Stephen G. Alexander
Courses
Working with other Miami faculty, I developed and teach PHY 191 and PHY 192, General Physics with Lab 1 and 2. I also teach PHY 111, Astronomy and Space Physics, and PHY311, Contemporary Astronomy, the third course in our thematic sequence, "Your Place in the Universe."
Research
My group's research centers around computational astrophysics, where we attempt to solve astronomical problems employing computational physics. These problems have consisted of many issues associated with the formation of solar systems and the orbital and rotational evolution of planetary satellites. Recently, we adapted our codes to study self-bound gravitating systems like stellar clusters and galaxies. Here, we are simulating the motion of stars in Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies using an alternative to the dark matter paradigm, i.e. Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND).
Education
- Joined Miami in 1993
- Ph.D. Physics, Pennsylvania State University (1990)
- M.S. Aerospace Engineering, Pennsylvania State University (1979)
- B.S. Aerospace Engineering, Pennsylvania State University (1977)