• Black Hole Accetion

    BLACK HOLE ACCRETION

    General relativistic radiation magnetohydrodynamics.

  • Type Ia Supernovae

    TYPE IA SUPERNOVAE

    High resolution models of turbulent flames.

  • Stellar Astrophysics

    STELLAR ASTROPHYSICS

    Turbulence in massive stars.

  • Core-Collapse Supernovae

    CORE-COLLAPSE SUPERNOVAE

    State-of-the-art neutrino radiation hydrodynamics.

  • cosmology

    COSMOLOGY

    Large-scale structure, star formation, and supermassive black hole growth.

  • Compact Object Mergers

    COMPACT OBJECT MERGERS

    SPH simulations of binary mergers.

  • Plasma Astrophysics

    PLASMA ASTROPHYSICS

    Particle-in-cell simulations of reconnection.

ABOUT

The Center for Theoretical Astrophysics brings together a diverse set of scientists from across Los Alamos National Laboratory to study a wide variety of topics at the forefront of astrophysical research. We are committed to building and maintaining a supportive experience for all who participate, as reflected in our Statement of Values.

SUMMARY

Scientists within the Center for Theoretical Astrophysics collaborate internally and externally on a broad range of topics. Our diverse expertise and the collaborative environment we maintain allow us to tackle the most challenging problems at the forefront of theoretical and computational astrophysics.

With more than 50 active astrophysicists, Los Alamos National Laboratory is an exciting place to carry out astrophysical research. Though these scientists are spread broadly among organizations at LANL, the CTA establishes a community within which we organize and share projects. Members of the CTA also extensively collaborate with other laboratory institutions including: The Center for Space and Earth Science, The Center for Nonlinear Studies, and The Information Science and Technology Institute.

Los Alamos National Laboratory is located in beautiful Northern New Mexico about a 40 minute drive northwest of Santa Fe. The area has outstanding opportunities for the outdoor enthusiast.

RESEARCH

CTA scientists are engaged in a wide variety of projects. Some of these topics are listed below with links to more information.

Publications

  • Active Galactic Nuclei
  • Evolution of massive black holes, studying both radiation and magneto-hydrodynamic effects
  • Computational Astrophysics
  • We develop and apply state-of-the-art methods and codes to tackle some of the most complex problems in astrophysics
  • Cosmic rays
  • Generation and propagation of cosmic rays from gamma-ray bursts and supernovae. Ties to a number of missions (e.g., HAWC, NuSTAR)
  • Cosmology and the first stars
  • Cosmology calculations using a broad range of tools (e.g., ENZO and Gadget), focused on studying the formation of the first stars and black holes
  • Engines behind transients
  • Thermonuclear and core-collapse supernovae, gamma-ray burst, and x-ray burst engines
  • Emission for transients
  • Modeling spectra and light-curves, radiation-hydrodynamics effects, atomic physics.
  • Experimental astrophysics
  • Many of the fields leverage laboratory experiments in plasma physics, turbulence, radiation transport, nuclear, and atomic physics
  • Nuclear astrophysics
  • Understanding the behavior of matter and nuclear densities and applying these effects (neutrinos, equations of state) to supernova models
  • Nucleosynthesis
  • Yields from stars and supernovae, nuclear cross-sections (tying to experiment), galactic chemical evolution
  • Star and planet formation
  • Formation of the solar system, extra-solar planets
  • Stellar Astrophysics
  • Structure, evolution, nucleosynthesis and hydrodynamics of stars
  • Supernova remnants
  • Following the engine through the remnant phase, effects of NLTE opacities, and magneto-hydrodynamics

OUTREACH

  • Outreach efforts
  • Members of the CTA are extremely active in outreach, both locally and in surrounding communities. Check out our Outreach Page for more info.

OPPORTUNITIES

Check out opportunities to join LANL's CTA

  • CTA Postdoc
  • The CTA accepts applications for postdoctoral positions year round. We seek candidates with interests and experience in computational physics/astrophysics, broadly defined, who will excel at carrying out research independently and in collaboration with members of the CTA. APPLY
  • LANL Postdoctoral Fellowship Programs
  • The laboratory sponsors a number of labotaory wide fellowships and subject specific fellowships to which postdoctoral candidates may apply.
  • LANL Summer Schools
  • The laboraory sponsors a multiple summer schools on varoius topics related to computational physics and astronomy.

Additional Resources

PEOPLE

LEADERSHIP

 WES EVEN

CTA DIRECTOR
GROUP LEADER, APPLIED MATHEMATICS AND PLASAMA PHYSICS, T-5

Transient light curves, compact mergers, supernovae, nucleosynthesis

 RACHEL SMULLEN

CTA DEPUTY DIRECTOR
R&D SCIENTIST, THEORETICAL DESIGN, XTD

Star and planet formation, orbital dynamics

 CHRIS FRYER

CTA PAST-DIRECTOR
DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR NONLINEAR STUDIES, T-CNLS

Radiation-hydrodynamics, reaction networks

 JOSH DOLENCE

RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT
R&D SCIENTIST, COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS & METHODS, CCS-2

Black hole astrophysics, supernovae, numerical methods and algorithms

 NICOLE LLOYD-RONNING

OUTREACH
R&D SCIENTIST, COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS & METHODS, CCS-2

