Dr. Clayton Heller
Professor of Physics & Astronomy
Planetarium Director
Office: Statesboro, Math/Physics Bldg, Rm 2009
Phone: (912) 478-5293
Email: cheller@georgiasouthern.edu
Education
B.S. Astronomy, San Diego State
B.S. Mathematics, San Diego State
M.S. Astronomy, San Diego State
Ph.D. Astronomy, Yale University
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Kentucky
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Goettigen
Courses
Astronomy/Astrophysics Courses:
- ASTR 1000 – Introduction to the University
- ASTR 1010 – Astronomy of the Solar System
- ASTR 1020 – Stellar and Galactic Astronomy
- ASTR 4130 – Astrophysics
- ASTR 4138 – Galactic Astronomy
Research
My area of research is galactic dynamics. Through analytic and large scale computer simulations I study the formation and evolution of galaxies. In the picture to the right is a simulation of self-gravitating galaxy with disk stars (yellow), buldge stars (blue) and a dark matter halo (red) as seen from three different directions.
A closer view of the stellar disk showing a bar has formed. Looking edge on we see that gravitational instabilities has caused the bar to buckle and create a “peanut-shaped” structure in the stellar disk. Such structures are observed in real galaxies and are important drivers of their internal evolution. The development of high-performance gravitational codes for supercomputers is a central part of my research efforts.
Last updated: 2/28/2024