معرفی
Elliott Horch serves as Chairperson and CSU Professor of Physics at Southern Connecticut State University, where he leads research in stellar astrophysics, binary stars, exoplanets, and high-resolution imaging techniques. With expertise in astronomical instrumentation, particularly speckle interferometry, he has established SCSU as a significant center for observational astronomy despite its urban setting.
Dr. Horch earned his BA with Honors from the College of the University of Chicago in 1987, followed by a Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Stanford University in 1994. His academic journey included postdoctoral positions at Yale University and the Rochester Institute of Technology before faculty appointments at RIT (1999-2002) and UMass Dartmouth (2002-2007). He joined Southern Connecticut State University in 2007, where he has since built a nationally recognized research program.
His research focuses on stellar multiplicity, exoplanet host star characterization, and high-resolution imaging techniques. Horch has pioneered the use of speckle interferometry for studying binary stars and exoplanet systems, developing instruments like the Differential Speckle Survey Instrument (DSSI) and the Southern Connecticut Stellar Interferometer (SCSI). His work has significantly advanced our understanding of stellar companions to exoplanet host stars and contributed to major discoveries including the highest resolution ground-based image of the Pluto-Charon system.
Recent publications reveal a strong focus on M-dwarf multiplicity through the POKEMON survey, TESS mission follow-up observations, and next-generation instrumentation development. His team's work with the Integral Field Unit Speckle Imager (IFUSI) and distributed fiber systems represents cutting-edge advances in astronomical imaging technology.
- Connecticut State University System Research Prize (2011)
- SCSU Faculty Scholar of the Year (2012)
- SCSU's first Senior Research Fellowship (2016)
As principal investigator on active NSF grants, Horch provides substantial support for undergraduate and graduate student research at SCSU. His work with the Differential Speckle Survey Instrument has enabled numerous students to participate in cutting-edge astronomical research, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and present at national conferences. His instrumentation development projects have created unique opportunities for physics students to gain hands-on experience with advanced optical systems.
Dr. Horch leads the SCSU astronomy instrumentation laboratory, where his team develops the Differential Speckle Survey Instrument (DSSI), Southern Connecticut Stellar Interferometer (SCSI), and related technologies. The group collaborates extensively with major observatories including Gemini, WIYN, and the Discovery Channel Telescope, and maintains strong connections with the RECONS consortium studying nearby stars.
