Dr Melanie Johnston-Hollitt
Senior Lecturer - Physics
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
address
Phone: 04 463 6543
Fax: 04 463 5237
Location: Room 502, Laby Building, Gate 7 Kelburn Pde, Kelburn Campus
Currently Teaching
PHYS 132 - Introductory Astronomy
Course Coordinator
Research Interests
I am interested in understanding both how the Universe behaves on the largest scales and which new tools will be required to answer outstanding questions about it. I research galaxy clusters, the largest gravitationally bound objects in the Universe, and design aspects of the next generation of radio telescopes.
My group has recently adopted a multiwavelength approach to understanding clusters and superclusters. We are using several of the world’s best radio telescopes in Australia, the US and India (ATCA, VLA and GMRT). Optical data and X-ray images from the ESA XMM-Newton satellite are used to understand how cluster mergers (the most energetic events since the Big Bang), shape the galaxies within them.
Current projects include:
- understanding the role environment plays on the generation and evolution of radio galaxies;
- multiwavelength investigations of cluster dynamics (radio, X-ray and optical)
- using head-tailed galaxies barometers to measure the largest 'weather systems' in the Universe
- scientific and technical requirements for the next generation of radio telescopes.
Students have the opportunity to work with our collaborators in Germany, the US and Australia.
Visit the Astronomy and Astrophysics research group web pages.