NEIL J. CORNISH Professor Telephone: (406) 994-7986 Fax: (406) 994-4452 cornish@physics.montana.edu

Dr. Neil J. Cornish Department of Physics Montana State University Bozeman, MT 59717-3840

New Arrival. James Henry Cornish. Born 5/22/06, 10 lb. 1 oz. (Second and Third Galleries are James' big sister Ellie, born 12/24/04) Click images to see the galleries

Physics education
B.Sc. (Hons) 1990 University of Melbourne
M.Sc. 1992 University of Melbourne
Ph.D. 1996 University of Toronto

I joined the physics department as an assistant professor in the fall of 1999. Prior to this I was a NASA research fellow at the Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University. Before moving to Princeton I was a research fellow in Stephen Hawking's group at Cambridge University in England.

My research focuses on the inteface between general relativity, astrophysics and early universe cosmology. I'm particularly interested in using cosmological observations - such as the detailed measurements of the microwave backround radiation provided by the Wilkinson Micowave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP)- to study the size and shape of the Universe, and other fundamental issues connected with quantum gravity. My main area of research is the newly emerging field of Gravitational Wave Astronomy. My group is exploring how the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) can be used to study violent astrophysical events such as the collision of two black holes through the gravitational waves they stir up. We have developed a LISA Simulator that models the operation of the detector, and allows us to study how the observatory will operate long before it is launched in 2012.

Recent Talks

`Probing Black Holes Using Gravitational Waves', Bekmann Frontiers of Science Symposium
`Laser Interferometer Space Antenna', Talk at the Center for Gravitational Wave Physics

Neil J. Cornish, David N. Spergel, Glenn D. Starkman & Eiichiro Komatsu Constraining the Topology of the Universe Physical Review Letters, May 2004, Volume 92, 201302

Neil J. Cornish & Shane L. Larson LISA Data Analysis: Source Indentification and Subtraction Physical Review D, May 2003, Volume 67, 103001

Neil J. Cornish & Shane Larson Space missions to detect the Cosmic Gravitational Wave Background Classical & Quantum Gravity, October 2001, Volume 18, Page 3473

Past and Present Research

Maggie the space telescope
Some Media Coverage
Big Bang Cosmology
Chaos, Cosmology & Black Holes

Outside Interests

Photo Album
Taking a hike
Playing Cowboy

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Last Updated: 27 May 2004