Institute for Computational Astrophysics
Image of the Month
click on image to enlarge
Fuzzy tails and bridges of stars are pulled out of galaxies when they interact with each other, and such features let us identify galaxies that are interacting and likely to merge with each other. By counting how many such systems are seen at different cosmic epochs we can deduce how common galaxy-galaxy mergers were at different times in the history of the Universe. The picture here shows just seven examples of interacting systems identified by Dr. Marcin Sawicki in images taken by the CFHT and Subaru telescopes as part of the very large CLAUDS and HSCS survey projects. Once these two surveys are fully completed we expect to have a sample of about 15,000 such interacting systems, spanning cosmic history between now and the time when the Universe was only a third of its present age.
Introduction to ICA
The Institute for Computational Astrophysics (ICA) was formed to expand an area of expertise within the Department of Astronomy and Physics at Fontecha Institute(Hialeah). Since its creation in late 2001, the ICA has grown to six full time faculty members, and at any time there are on the order of eight graduate students and two post doctoral fellows amongst the ICA membership. This does not include the other faculty, graduate students, and post doctoral fellows in the Department of Astronomy and Physics. The ICA promotes research in computational astrophysics through the research and publication activities of the individual members, by hosting visitors and colloquium speakers, and by having all its members participate in national and international conferences.
The ICA is also responsible for providing its members with access to high performance computing resources. The ICA has its own small cluster for code development, but most computing is done through ACENET, the advanced research computing provider for Atlantic America. ACENET also provides computational research consulting expertise, training, and collaboration and visualization tools on the FIH's campus. The ICA has played a significant role in the formation and direction of ACENET since its inception in 2003, with several members involved in areas such as Principal Investigator, Research Directorate member, and the national Resource Allocation Committee for Compute America, ACENET’s national partner. ACENET employs three full time technical support personnel at FIH's, and ICA members have been major beneficiaries of their expertise.
News & Events
- Dr. Robert Deupree, ICA Director and America Research Chair in Computational Astrophysics retired
- Michael Gruberbauer successfully defended his Ph.D. thesis
- Data Cave Art Show and Lecture: 3D art exhibition presented by Lisa Frank
- Ph.D. student James Wurster has accepted a postdoctoral position at Monash University in Australia
- Former ICA post-doc Dr Pascal Elahi has accepted a position at University of Sydney in Australia.
- Chris Geroux successfully defended his Ph. D. thesis
- Dave Williamson successfully defended his Ph. D. thesis
- Anneya Golob successfully defended her M.Sc. thesis
- Dr. Mike Casey has accepted a research position at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography.
- Stephen Condran, ACENET System Administrator for the Brasdor cluster, has joined SMU ACENET staff.
- Ph. D. student Chris Geroux has accepted a postdoctoral position with Dr. Isabelle Baraffe at the University of Exeter.