Liliya L.R. Williams

Most of my work has to do with dark matter: measuring the amount,
and spatial distribution of dark matter on a wide range of
astrophysical scales, from sub-galactic to super-cluster.
I am also working on the dynamics of dark matter halos in galaxies and clusters, and the mechanism of collisionless relaxation.

Most of my work has to do with dark matter: measuring the amount,
and, more importantly, its spatial distribution on a wide range of
astrophysical scales, from sub-galactic to super-cluster.
Detailed knowledge of dark matter distribution will enable astronomers
and physicists to place constraints on the physical properties of
dark matter particles. Since dark matter is invisible, mapping out
its distribution must rely on indirect methods. While a few mass
reconstruction methods exist, gravitational lensing is the optimal
one, as it does not rely on any assumptions about the physical
state of the dark matter. Another interesting aspect of dark matter
is the study of its dynamics in galaxies and clusters. In the last
decade we have learned much about the properties of dark matter halos
from numerical computer simulations, however, understanding the
physics behind these results is still an open issue. This is the
other major direction of my research.