Astrophysics at Lehigh covers a variety of topics, but the main areas of focus are binary star systems, massive stars, high energy astrophysics, and exoplanets. Research projects at Lehigh involve the dynamics and orbits of stellar binaries and N-body dynamics. There are investigations of stellar formation and evolution, the ages and composition of young stellar clusters, and the high energy behavior of massive stars, X-ray binaries, and stellar remnants. On massive stars, there is research on magnetic fields and the formation of disks in Be stars. There are several projects on the discovery of new exoplanets, observing exoplanet atmospheres and dynamics, and the analysis of exoplanet populations. (McSwain, Pepper)
Observational projects involve the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, the Fermi Space Telescope, the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, and the Kilodegree Extremely Little Telescope. Theoretical work includes the design and optimization of astronomical surveys. (McSwain, Pepper)
Department of Physics | Lewis Lab | 16 Memorial Drive East | Bethlehem, PA 18015 | phone 610-758-3930