Physics

• Rick Watkins
• Professor; Chair
• Collins Science Center 310
• 503-370-6373
• rwatkins@willamette.edu

Rick Watkins

Education

• B.A., Cornell University (1984)
• Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara (1989)

Professional Interests

Dr. Watkins' research interests include Astrophysics, Cosmology, and Particle Physics. His current research focuses on the motions of galaxies. Basically, galaxies are pulled by gravity into regions where matter is concentrated and out of regions that are relatively empty. By studying these motions one can learn how much matter the Universe contains, how it is distributed, and how this distribution is changing in time. This information can, in turn, be used to test models of how the Universe has evolved, thus illuminating such issues as dark matter and dark energy.

Recent Publications

R. Watkins, H.A. Feldman and M.J. Hudson. (2009). Consistently Large Cosmic Flows on Scales of 100h^-1 Mpc: A Challenge for the Standard ΛCDM Cosmology. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 392, 743.

H.A. Feldman and R. Watkins. (2008). Bulk Flow and Shear Moments of the SFI++ Survey. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 387, 825.

R. Watkins and H.A. Feldman. (2007). Power Spectrum Shape from Peculiar Velocity Data. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 379, 343.

D. Sarkar, H.A. Feldman and R. Watkins. (2007). Bulk Flows from Velocity Field Surveys: A Consistency Check. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 375, 691.

H.A. Feldman, R.  Watkins, A.L. Melott and S.W. Chambers. (2003). Optimal Moments for the Analysis of Peculiar Velocity Surveys II: Testing. Astrophysical Journal. 599, 820.

R. Watkins, H.A. Feldman, S.W. Chambers, P. Gorman and A.L. Melott. (2002). Optimal Moments for the Analysis of Peculiar Velocity Surveys. Astrophysical Journal. 564, 534.