William Newman

Professor
Astrophysics
Office: Geology 4640
Phone: 310-825-3912
Email:
Website

Educational Background

• B.Sc. (Hon.), Physics, University of Alberta, Canada, 1971
• M.Sc., Physics, University of Alberta, Canada, 1972
• M.S., Astronomy and Space Science, Cornell University, 1975
• Ph.D., Astronomy and Space Science, Cornell University, 1979

Research Interest

Professor Newman's astrophysical research focuses on two classes of theoretical problems. The first of these is related to star and solar system formation: his research involves the evolution of primitive stellar nebulae and the role of magnetic fields in angular momentum transfer and in forming bipolar outflows. (The nonlinear dynamics of the early solar system and the accretion of planetesimal material in the outer solar system in the presence of Jovian planets is a related area of investigation.) This work involves the development of large-scale computational simulations for these different environments.

The second focus is related to the dynamics of galaxies and, especially, to the evolution of pattern at large scales. The red-shift statistics of external galaxies and clusters, as well as the evolution of power-law statistical distributions in the positions and masses of galaxies is an important clue to the formation of galaxies following the Big Bang. Theoretical, computational, and statistical methods are employed in these various extragalactic and cosmological investigations.

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