Theoretical Astrophysics and Cosmology
Theoretical Astrophysics and Cosmology
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1993)
Postdoctoral Fellow in Theoretical Astrophysics, Caltech (1993)
Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy, U Penn (1996)
Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy, U Penn (2001)
Moved to Department of Astronomy
U.C. Berkeley (2002)
Office: 601 Campbell Hall
Phone: (510)642-4850
Fax: (510)642-3411
Email: cpma AT astro.berkeley.edu
Understanding the formation and evolution of galaxies and large scale structure in the Universe has been the central theme of Ma's research. With the aid of large supercomputers, she and her collaborators have performed numerical simulations of the evolution of galaxies and dark matter in various cosmological models of structure formation from the Early Universe until the present day. By comparing the simulation results with astronomical observations, constraints can be obtained on the nature of dark matter, the equation state of the dark energy, and the values of cosmological parameters such as the density and expansion rate of the Universe. Another part of her research effort has been on the computation of the temperature variations imprinted on the cosmic microwave background radiation which provides a snapshot of the infant Universe. Other interests include theoretical particle physics and classical violin performance.
1999 interview in ``Penn Arts and Sciences''
2001 interview in ``Penn Arts and Sciences''
Honors and Awards
Selected Publications
October 2004