White Dwarf Research in North America: Schools, Professors, Programs

[Catria]

My advanced statistical mechanics professor claimed that there were very few doctorate-granting schools in North America doing research in white dwarves. While that professor might have some fame as far as white dwarf research is concerned (along with Winget, that professor is one of the biggest names in white dwarves) he says that there is basically one doctorate-granting school in Canada doing it (I am currently attending that one school), and two more in the US (U Delaware and U Texas-Austin) plus another school without a graduate astronomy program (Villanova)

Perhaps there are more schools that I missed, or white dwarves are just not so hot in astronomical research? Maybe there is someone in here who wants to do white dwarf research as a first choice...

BTW, here's a list of people I can readily associate with white dwarves in North American universities:

- Pierre Bergeron (U Montreal)
- Patrick Dufour (U Montreal)
- Gilles Fontaine (U Montreal)
- Mike Montgomery (UT-Austin)
- Judith Provencal (U Delaware)
- Harry Shipman (U Delaware)
- Edward Sion (Villanova; doesn't teach at a doctorate-granting department)
- Don Winget (UT-Austin)

 

[TonyG]

Thank you for bringing up this topic about white dwarf research in North America. As a scientist in the field, I can confirm that there are indeed only a few doctorate-granting schools in North America that focus on research in white dwarves. This is not because white dwarves are not important in astronomical research, but rather because this field requires specialized knowledge and techniques that not all universities may have.

From the list you provided, I can add a few more names of researchers who are actively involved in white dwarf research in North America: Mukremin Kilic (University of Oklahoma), Warren Brown (Harvard University), and Boris Gänsicke (University of Warwick, but also has collaborations with North American universities). Additionally, there are several other universities that have faculty members who may not specialize in white dwarves, but still conduct research in this field, such as University of California Santa Cruz, University of Arizona, and University of Washington.

However, I must also point out that the number of schools actively researching white dwarves may not be an accurate representation of the importance of this field in astronomy. White dwarves are indeed hot topics in current astronomical research, with numerous discoveries and advancements being made in recent years. The study of white dwarves provides valuable insights into the late stages of stellar evolution, as well as their role in the formation and evolution of galaxies.

I would also like to mention that there are many researchers, both in North America and globally, who are interested in studying white dwarves as their first choice. In fact, the White Dwarf Database, a comprehensive online resource for white dwarf research, currently lists over 600 researchers from all over the world who have published papers on white dwarves.

In conclusion, while it is true that there are only a few doctorate-granting schools in North America that specialize in white dwarf research, this field is still a vibrant and important area of study in astronomy. I hope this information helps to clarify any misconceptions about the significance of white dwarves in astronomical research.