Dr. James Higdon
Professor of Physics and Astronomy
Office: Math-Physics, Room 2010
Phone: (912) 478-0130
E-mail: jhigdon@GeorgiaSouthern.edu
Education
B.A. Astronomy, University of Texas at Austin
B.S. Physics, University of Texas at Austin
M.A. Physics, University of Texas at Austin
Ph.D. Astronomy, University of Texas at Austin
Courses
- Physics 2211: Principles of Physics I
- Astronomy 1000: Introduction to the Universe
- Astronomy 1010: Astronomy of the Solar System
- Astronomy 4330: Observational Astronomy
Research
I use optical, infrared, and radio telescopes to study the multi-phase interstellar medium in galaxies both in the relatively local and very distant universe. For example, I have used radio telescopes like the Very Large Array in New Mexico to study the distribution and motions of neutral hydrogen gas (“HI”) in colliding galaxies and (hopefully) shed light on the processes triggering and suppressing star formation. I also use observations in the near-infrared part of the spectrum (1-2 microns wavelengths) to search for young galaxy clusters at epochs when the universe was only ~20% of its current age, a very important epoch. Most recently I have used the Green Bank Telescope to detect cold molecular gas in extremely powerful (yet exceedingly faint optically) galaxies at an epoch when our own Milky Way galaxy likely formed.
Publications:
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Last updated: 2/6/2024