Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA) is a national research institute
funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
, located at the University of Toronto
in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. CITA's mission is "to foster interaction within the Canadian theoretical Astrophysics
community and to serve as an international center of excellence for theoretical studies in astrophysics." CITA was incorporated in 1984.
CITA has close administrative and academic relations with the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
(CIFAR); several CITA faculty also served as members of CIFAR.
) in the early 1980s. A series of committees advocated a model of a university‑based institute governed by a council of Canadian astrophysicists. Proposals were solicited from universities across the country to host this institute, which by now had been named the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics/Institut Canadien d'astrophysique theorique (CITA/ICAT). The University of Toronto
won the resulting spirited competition, and CITA (University of Toronto
) was established as an institute within the School of Graduate Studies in June 1984, with staff consisting of a single professor (Peter G. Martin ) as the Acting Director and a visiting professor from Queen's University
(Richard Henriksen) and a temporary administrative assistant. Today there are 7 faculty members two of which are Canada Research Chairs
, two administrative staff, a Systems Manager and technical computing staff.
At the same time, Professor Richard Henriksen worked on establishing CITA, Inc. (a separate entity from CITA the institute at the University of Toronto) as an incorporated national institute and charity governed by an elected Council of Canadian astrophysics/relativity professors to promote research in theoretical astrophysics across the country. CITA Council is selected from CITA Inc members. There are presently 55 members of CITA, Inc.
CITA’s research activities are supported by the University of Toronto
, NSERC
(Major Facilities Grant) and the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
.
Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics or Department of Physics work with CITA researchers throughout their graduate work, and typically five undergraduates come to CITA to work over the summer.
CITA has active connections and exchange programs with the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics
in Germany
, the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics
in the United States
, and the Academia Sinica Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics in Taiwan
.
In 1985, Scott D. Tremaine came to CITA as its first Director; Margaret Fukunaga was hired as the permanent Business Officer and Richard Bond arrived as the second faculty member. Richard Bond became the Director in 1996 and Norman Murray became the new Director in 2006.
Since 1984, the directors of the institute have been as follows:
Notable past and present faculty members of CITA also include:
(particularly in studies of the cosmic microwave background), early universe studies and cosmic inflation
, neutron stars and magnetars, active galaxies, star formation
and planet formation.
Research institute
A research institute is an establishment endowed for doing research. Research institutes may specialize in basic research or may be oriented to applied research...
funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada is a Canadian government agency that provides grants for research in the natural sciences and in engineering. Its mandate is to promote and assist research....
, located at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. CITA's mission is "to foster interaction within the Canadian theoretical Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties of celestial objects, as well as their interactions and behavior...
community and to serve as an international center of excellence for theoretical studies in astrophysics." CITA was incorporated in 1984.
CITA has close administrative and academic relations with the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research enables Canadian researchers to work on international research teams that are custom built to transform their fields of study...
(CIFAR); several CITA faculty also served as members of CIFAR.
History
The concept of a nationally-supported institute for theoretical astrophysics dates back to discussions within the Canadian Astronomical Society (CASCACanadian Astronomical Society
The Canadian Astronomical Society is a Canadian society of professional astronomers, founded in 1971 and incorporated in 1983. The society is devoted to the promotion and advancement of knowledge of the universe through research and education, and its membership is open to people with a...
) in the early 1980s. A series of committees advocated a model of a university‑based institute governed by a council of Canadian astrophysicists. Proposals were solicited from universities across the country to host this institute, which by now had been named the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics/Institut Canadien d'astrophysique theorique (CITA/ICAT). The University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
won the resulting spirited competition, and CITA (University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
) was established as an institute within the School of Graduate Studies in June 1984, with staff consisting of a single professor (Peter G. Martin ) as the Acting Director and a visiting professor from Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
(Richard Henriksen) and a temporary administrative assistant. Today there are 7 faculty members two of which are Canada Research Chairs
Canada Research Chairs
Canada Research Chairs are Canadian university research professorships created through the Canada Research Chairs Program.- Program goals :...
