Physics & Astronomy
1000 E. University, Dept 3905
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: 307-766-6150
Fax: 307-766-2652
Email: physics@uwyo.edu
The department features highly active research groups in
Prof. Adam Myers’ research group focuses on novel computational techniques in the context of very large sky surveys. Myers was involved in the planning and execution stages for SDSS-III, SDSS-IV, and the DESI survey. Past work has included constraining cosmology, and models of quasar activity and galaxy formation by analyzing clustering within large surveys of quasars and galaxies, using proximate pairs of quasars to constrain models of quasar fueling and galaxy evolution, the discovery of unusual phenomenon such as “changing look” quasars, and the development of rigorous probabilistic techniques to classify and characterize objects in large imaging surveys for spectroscopic follow-up. Myers’ research has been funded by NASA, the NSF and the DOE. A full list of publications is available here.
Prof. Mike Brotherton and his research group investigate quasars and other active galactic nuclei (AGNs) powered by accretion onto supermassive black holes. Their work is generally observational and multiwavelength, spanning from X-rays to radio waves and everything in between. They’ve conducted research with the Hubble Space Telescope, the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the Very Large Array (VLA), and many other facilities. Recent projects have used the Gemini-North telescope and the Wyoming Infrared Observatory (WIRO) to develop improved methods of mass determination. Their research has been funded by NASA and the NSF. A full list of publications is available here.
Prof. Max Moe studies the formation, evolution, and statistics of binary and multiple stars. He incorporates large-scale time-domain surveys such as Gaia, SDSS-APOGEE, OGLE, and TESS to measure the physical properties and statistical correlations for large populations of eclipsing, spectroscopic, astrometric, and visual binaries. Using these large datasets, Prof. Moe identifies binaries in short-lived phases of evolution and progenitors of various types of astrophysical transients. To further analyze these rare objects, he obtains follow-up spectroscopy with instruments available at UW's 2.3m Wyoming Infrared Observatory (WIRO) telescope and UW's 1/16th share of the 3.5m Astrophysical Research Consortium (ARC) telescope at Apache Point Observatory (APO). Prof. Moe also studies exoplanets in binaries, including how binary stars sculpt planet formation and affect exoplanet demographics. His publication list can be found here.
Prof. Chip Kobulnicky and a team of students use the Red Buttes Observatory, the Wyoming Infrared Observatory, and the Apache Point Observatory to measure transits of extrasolar planets. These observations support NASA’s TESS observatory and other missions to measure the periods and radii and orbital characteristics of close-in exoplanets. Transmission spectroscopy at very low resolution (multi-band photometry) is enough to make basic atmospheric characterizations of exoplanets. Our team also uses the ARCES and KOSMOS spectrograph on the Apache Point 3.5 m telescope to measure the orbits of close massive binary stars to measure their present properties like mass and radius, along with their evolutionary histories. A full publication list of projects with recent students can be found here.
Prof. Meridith Joyce works on problems at the intersection of theoretical stellar astrophysics, data science, high-performance computing and software engineering. As such, the Joyce Research Group is headquartered jointly in the School of Computing and the Physics and Astronomy department. Prof. Joyce combines high-precision measurements of the fundamental properties of stars—especially measurements from space-based observatories TESS and Gaia—with sophisticated numerical modeling tools—especially MESA and GYRE—to study problems ranging from determining the ages of the oldest stars to predicting the future behavior of high-amplitude, variable stars in their final death throes. Prof. Joyce is personally responsible for Betelgeuse not exploding and her publication list can be found here.
Prof. Daniel Dale’s research specialty is nearby galaxies. He studies their dust emission, how they form stars and the properties of their stellar clusters, what distinguishes star-forming galaxies from AGN-powered systems, and all facets of their interstellar media. His current work focuses on HST and JWST observations of the PHANGS sample of nearby galaxies. He and his research group have been excited to recently fully leverage UW’s excellent high performance computing facilities and incorporate machine learning into their work. A full list of publications is available here.
Condensed Matter Physics
Theoretical/computational:
Yuri Dahnovsky works on following research topics:
Experimental:
Jinke Tang is an experimental condensed matter physicist and materials scientist. He is interested in materials for quantum computing, quantum sensing, spintronics, optoelectronics and thermoelectric applications. His recent research activities focus on topologically driven materials, highly correlated electron systems, magnetic, electronic/phononic/magnonic transport, and optical properties of nanostructured and low dimensional materials as well as energy materials including rare earth permanent magnets and thermoelectric materials for energy conservation and conversions.
Professor Wenyong Wang’s research interest is in the fabrication and characterization of electronic and photovoltaic devices based on nanostructures. He received a physics Ph.D. degree from Yale University in 2004, and prior to joining UW he has worked as a research associate in the Semiconductor Electronics Division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
My research focuses on using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy as well as other surface physics techniques to characterize novel materials (solar cell materials, magnetic materials, van der Waals materials, topological materials, and high entropy materials) at the atomic scale. Research topics range from topological superconductors, magnetic skyrmions, Weyl semimetals, novel magnetic domains in two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) magnets, and atomic scale ordering in high entropy materials. Atomic scale understanding of the quantum states in these systems will provide insights in the underlying physics for eventual applications in various technologies.
Professor Jifa Tian’s lab is an experimental Quantum Materials and Devices Laboratory, where we explore the exotic quantum properties of novel materials—including topological superconductors, two-dimensional van der Waals magnetic materials, and topological insulators. We prepare high-quality quantum materials and structures using both top-down methods (like mechanical exfoliation and dry transfer) and bottom-up techniques (such as chemical vapor deposition). Our team designs, fabricates, and tests functional quantum devices—from state-of-the-art qubits to spintronic devices—employing various nanofabrication tools (like electron beam lithography and photolithography) as well as advanced measurement systems (such as quantum transport measurement systems and atomic/magnetic force microscopes at cryogenic temperatures). The Lab’s ultimate goal is to harness these unique quantum states to revolutionize computing technologies, driving advancements in quantum computing and spintronics.
Alexander Petrović’s Hybrid Quantum Materials Laboratory focusses on exploiting topological solitons – nanoscale particle-like excitations – for applications in quantum information processing and sensing. The team is especially interested in the spontaneous heterogeneity and exotic order parameters which may emerge in artificial low-dimensional heterostructures combining superconductivity and non-collinear magnetism. Ongoing research activities in the group include atomically-precise multilayer device synthesis, magnetotransport and microwave spectroscopies, as well as various electromagnetic simulation techniques. A key long-term goal is the development of a true broadband scanning probe instrument, capable of spatially imaging the electrodynamic properties of materials in the quantum limit.
Professor Tsai is a spectroscopist and synthesist with over ten years of experience in material sci-ence research. He is a material scientist with a seven-year focus in tandem solar cell research such as InGaNAs and 2D materials. Professor Tsai is the author of thirteen publications, including 5 first-author papers and two corresponding-author papers. Furthermore, he is the Principal Inves-tigator on €2 million in independent funding, and has served as an international collaborator with research groups in Europe, Asia, and the United States. Professor Tsai is also a lab manager with four years of experience in safety measure design and equipment purchasing for an industrial-oriented collaboration laboratory. Currently, Professor Tsai is an assistant professor at the Uni-versity of Wyoming and leads the 2D optic lab.
Physics & Astronomy
1000 E. University, Dept 3905
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: 307-766-6150
Fax: 307-766-2652
Email: physics@uwyo.edu