Megan Kathleen Pickett

Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy
Physics Program Coordinator

Education

Ph.D. Astronomy, Indiana University, 1995

M.A. Astronomy, Indiana University, 1993

B.A. Physics, Cornell University, 1988

Contact Information

Department of Chemistry and Physics
Purdue University Calumet
2200 169th Street
Hammond, IN 46323-2094

Office:	Gyte 271
Phone:	219-989-2283
Fax:	219-989-2130
Email:	pickett@calumet.purdue.edu

Research Interests

Origins of Solar Systems

Star and Planet Formation

Rapidly Rotating Astrophysical Objects

Computational Astrophysics

Teaching Interests/Specialties

General Astronomy

Astrophysics

Numerical and Mathematical Methods in Physics

Electricity and Magnetism

Concept-based learning

Peer Instruction

Selected Publications

"The thermal regulation of gravitational instabilities in protoplanetary disks" Pickett, Durisen, Mejia, Cassen, Berry, and Link, Astrophysical Journal, 590, 1060-1080, 2003

"The nonlinear evolution of massive stellar core collapses that 'fizzle'" Imamura, Pickett, and Durisen, Astrophysical Journal, 587, 341-355, 2003

"A two-step initial mass function: Consequences of clustered star formation for binary properties" Sterzik, Durisen, Pickett, Astronomy and Astrophysics, 371, 952-962, 2001

"The Effects of Thermal Energetics on Three-dimensional Hydrodynamic Instabilities in Massive Protostellar Disks. II. High-Resolution and Adiabatic Evolutions" Pickett, Cassen, Durisen, and Link, Astrophysical Journal, 529, 1034-1053, 2000

"The Dynamic Stability of Rotating Protostars and Protostellar Disks. I. The Effects of the Angular Momentum Distribution" Pickett, Durisen, Davis, Astrophysical Journal, 458, 714-738, 1996

Personal Webpage