Stellar and Sub-Stellar Astrophysics
The stellar research conducted at the University of Toledo spans the entire range
of stellar masses, from the most massive hot stars to the least massive cool brown
dwarfs. Professors Bjorkman and Bjorkman study the circumstellar disks around rapidly
rotating massive stars, principally Be, B[e] and HAeBe stars. They use a combination
of observations (spectroscopy, polarimetry and interferometry) and theoretical modeling
(Monte Carlo radiative transfer and hydrodynamics simulations) to study how these
disks form, grow and evolve. Professor Cushing's current focus is on discovering and
characterizing the coolest brown dwarfs, the so-called Y dwarfs. He uses both ground-
and spaced-based observatories (NASA IRTF, HST, Spitzer) to study the chemistry, dynamics
and weather on the surfaces of these planet-like objects.
Faculty working in Stellar and Sub-Stellar Astrophysics include: Prof. Jon Bjorkman, Prof. Karen Bjorkman and Prof. Michael Cushing.