Faculty Research   -   Post Doc Research   -   Graduate Research   -   Alumni Research   -   Select Publications

Faculty Research

• Andrea Ghez and her collaborators are carrying out a diffraction-limited study of the Galaxy's central stellar cluster. This program has provided strong evidence for a supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way and is continuing to study the environs of this region. See the UCLA Galactic Center Research pages for more information.
• Mark Morris studies the fate of star clusters at the Galactic center, and is trying to determine the character and the origin of the magnetic field in the central few hundred parsecs of the Galaxy. He also studies the hot, diffuse gas at the Galactic center with the Chandra X-ray observatory.
• Michael Rich is a member of the Galaxy Evolution Explorer science team, a UV sky survey satellite. Rich's research on GALEX addresses the study of star formation in the 0

Postdoctoral Research

Graduate Student Research

• Breann Sitarski works with Andrea Ghez on the kinematics and morphology of the Orion star-forming region in an effort to better understand the strong dynamical interactions that may be related to outflows around the stars. She is also interested in studying the properties of circumstellar disks.
• Betsy Mills works with Mark Morris on data from an HST-NICMOS survey of the innermost 90 parsecs of the Galactic center in the Paschen alpha emission line. She is investigating the magnetic alignment of fine scale filamentary structure in the ionized gas in this region.
• Kim Phifer works with Andrea Ghez to study the dynamics of the Milky Way nuclear stellar cluster using OSIRIS spectroscopy and NIR imaging obtained using Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics with the Keck telescopes.
• Sylvana Yelda works w/ Andrea Ghez using NIR images taken with the Keck II Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics system to study the distribution of stars in the central parsec of our Galaxy. She is also interested in understanding the role of binaries in the origin of the young stars at the Galactic Center.

Select Publications:

