Research
Members of the ARC are engaged in a wide variety of scientific and engineering research. Science programs including searching for exoplanets, studying the environments for star formation, calculating the evolutionary stages of stellar and galaxy evolution, modelling nuclear processes in stars and in the formation of galaxies, and participating in team science related to astronomical instrumentation and future observational facilities.
Engineering programs range from new adaptive optics technologies, phased array feeds for higher sensitivities at long wavelengths, and exquisite wide field imaging and spectroscopic instrumentation.
ARC members are also leaders in the operations and development of the next-generation astronomical facilities, such as the Thirty Meter Telescope to be built on Maunakea, the developments at the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimeter Array in Chile, and instruments on the James Webb Space Telescope to be launched in 2018.
Cosmology
Cosmology research includes studying the formation of galaxies, and the growth of structures from the early universe to the structures we observe today. We can tackle these large-scale questions observationally and by using both theoretical and computational modelling.
Planetary systems
The field of planetary systems includes the study of planets around other stars and in our own solar system. It also includes studies on disks around other stars as the birth place of planets.
Stellar astrophysics
Stellar astrophysics includes star formation and nuclear astrophysics. ARC researchers both model stellar interiors and observe stellar spectra.
Star Formation
The formation of stars occurs within molecular clouds within which denser substructures themselves form. The star formation group works with observational data and compares these with numerical simulations and analytic models.
Galaxy evolution
Galaxies, both nearby and in the distant universe, are a fascinating research topic. ARC researchers use large surveys to study galaxy interactions, gas content and morphology.
ARCNet
High performance computing techniques such as machine learning, neural networks and deep learning methods are poised to revolutionize the way we do astronomy in this era of massive data sets. ARCNet is an umbrella that encompasses three collaborations (GalNet, PlaNet and StarNet) that are applying cutting-edge data science techniques to large astronomical data sets.
Astronomical Instruments
ARC researchers develop the cutting edge technology needed for the next generation of telescopes.
Facility Projects
Facility projects include ground-based, space-based and physics projects. ARC researchers develop the cutting edge technology needed for the next generation of telescopes.