Download Within the Physics Department, which is separate from Astronomy, is

Department of Physics
Within the Physics Department, which is separate from Astronomy, is an Astrophysics Group which
cooperates closely with members of the Astronomy Department in teaching and research. Areas of primary
activity include X-ray, gamma-ray and neutrino astronomy, optical studies of the interstellar and interplanetary
media, studies of stellar remnants (white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes) and theoretical work on these and
other areas of astrophysics.
The development, testing and calibration of new instruments and detectors is an integral part of these
research programs. Space research includes a very active X-ray program involving instruments on rocket flights,
the Diffuse X-ray Spectrometer shuttle mission, and ROSAT. The group is associated with the
University’s Space Science and Engineering Center where engineering, technical and administrative support is
available for space flight investigations. Ground-based observations include sophisticated Fabry-Perot instruments
for high spectral resolution studies of optical and infrared emissions from cometary plasmas, planetary
magnetospheric plasmas and interstellar gas. In addition, a fundamentally new spectroscopic technique, the
Spatial Heterodyne Spectrometer, is being developed to study important ultraviolet lines from the interstellar
medium. Finally, members of the group are involved in searches for neutrinos from cosmic accelerators such as
supernovae and active galactic nuclei or from decays of exotic particles. These searches involve development of
giant Cherenkov detectors in the South Pole ice (AMANDA) and in the ocean off Hawaii (DUMAND)
WILLIAM F. FRY, EMERITUS
PH.D., IOWA STATE 1951
Gamma-ray astronomy of compact objects.
WLODEK KLUZNIAK, PROFESSOR
PH.D., STANFORD UNIVERSITY, 1987
Theory of black holes, neutron stars, gamma ray bursts, evolution of pulsars.
WILLIAM L. KRAUSHAAR, EMERITUS
PH.D., CORNELL UNIVERSITY, 1949
X-ray astronomy, soft X-ray diffuse background.
DAN MCCAMMON,
PH.D., UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON, 1971
X-ray astronomy; galactic diffuse X-ray background; interstellar medium; supernova remnants; X-ray instrumentation.
HAKKI ÖGELMAN,
PH.D., CORNELL UNIVERSITY, 1966
X-ray astronomy; ROSAT satellite; compact binary sources, pulsars, and neutron star physics.
FREDRICK L. ROESLER
PH.D., UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON, 1962
Atomic physics and interference spectroscopy with applications in astronomy, aeronomy, and plasma physics.
WILTON T. SANDERS
PH.D., UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON, 1976
Local interstellar medium, galactic halo, diffuse X-ray background; stellar X-ray emission.
FRANK SCHERB, EMERITUS
PH.D., MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, 1958
Space plasma physics (Jupiter plasma torus, solar wind interaction with comets); Fabry-Perot observations of faint emissions
from the interstellar medium (with new CCD camera for imaging sources of emission).