• The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE): Mission Description and Initial On-orbit Performance, Edward L. Wright, et al. (2010), AJ, submitted
• Assessing the Milky Way Satellites Associated with the Sagittarius Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy, David R. Law & Steven R. Majewski (2010), ApJ, in press
• Our Milky Way as a Pure-Disk Galaxy -- A Challenge for Galaxy Formation, Juntai Shen, R. Michael Rich, John Kormendy, Christian D. Howard, Roberto De Propris, Andrea Kunder (2010), ApJL, in press
• The Spectral Types of White Dwarfs in Messier 4, D. Saul Davis, Harvey B. Richer, R. Michael Rich, David R. Reitzel, & Jason S. Kalirai (2009), ApJ, in press
• Kinematics at the Edge of the Galactic Bulge: Evidence for Cylindrical Rotation, Christian D. Howard, R. Michael Rich, Will Clarkson, Ryan Mallery, John Kormendy, Roberto De Propris, Annie C. Robin, Roger Fux, David B. Reitzel, HongSheng Zhao, & Konrad Kuijken (2009), ApJ, in press
• Near-Infrared Counterparts to Chandra X-ray Sources toward the Galactic Center. I. Statistics and a Catalog of Candidates, Jon C. Mauerhan, Michael P. Muno, Mark R. Morris, Franz E. Bauer, Shogo Nishiyama, & Tetsuya Nagata (2009), ApJ, submitted
• Dynamics of Ionized Gas at the Galactic Center: VLA Observations of the 3D Velocity Field and Location of the Ionized Streams in Sagittarius A West, Jun-Hui Zhao, Mark R. Morris, W. M. Goss, & Tao An (2009), ApJ, in press
• A Large Sample Study of Red Giants in the Globular Cluster Omega Centauri (NGC 5139), Christian I. Johnson, Catherine A. Pilachowski, R. Michael Rich, & Jon P. Fulbright (2009), ApJ, in press
• Modeling mm- to X-ray flare emission from SgrA*, A. Eckart, F. K. Baganoff, M. R. Morris, et al. (2009), A&A, in press
• The Galactic Center: A Laboratory for Fundamental Astrophysics and Galactic Nuclei, A. Ghez, M. Morris, et al. (2009), White paper for the Astro2010 Decadal Survey
• A power-law break in the near-infrared power spectrum of the Galactic center black hole, L. Meyer, T. Do, A. Ghez, M. R. Morris, S. Yelda, R. Schoedel, A. Eckart (2009), ApJL, in press
• Astrometry with the Keck-Interferometer: the ASTRA project and its science, Jorg-Uwe Pott, et al. (2008), contribution to the summerschool "Astrometry and Imaging with the Very Large Telescope Interferometer", 2 - 13 June, 2008, Keszthely, Hungary
• Cooling of Dense Gas by H2O Line Emission and an Assessment of its Effects in Chondrule-Forming Shocks, M. A. Morris, S. J. Desch, & F. J. Ciesla (2008), ApJ, in press
• The Bulge Radial Velocity Assay (BRAVA): I. Sample Selection and a Rotation Curve, Christian D. Howard, R. Michael Rich, David B. Reitzel, Andreas Koch, Roberto De Propris, & HongSheng Zhao (2008), ApJ, in press
• A New All-Sky Satalog of Stars with Large Proper Motions, Sebastien Lepine, Michael M. Shara, R. Michael Rich, A. Wittenberg, M. Halmo, & B. Bongiorno (2008), contributed paper at IAU Symposium 248
• High resolution infrared spectra of NGC 6440 and NGC 6441: two massive Bulge Globular Clusters, L. Origlia, E. Valenti, & R.M. Rich (2008)
• An X-ray, IR, and Submillimeter Flare of Sagittarius A*, D. P. Marrone, F. K. Baganoff, M. Morris, J. M. Moran, A. M. Ghez, S. D. Hornstein, C. D. Dowell, D. J. Munoz, M. W. Bautz, G. R. Ricker, W. N. Brandt, G. P. Garmire, J. R. Lu, K. Matthews, J.-H. Zhao, R. Rao, G. C. Bower (2008), ApJ, 682, 373
• Intermediate to low-mass stellar content of Westerlund 1, Wolfgang Brandner, J.Simon Clark, Andrea Stolte, Rens Waters, Ignacio Negueruela, & Simon P. Goodwin (2007), A&A, in press
• Kinematics and Composition of the Galactic Bulge: Recent Progress, R. Michael Rich, Christian Howard, David B. Reitzel, HongSheng Zhao, & Roberto de Propris (2007), contributed paper at IAU Symposium 245
• The Rise and Fall of Debris Disks: MIPS Observations of h and chi Persei and the Evolution of Mid-IR Emission from Planet Formation, T. Currie, et al. (2007), ApJ, in press
• The Chemical Composition of an Extrasolar Minor Planet, B. Zuckerman, D. Koester, C. Melis, B. Hansen, and M. Jura (2007), ApJ, in press
• Revised metallicity classes for low-mass stars: dwarfs (dM), subdwarfs (sdM), extreme subdwarfs (esdM), and ultra subdwarfs (usdM), S. Lepine, R. M. Rich, and M. M. Shara (2007), ApJ, in press
• The First Detailed Abundances for M giants in the inner Bulge from Infrared Spectroscopy, R. M. Rich et al. (2007), ApJ, in press
• The spatio-kinematical structure and distance of the pre-planetary nebula IRAS 19134+2131, H. Imai, R. Sahai, & M. Morris (2007), ApJ, in press
• A Spitzer Study of the Mass Loss Histories of Three Bipolar Pre-Planetary Nebulae, Tuan Do, Mark Morris, Raghvendra Sahai, and Karl Stapelfeldt (2007), AJ, in press
• A Constant Spectral Index for Sagittarius A* During Infrared/X-ray Intensity Variations, S. Hornstein et al. (2007), ApJ, in press
• EF Cha: Warm Dust Orbiting a Nearby 10 Myr Old Star, Joseph H. Rhee, Inseok Song, & B. Zuckerman (2007), ApJ, in press
• Terrestrial Zone Debris Disk Candidates in h & chi Persei, Thayne Currie et al. (2007), ApJL, in press
• The Evolution of Protoplanetary Disks Around Millisecond Pulsars: The PSR 1257 +12 System, T. Currie and Brad Hansen (2007), ApJ, in press
• Stellar Evolution in NGC 6791: Mass Loss on the Red Giant Branch and the Formation of Low Mass White Dwarfs, J. Kalirai, P. Bergeron, B. Hansen, D. Kelson, D. Reitzel, R. M. Rich, and H. B. Richer (2007), ApJ, in press
• HD 98800: A 10-Myr-Old Transition Disk, E. Furlan et al. (2007)
• Externally-polluted white dwarfs with dust disks, M. Jura, J. Farihi, & B. Zuckerman (2007), ApJ, in press
• Spitzer Space Telescope Observations of the Magnetic Cataclysmic Variable AE Aqr, G. Dubus, R. E. Taam, C. Hull, D. M. Watson, & J. C. Mauerhan (2007), ApJ, accepted
• An astrometric companion to the nearby metal-poor, low-mass star LHS 1589, Sebastien Lepine, R. Michael Rich, Michael M. Shara, Kelle L. Cruz, & Andrew Skemer (2007), ApJL, in press
• Discovery of hot supergiant stars near the Galactic center, Jon C. Mauerhan, Michael P. Muno, & Mark Morris (2007), ApJ, in press
• Spitzer/IRAC and JHKs Observations of h & chi Persei: Constraints on Protoplanetary Disk and Massive Cluster Evolution at ~ 10^{7} yr, Thayne Currie et al. (2007), ApJ, 659, 599
• The Bulge Radial Velocity Assay (BRAVA): I. Techniques and a Rotation Curve, R. Michael Rich, David B. Reitzel, Christian D. Howard, & HongSheng Zhao (2007), ApJL, in press
• The White Dwarf Cooling Sequence of NGC6397, Brad M. S. Hansen et al. (2007)
• Measuring the Mass of a Pre-Main Sequence Binary Star Through the Orbit of TWA 5A, Q.M. Konopacky, A.M. Ghez, G. Duchene, C. McCabe, & B.A. Macintosh (2007), AJ, in press
• Brackett Lines from the Super Star Cluster Nebulae in He 2-10, A. L. Henry, J. L. Turner, S. C. Beck, L. P. Crostwaite, & D. S. Meier (2006), ApJ, in press
• Photometric Stellar Variability in the Galactic Center, M. Rafelski, A. M. Ghez, S. D. Hornstein, J. R. Lu, & M. Morris (2006), ApJ, to appear in April 2007 issue.
• Intra-Day Variability of Sagittarius A* at 3 Millimeters, J. C. Mauerhan, M. Morris, F. Walter, & F. K. Baganoff (2005), ApJL, 623, L25
• Stellar Orbits around the Galactic Center Black Hole, A. M. Ghez, S. Salim, S. D. Hornstein, A. Tanner, J. Lu, M. Morris, E. E. Becklin, & G. Duchene (2005), ApJ, 620, 744
• Variable Infrared Emission from the Supermassive Black Hole at the Center of the Milky Way, A. M. Ghez, S. A. Wright, K. Matthews, D. Thompson, D. Le Mignant, A. Tanner, S. D. Hornstein, M. Morris, E. E. Becklin, & B. T. Soifer (2004), 601, 159
• Limits on the Short-Term Variability of Sagittarius A* in the Near-Infrared, S. D. Hornstein, A. M. Ghez, A. Tanner, M. Morris, E. E. Becklin, & P. Wizinowich (2002), ApJL, 577, L9
• Spatially Resolved Observations of the Galactic Center Source IRS 21, A. Tanner, A. M. Ghez, M. Morris, E. E. Becklin, A. Cotera, M. Ressler, M. Werner, & P. Wizinowich (2002), ApJ, 575, 860
• The Accelerations of Stars Orbiting the Milky Way's Central Black Hole, A. M. Ghez, M. Morris, E. E. Becklin, A. Tanner, & T. Kremenek (2000), Nature, Sept 21 issue
• N-Body Simulations of Compact Young Clusters near the Galactic Center, S. S. Kim, D. F. Figer, H. M. Lee, & M. Morris (2000), ApJ, 545, 301
• On the Helium Content of Galactic Globular Clusters via the R-Parameter, M. Zoccali, S. Cassisi, G. Bono, G. Piotto, R. M. Rich, & S. G. Djorgovski (2000), ApJ, 538, 289
• Two Groups of Nearly Coeval Star Clusters in the Small Magellanic Cloud, R.M. Rich, M. Shara, S. M. Fall, & D. Zurek (2000), AJ, 119, 197

