Brian D. Metzger

Brian D. Metzger is an American theoretical astrophysicist and professor of physics at Columbia University.[1] His research focuses on high-energy astrophysics, compact-object mergers, gravitational-wave sources, and electromagnetic transients.[2] Metzger is known for theoretical work on kilonovae and electromagnetic counterparts of neutron-star mergers.[3]

Education and career

Metzger received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Iowa.[4] He completed his Ph.D. at the University of California, Berkeley in 2009, for which he received the Mary Elizabeth Uhl Prize for outstanding scholarly achievement in graduate studies.[1][5] He was a NASA Einstein Fellow at Princeton University before joining the Columbia University Department of Physics in 2013.[6][1] He is a professor in Columbia's Department of Physics and a member of the Theoretical High Energy Astrophysics group.[1][7]

Research

Metzger's research concerns theoretical astrophysics, gravitational-wave astrophysics, multi-messenger astronomy, fast radio bursts, novae, compact-object mergers, and related high-energy transients.[2] His work has included theoretical predictions for electromagnetic counterparts of binary neutron-star mergers.[3]

In 2010, Metzger and collaborators published a model for optical transients from compact-object mergers powered by radioactive decay of r-process nuclei, in which they introduced the term "kilonova".[8][9] These models provided a basis for interpreting the electromagnetic counterpart seen following LIGO's first neutron-star merger, GW170817.[10]

Awards and honors

Metzger received a Sloan Research Fellowship in 2014.[11] He was named to the inaugural class of Legacy Fellows of the American Astronomical Society.[12]

In 2019, Metzger received the New Horizons in Physics Prize from the Breakthrough Prize Foundation for "pioneering predictions of the electromagnetic signal from a neutron star merger" and for leadership in multi-messenger astronomy.[13] He shared the 2019 Bruno Rossi Prize of the High Energy Astrophysics Division of the American Astronomical Society with Daniel Kasen for their work on kilonovae.[3] In 2020, Metzger was named a Blavatnik National Awards Laureate in Physical Sciences & Engineering.[10]

Selected publications

  • Metzger, B. D.; Martínez-Pinedo, G.; Darbha, S.; Quataert, E.; Arcones, A.; Kasen, D.; Thomas, R.; Nugent, P.; Panov, I. V.; Zinner, N. T. (2010). "Electromagnetic counterparts of compact object mergers powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 406 (4): 2650-2662. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.16864.x.
  • Metzger, B. D.; Berger, E. (2012). "What is the most promising electromagnetic counterpart of a neutron star binary merger?". The Astrophysical Journal. 746 (1): 48. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/746/1/48.
  • Kasen, Daniel; Fernández, Rodrigo; Metzger, Brian D. (2015). "Kilonova light curves from the disc wind outflows of compact object mergers". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 450 (2): 1777-1786. doi:10.1093/mnras/stv721.
  • Fernández, Rodrigo; Metzger, Brian D. (2016). "Electromagnetic signatures of neutron star mergers in the advanced LIGO era". Annual Review of Nuclear and Particle Science. 66: 23-45. doi:10.1146/annurev-nucl-102115-044819.
  • Metzger, Brian D. (2020). "Kilonovae". Living Reviews in Relativity. 23 (1): 1. doi:10.1007/s41114-019-0024-0.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Brian David Metzger". Department of Physics, Columbia University. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  2. ^ a b "Brian David Metzger". Columbia University Theoretical High Energy Astrophysics Group. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  3. ^ a b c "HEAD Announces 2019 Prize Winners". High Energy Astrophysics Division, American Astronomical Society. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  4. ^ "Brian Metzger". Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  5. ^ "Mary Elizabeth Uhl Prize". Department of Astronomy, University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  6. ^ "All Einstein Fellows". Chandra X-ray Center. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  7. ^ "People". Columbia University Theoretical High Energy Astrophysics Group. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  8. ^ Metzger, B. D.; Martínez-Pinedo, G.; Darbha, S.; Quataert, E.; Arcones, A.; Kasen, D.; Thomas, R.; Nugent, P.; Panov, I. V.; Zinner, N. T. (2010). "Electromagnetic counterparts of compact object mergers powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 406 (4): 2650–2662. arXiv:1001.5029. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.16864.x.
  9. ^ Zimmer, Ben (20 October 2017). "An Ancient Stellar Collision Gives a Boost to the Word 'Kilonova'". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  10. ^ a b "Brian Metzger | Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists". blavatnikawards.org. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
  11. ^ "Alfred P. Sloan Foundation 2014 Research Fellowships" (PDF). Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  12. ^ "AAS Announces First Class of AAS Fellows". American Astronomical Society. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  13. ^ "Brian Metzger". Breakthrough Prize. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
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