Eugene Chiang
Associate Professor of Astronomy
Associate Professor of Earth and Planetary Science
PhD 2000 (California Institute of Technology)
Campus address and phone:
601 Campbell Hall
(510) 642-2131
Email:
Website:
http://astro.berkeley.edu/~echiang/
Specialty areas:
Astronomy, Theoretical Astrophysics, Dynamics, Planetary Systems,
Protoplanetary and Debris Disks, Kuiper Belt, Order-of-Magnitude Physics
Research projects:
Theoretical astrophysics, with an emphasis on understanding the origin of planetary systems. Current research areas include the dynamical evolution of protoplanetary and post-planet-formation circumstellar disks, including the Kuiper belt; photoionized winds from extrasolar giant planets; and the dynamical equilibria of stars orbiting supermassive black holes in galactic nuclei. He is interested in solving clean problems for which excellent data exist but no convincing theoretical explanation has been offered. Student collaborators are trained in the art of order-of-magnitude estimation and in developing scientific judgment, in addition to the usual analytic and numerical work.
Biography:
Eugene Chiang has a lifelong interest in astrophysics, physics, and the humanities, especially the dramatic arts. The most challenging but most rewarding class he teaches is order-of-magnitude physics, in which the class tries to estimate any quantity under the sun to within a factor of 10.