Gamma-ray bursts, their emission physics, and their use as cosmological tools

 AIMEE HUNGERFORD

PROGRAM LIAISON
DEPUTY PROGRAM DIRECTOR, ADVANCED SIMULATION AND COMPUTING, ASC

Gamma-ray astronomy, supernovae, Monte Carlo transport

 BRENDAN KRUEGER

RECRUITING COORDINATOR
R&D SCIENTIST, EULERIAN CODES, XCP-2

Supernovae, computational methods, code development

STAFF

 DENNIS BOWEN

R&D SCIENTIST, EULERIAN CODES, XCP-2

General relativity, MHD, accretion disks

 SOUMI DE

R&D SCIENTIST, APPLIED MATHEMATICS AND PLASAMA PHYSICS, T-5

Multimessenger astrophysics, gravitational wave observations, machine learning, data analysis

 PHILIPP EDELMANN

R&D SCIENTIST, APPLIED COMPUTER SCIENCE, CCS-7

Stellar astrophysics, low Mach number hydrodynamics, nucleosynthesis,asteroseismology, numerical methods

 ERICA FOGERTY

R&D SCIENTIST, THEORETICAL DESIGN, XTD

Formation of molecular cloudes, stars and planets, MHD, radiation transport, HEDP

 CHRIS FONTES

R&D SCIENTIST, MATERIALS & PHYSICS DATA, XCP-5

Theoretical atomic physics, radiative opacities, transient light curves

 FAN GUO

R&D SCIENTIST, NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE PHYSICS, ASTROPHYSICS, AND COSMOLOGY, T-2

Charged particle transport, magnetic reconnection and turbulence, collisionless shocks, wave and particle interaction

 JOYCE GUZIK

LANL FELLOW, THEORETICAL DESIGN, XTD

Stellar Evolution, Astroseismology, Stellar Pulsations

 DANIEL HOLLADAY

R&D SCIENTIST, APPLIED COMPUTER SCIENCE, CCS-7

nLTE opacities, radiation transport, HPC, heterogeneous computing

 JARRETT JOHNSON

R&D SCIENTIST, THEORETICAL DESIGN, XTD

First Stars, Planets, Galaxies, Supernovae, and Black Holes

 SAM JONES

R&D SCIENTIST, APPLIED MATHEMATICS AND PLASAMA PHYSICS, T-5

Supernovae, numerical methods, hydrodynamics, nucleosynthesis, stellar evolution

 OLEG KOROBKIN

R&D SCIENTIST, APPLIED MATHEMATICS AND PLASAMA PHYSICS, T-5

Neutron star mergers, r-process, hydrodynamics, HPC, general relativity

 HYUN LIM

R&D SCIENTIST, COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS & METHODS, CCS-2

Numerical relativity, binary compact object mergers, numerical methods and algorithms, and HPC

 CHRIS MALONE

R&D SCIENTIST, LAGRANGIAN CODES, XCP-1

Type Ia supernovae

 CHRISTOPHER MAUNEY

R&D SCIENTIST, HPC ENVIROMENTS, HPC-ENV

Dust formation, supernovae, density functional theory

 ZACH MEDIN

R&D SCIENTIST, EULERIAN CODES, XCP-2

X-ray bursts

 JONAH MILLER

R&D SCIENTIST, COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS & METHODS, CCS-2

Numerical relativity, numerical methods, hydrodynamics

 MATTHEW MUMPOWER

R&D SCIENTIST, NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE PHYSICS, ASTROPHYSICS, AND COSMOLOGY, T-2

Nuclear physics, nucleosynthesis, beta-decay, fission

 BENJAMIN RYAN

R&D SCIENTIST, COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS & METHODS, CCS-2

Black hole astrophysics, radiation transport, magnetohydrodynamics, numerical methods

 IRINA SAGERT

R&D SCIENTIST, COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS & METHODS, CCS-2

Kinetic transport simulation, Nuclear astrophysics, hydrodynamics

 GREG SALVESEN

R&D SCIENTIST, VERIFICATION AND ANALYSIS, XCP-8

Black Holes, X-ray Binaries, Accretion Disks, Outflows

 INGO TEWS

R&D SCIENTIST, NUCLEAR & PARTICLE PHYSICS, ASTROPHYSICS, & COSMOLOGY, T-2

Neutron Matter, chiral EFT, multimessenger astrophysics

 RYAN WOLLAEGER

R&D SCIENTIST, COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS & METHODS, CCS-2

Transient light curves, radiation transport methods

 SUZANNAH WOOD

R&D SCIENTIST, THEORETICAL DESIGN, XTD

Laboratory astrophysics, high energy density physics

POSTDOCS

 CARL FIELDS

FEYNMAN FELLOW, COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS & METHODS, CCS-2

Stellar Hydrodynamics, Nuclear Astrophysics, Gravitational Waves

 ALEX KALTENBORN

METROPOLIS FELLOW, APPLIED MATHEMATICS AND PLASAMA PHYSICS, T-5

Compact binary mergers

PAST CTA POSTDOCS

STUDENTS

The Center for Theoretical Astrophysics sponsors student researchers to visit LANL at all levels: high school, undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, graduate, and post-masters. The vast majority of students are at LANL during the summer and the CTA typically supports 20-30 students during the summer. Additionally there are also opportunities for longer-term appointments, up to 2 years, in the CTA for post-baccalaureate, post-masters, and graduate students. The ideal time to apply for a summer appointment is November or December. To view profiles of our current students click here.

CONTACT

For more information on any of our activities or to inquire about opportunities to work with our team, please use the contact information below or contact the appropriate team member directly.

  • Wes Even (Director)
  •  even@lanl.gov
  •  CTA_recruitment@lanl.gov
  •  +1 (505) 665-5269
  • PO Box 1663
  • MS D409
  • Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • Los Alamos, NM 87545