The Department of Astrophysics and Optics at UNSW conducts a wide range of research programs in observational and theoretical astrophysics as well as instrumentation and site testing. Current research falls into 4 main areas: cosmology, extrasolar planets, star formation and molecular clouds, and Antarctic astronomy and instrumentation. Click Here for a list fo current Honours-PhD projects.
Cosmology and Fundamental Constants
At UNSW, astrophysical observations are being used to test new ideas in fundamental physics and cosmology. Current research programs include cosmological variability of Fundamental Constants, cosmology of the Lyman-alpha forest, gravitational lensing, and dark matter.
Extrasolar Planets
The field of extrasolar planets has exploded in the last 10 years, with the discovery of new planets occuring on a weekly basis. Researchers at UNSW are searching for exoplanets using a number of different techniques:
The APT Group: The APT group searches for transiting exoplanets using the 0.5-m Automated Patrol Telescope at Siding Spring Observatory.
The "Doppler and Direct" Group: Prof. Tinney's group uses both Doppler Wobble techniques to detect planets orbiting other stars, and direct imaging techniques to seek unbound (i.e. free-floating) planets in nearby stars clusters and as companions to nearby young stars. The group makes use of all of Australia's largest telescopes - the Anglo-Australian Telescope, the Magellan telescopes and Gemini.
Antarctic Astronomy and Instrumentation
The department conducts major programs with instrumentation and telescopes, and is pioneering the development of astronomy in Antarctica, including both site testing and instrumentation. The group has built a range of instrumentation for large telescopes, particularly in the infrared. Current projects include:
PILOT: The Pathfinder for an International Large Optical Telescope is a proposed 2-m optical telescope for Dome C, Antarctica.
PLATO: The PLATeau Observatory, is a self-contained automated platform for conducting year-round experiments from the Antarctic plateau.
LAPCAT: The proposed Large Antarctic Plateau Clear Aperture Telescope will search for exoplanets from Antarctica via direct imaging.
The Astrophysics department has a strong research program studying star formation and the interstellar medium. Combining optical, infrared, millimetre and radio telescopes the group is undertaking a diverse range of projects exploring the environment in which star formation occurs in our Galaxy. Projects aim at investigating excitation of molecular clouds, massive star formation, the interaction of supernova remnants with molecular clouds, and the centre of the galaxy.
Departmental Telescopes
The department operates the Automated Patrol Telescope and the ROTSE-IIIa telescope.
The Mopra millimetre-wave telescope is no longer operated by UNSW, but we are allotted a significant amount of time on the telescope.
Collaborating Institutions
Researchers at UNSW collaborate closely with scientists at the Anglo-Australian Observatory, Australia Telescope National Facility, CSIRO, the Australian Centre for Astrobiology, and other universities and research centres around the world.
