معرفی
Melville P. Ulmer is a Full Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Northwestern University, serving as Director of the Astrophysics Program since 1983. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in 1970 and has been a prominent figure in both observational astrophysics and advanced instrumentation. His research focuses on galaxy clusters, tidal disruption events, exoplanet imaging, and the development of magnetic smart materials for deployable space optics. He co-investigated the OSSE experiment aboard the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (1991–2000) and pioneered projects like ALLEGRO for gamma-ray burst studies.
Ulmer has authored over 400 publications, including seminal work on AGN variability, cluster dynamics, and synchrotron-based X-ray optics. His technical innovations span deformable mirrors for X-ray telescopes and GaN-based UV detectors. He holds Fellowships from the American Physical Society and SPIE, and has advised NASA panels for decades. Current projects include APERTURE, a NIAC-funded concept for large-scale deployable telescopes using shape-memory alloys. His lab collaborations emphasize interdisciplinary approaches to space instrumentation and astrophysical phenomena.