, two administrative staff, a Systems Manager and technical computing staff.
At the same time, Professor Richard Henriksen worked on establishing CITA, Inc. (a separate entity from CITA the institute at the University of Toronto) as an incorporated national institute and charity governed by an elected Council of Canadian astrophysics/relativity professors to promote research in theoretical astrophysics across the country. CITA Council is selected from CITA Inc members. There are presently 55 members of CITA, Inc.
CITA’s research activities are supported by the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, NSERC
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada is a Canadian government agency that provides grants for research in the natural sciences and in engineering. Its mandate is to promote and assist research....
(Major Facilities Grant) and the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research enables Canadian researchers to work on international research teams that are custom built to transform their fields of study...
.
Membership
CITA has a small number of long-term faculty members, and a larger number of short term (3- or 5-year) postdoctoral positions, as well as an active visitor program; the purpose of the relatively high influx of new researchers or visitors is to ensure that timely topics are well-represented at CITA. There are currently 30 postdoctoral researchers at CITA, and 4 full-time administrative and computer staff. Several graduate students in the University of TorontoUniversity of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics or Department of Physics work with CITA researchers throughout their graduate work, and typically five undergraduates come to CITA to work over the summer.
CITA has active connections and exchange programs with the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics
Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics
The Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics is a Max Planck Institute, located in Garching, near Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It was founded as Max Planck Institute for Physics and Astrophysics in 1958 and split up into the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics and the Max Planck Institute for Physics...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics
Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics
The Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics is a research institute of the University of California, Santa Barbara. KITP is one of the most renowned institutes for theoretical physics in the world. KITP programs bring theorists in physics and related fields together to work together on topics at...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and the Academia Sinica Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
.
In 1985, Scott D. Tremaine came to CITA as its first Director; Margaret Fukunaga was hired as the permanent Business Officer and Richard Bond arrived as the second faculty member. Richard Bond became the Director in 1996 and Norman Murray became the new Director in 2006.
Since 1984, the directors of the institute have been as follows:
| Director | Time |
|---|---|
| Scott Tremaine | 1984–1996 |
| Dick Bond | 1996–2006 |
| Norm Murray | 2006- |
Notable past and present faculty members of CITA also include:
- Peter G. Martin 1984–Present
- Scott TremaineScott TremaineScott Duncan Tremaine is a Canadian-born astrophysicist. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of London, the Royal Society of Canada and the National Academy of Sciences. Tremaine is widely regarded as one of the world's leading astrophysicists for his contributions to the theory of solar system...
1985-1997 - Dick Bond 1985–Present
- Nick Kaiser 1988-1997
- Norm Murray 1993–Present
- Lev Kofman 1998-2009
- Ue-Li Pen 1998–Present
- Chris Thompson 2000–Present
- Roman Rafikov 2005-2007
- Harald Pfeiffer 2009–Present
Research
CITA has active research programs in cosmologyCosmology
Cosmology is the discipline that deals with the nature of the Universe as a whole. Cosmologists seek to understand the origin, evolution, structure, and ultimate fate of the Universe at large, as well as the natural laws that keep it in order...
(particularly in studies of the cosmic microwave background), early universe studies and cosmic inflation
Cosmic inflation
In physical cosmology, cosmic inflation, cosmological inflation or just inflation is the theorized extremely rapid exponential expansion of the early universe by a factor of at least 1078 in volume, driven by a negative-pressure vacuum energy density. The inflationary epoch comprises the first part...
, neutron stars and magnetars, active galaxies, star formation
Star formation
Star formation is the process by which dense parts of molecular clouds collapse into a ball of plasma to form a star. As a branch of astronomy star formation includes the study of the interstellar medium and giant molecular clouds as precursors to the star formation process and the study of young...
and planet formation.