Former Graduate Students and Postdocs

• David Law studies the structure and dynamics of galaxies. Current research projects include using infrared IFU imaging and spectroscopy to determine the morphology and kinematics of galaxies at redshift z~ 2-3, and using N-body models of Local Group satellite galaxies to map out the mass distribution within the dark matter halo of the Milky Way.
• Steve Berukoff works with Brad Hansen on understanding the stellar dynamics of the Galactic Center through numerical simulations.
• Christian Howard works with Mark Morris and Mike Muno studying the diffuse X-ray plasma in the galactic center.
• Joerg-Uwe Pott's research focusses on the application of new high angular resolution techniques to observe dusty stellar environments, phenomena in the Galactic center, and AGNs. He likes the challenges of interferometry from radio to optical wavelengths, and uses telescope arrays to resolve phenomena close to the central black holes in galaxies. Currently he is involved in the ASTRA-sensitivity upgrade of the Keck Interferometer as instrument scientist, and spends half of his time at the Keck telescopes.
• Jessica Lu works with Andrea Ghez to understand recent star formation at the Galactic Center. She uses the Keck telescopes and the Laser Guide Star adaptive optics system to collect near-infrared images and spectra of the Galactic Center.
• Jon Mauerhan works with Mark Morris and uses the Millimeter Interferometer Array at Owens Valley to study the 3-mm radio emission from the supermassive black hole at the Galactic Center. He also works with Mike Muno to search for infrared counterparts to X-ray binaries toward the Galactic Center
• Dr. Andrea Stolte (postdoc) is a postdoctoral scholar working with Dr. Andrea Ghez on starburst clusters in the Milky Way. She studies the origin of the Arches cluster near the Galactic Center with Keck LGS-AO, and is interested in low-mass star formation and disk survival in NGC 3603 in the Carina arm.
• Seth Hornstein worked with Andrea Ghez studying the variability of the infrared counterpart to the supermassive black hole at the Galactic Center. Seth is also involved in the dynamical motion study of the stellar cluster closest to the black hole.
• Cornelia Lang (grad) worked with Mark Morris on high resolution mapping of the thermal and non-thermal filaments at the galactic center with the VLA.
• Michael Muno (postdoc) is a Hubble fellow interested in the population of Galactic white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes. His current project is a multi-wavelength study of thousands of Chandra X-ray sources in the central 300 pc of our Galaxy. He has recently discovered that accreting black holes are highly concentrated within the central parsec of our Galaxy and may have settled there through dynamical friction.
• Angelle Tanner (grad) worked with Andrea Ghez, Mark Morris and Eric Becklin on an unique collection of extended infrared sources located at the Galactic Center.