Jonathan Thornburg

I'm a theoretical/computational astrophysicist with research interests focusing on numerical simulations in general relativity. I've worked in various research groups.

Since 2007 my research has mainly concerned on the simulation of radiation-reaction effects in extreme-mass-ratio inspirals (EMRIs). EMRIs are systems where a neutron star or stellar-mass black hole (perhaps 10 solar masses) orbits a supermassive black hole (perhaps 10^6 solar masses). EMRIs should be strong gravitational-wave sources for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), being developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) for a planned launch in 2035.

The theoretical study of EMRIs is often called the Capra research program.

Publications

General Relativity and Astrophysics

I am also involved in some of my wife's research in biological anthropology and human reproductive ecology