PhD in Astrophysical Sciences - Dynamics in Princeton United States | Princeton University

The Department's longstanding expertise in stellar and galactic dynamics builds upon groundbreaking contributions from Lyman Spitzer in understanding globular cluster evolution and Martin Schwarzschild's work on galaxy equilibria without collisions. Currently, Jerry Ostriker explores cosmological dynamics and galaxy formation processes. David Spergel's recent galactic structure research emphasizes analyzing tidal streams to examine irregularities in our galaxy's halo, while also investigating high-velocity clouds and galactic bar dynamics. Jeremy Goodman's current focus includes astrophysical fluid dynamics and magnetohydrodynamics, particularly disk accretion phenomena and tidal interactions involving stars and planets. Scott Tremaine pursues diverse topics in astrophysical dynamics, spanning planetary system formation and stability, solar system small bodies (comets, asteroids, Kuiper belt objects, and planetary rings), debris disks, binary star systems, galactic structure and formation, dark matter behavior, and black hole dynamics. Additional Princeton-based researchers in this field include IAS's Piet Hut, specializing in dense stellar systems and computational N-body problems, and former Princeton researcher Edward Belbruno, who works in celestial mechanics and chaos theory applications. Peter Goldreich, an IAS professor emeritus and regular visitor, maintains wide-ranging interests across astrophysics and planetary science.