Alar Toomre

Astronomer and Mathematician Class of November 1984
location icon Location
Cambridge, Massachusetts
age iconAge
47 at time of award

About Alar's Work

Alar Toomre combines insights in applied mathematics with research in astronomy, particularly on the dynamics of galaxies.

He is best known for his explanations and computer simulations of the bridges, tails, and occasional ring-like shapes of interacting galaxies and of mergers giving rise to elliptical galaxies.  His dynamical studies have enhanced our understanding of the basic causes of spiral structures.  Toomre was also among the first astronomers to suggest that debris stirred up from galaxy interactions could provide fuel for black holes.

Biography

Toomre is a professor in the Department of Mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  He joined the MIT faculty in 1963 as an assistant professor, was promoted to associate professor in 1965, and became a professor in 1970.  His numerous articles have appeared in such publications as the Astrophysical Journal, the Journal of Geophysical Research, and the Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics.

Toomre emigrated to the United States in 1949.  He received a B.S. (1957) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. (1960) from the University of Manchester, England.

Last updated January 1, 2005.

Published on November 1, 1984

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