whelan joined the foundation in 2019 as a member of the Astronomical Data group at the Center for Computational Astrophysics.

Robyn Sanderson, Ph.D.

Associate Research Scientist, Dynamics

Robyn Sanderson is an associate research scientist in the Center for Computational Astrophysics and assistant professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Pennsylvania.

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.

Tjitske Starkenburg, Ph.D.

Flatiron Research Fellow, Dynamics

Tjitske Starkenburg joined the foundation in September 2016 as a research fellow at the Center for Computational Astrophysics. She works on the evolution and dynamics of small galaxies and interacting galaxies.