Lars Hernquist

Lars Hernquist (14 December 1954) is a theoretical astrophysicist and Mallinckrodt Professor of Astrophysics at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian. He is best known for his research on dynamical processes in cosmology and galaxy formation/galaxy evolution.[1][2][3][4]

Lars Eric Hernquist
NationalityAmerican
Alma materCalifornia Institute of Technology
Known forHernquist Profile
Illustris project
AwardsGruber Prize in Cosmology (2020)
Scientific career
FieldsAstrophysics
InstitutionsHarvard University
Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
University of California, Santa Cruz
ThesisThermal and Magnetic Properties of Neutron Stars (1985)
Doctoral advisorRoger Blandford

Career and research

Hernquist's research involves the dynamics of galaxies and the effect of a merger driven model for galaxy evolution. He is a world expert in simulating mergers of galaxies to demonstrate the expected appearance and morphology of the resulting body. He defined the "Hernquist Profile", which is an analytic expression for the distribution of dark matter in galaxies.[5] Hernquist's research is largely computational with one of the world's largest supercomputers accessible for his research.[6]

Awards

Hernquist was awarded the 2020 Gruber Prize in Cosmology jointly with Volker Springel, who together have made computer simulations "an indispensable tool for cosmologists, allowing them to test theories and locate fertile areas for further research."[7]

References
  1. Chown, Marcus. "Science : Tadpole galaxies are lightweights". {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  2. "Astrophysicist Maps Out Our New Galaxy". ScienceDaily. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  3. "Simulations Show How Growing Black Holes Regulate Galaxy Formation". ScienceDaily. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  4. "Magellanic Clouds Are First-Time Visitors". ScienceDaily. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  5. Hernquist, Lars (June 1990). "An Analytical Model for Spherical Galaxies and Bulges". Astrophysical Journal. 356: 359. Bibcode:1990ApJ...356..359H. doi:10.1086/168845. ISSN 0004-637X.
  6. "Odyssey - PowerEdge M600 Cluster, Xeon E5410 2.3Ghz, Infiniband". www.top500.org. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  7. "2020 Gruber Cosmology Prize". gruber.yale.edu. Retrieved 6 May 2020.


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