Dr. Emory (Ted) F. Bunn

Associate Professor of Physics
D-103 Gottwald Science Center
Office: (804) 287-6486
Fax: (804) 484-1542

http://www.richmond.edu/~ebunn

Blog: http://blog.richmond.edu/physicsbunn 

My work is in the field of cosmology, the study of the structure, origin, and evolution of the universe on the very largest scales. My students and I analyze and interpret measurements of the cosmic microwave background radiation, which is a relic of a time when the universe was only half a million years old (20,000 times younger than today).  Maps of this radiation allow us to test models that attempt to explain how galaxies formed, as well as theories about what the universe was like a fraction of a second after the big bang.

Our ability to test these theories depends on continuing to develop new telescopes.  I am currently working on the design of several new instruments including the Planck Surveyor satellite, scheduled for launch in 2007.

I also do some theoretical work on Einstein's theory of general relativity.  A colleague and I recently published an article (available from my web site) on "The Meaning of Einstein's Equation," which provides a novel and (we hope) more comprehensible explanation of the key equation of the theory.

Research:
Big Bang cosmology (theory and data analysis)

Education:
Ph.D., University of California - Berkeley