High-Energy Astrophysics

While peering into the early universe, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has found black holes with masses equivalent to billions of suns. These discoveries raise new questions: How did the black holes form so rapidly? Could their extreme environments challenge our acceptance of Einstein’s theory of general relativity? How does matter behave in other extremely dense objects, such as the cores of neutron stars?

Such conditions have no equivalent on Earth, but UMD astronomers study high-energy phenomena in innovative ways. They lead in interpreting data from X-ray observatories, including NASA’s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER), and developing the Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite (AXIS), a proposed successor to Chandra. UMD astronomers also use numerical simulations to understand complex processes such as the formation of accretion disks around black holes. By studying the gravitational waves rippling off of merging black holes, they also explore some of the deepest mysteries of the universe, including whether gravity acts as Einstein predicted. 

Connected Researchers

Portrait of Ralf Ballhausen Ralf Ballhausen

Post-Doctoral Associate
Portrait of Stephen Bradley Cenko Stephen Bradley Cenko

Adjunct Professor
Portrait of Cecilia Chirenti Cecilia Chirenti

Associate Research Scientist
Portrait of Joseph Ryan Eggen Joseph Ryan Eggen

Senior Faculty Specialist
Portrait of Elizabeth C Ferrara Elizabeth C Ferrara

Research Scientist
Portrait of Suvi Gezari Suvi Gezari

Associate Professor
Portrait of Yash Arya Gursahani Yash Arya Gursahani

Research Graduate Assistant III
Portrait of Lia Hankla Lia Hankla

Post-Doctoral Associate
Portrait of Rachel Elizabeth Hemmer Rachel Elizabeth Hemmer

Faculty Assistant
Portrait of Erika Bernadette Hoffman Erika Bernadette Hoffman

Research Graduate Assistant III
Portrait of Isiah Holt Isiah Holt

Graduate Assistant II
Portrait of Israel Martinez Castellanos Israel Martinez Castellanos

Assistant Research Scientist
Portrait of Barbara Jo Mattson Barbara Jo Mattson

Principal Faculty Specialist
Portrait of Michael Coleman Miller Michael Coleman Miller

Professor
Portrait of Brendan O'Connor Brendan O'Connor

Post-Doctoral Associate
Portrait of Anna Ogorzalek Anna Ogorzalek

Assistant Research Scientist
Portrait of Gregory Michael Olmschenk Gregory Michael Olmschenk

Assistant Research Scientist
Portrait of Tyler Anthony Pritchard Tyler Anthony Pritchard

Visiting Assistant Research Scientist
Portrait of Yuri Ralchenko Yuri Ralchenko

Visiting Research Scientist
Portrait of Charles L Reisner Charles L Reisner

Research Graduate Assistant II
Portrait of Christopher S. Reynolds Christopher S. Reynolds

Professor
Portrait of Massimo Ricotti Massimo Ricotti

Professor
Faculty Non-Standard Pay
Portrait of Gerald Harvey Share Gerald Harvey Share

Adjunct Research Scientist
Portrait of Leo Pound Singer Leo Pound Singer

Adjunct Assistant Professor
Portrait of Gokul Prem Srinivasaragavan Gokul Prem Srinivasaragavan

Faculty Assistant
Portrait of Robert David Stein Robert David Stein

Post-Doctoral Associate
Portrait of Zorawar Wadiasingh Zorawar Wadiasingh

Associate Research Scientist
Portrait of Jonathan Williams Jonathan Williams

Graduate Assistant II
Portrait of Abderahmen Zoghbi Abderahmen Zoghbi

Associate Research Scientist