Theory

The Theory Group uses theoretical and computational methods to explore topics ranging from the nature of compact objects to the formation of stars and planets to the properties and evolution of cosmic structure from individual galaxies to the largest scales of the Universe. 

Within the Theory Group, there are several faculty PIs who lead research groups and who interact with each other, members of other research groups in the department, and with other departments that include physics and computer science. Mike Boylan-Kolchin works at the interface of galaxy formation and cosmology to understanding the nature of dark matter and the growth of structure from the earliest epochs to the present day. Volker Bromm studies the formation of the first stars and black holes to form in the cosmos. Pawan Kumar explores a variety of topics related to high-energy astrophysics, including gamma ray bursts, fast radio bursts, and tidal disruption events. Julian Muñoz is a cosmologist whose work on dark matter, first galaxies, and 21cm cosmology lies at the intersection of astrophysics and particle physics. Stella Offner focuses on understanding how stars like the Sun form by combining numerical simulations, observations and observational modeling; she is also a leader in the use of statistical techniques and machine learning to parse data and identify the physical characteristics of forming stars. Paul Shapiro is a theoretical astrophysicist and cosmologist whose research has spanned a broad range of fields, including formation of galaxies and large-scale structure, cosmic dawn and reionization, cosmic radiation backgrounds, dark matter, dark energy, interstellar and intergalactic media, gas dynamics, radiative processes, and computational cosmology. 

We collaborate closely with observers in the department on many topics. Several group members are active in the Cosmic Frontier Center, which brings together department members with interests in the physics of the high-redshift Universe. Faculty from our group are core members of the Texas Center for Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics (TCCAP) within the Weinberg Institute, where we collaborate with physicists, computer scientists, and statisticians on the nature of dark matter, dark energy, and the early Universe. We also work closely with members of the Oden Institute on topics related to the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence in the physical sciences.

Chair