Saul A. Rappaport PhD ’68

Professor of Physics, Emeritus (1969-2010)
Interests centered on theoretical studies of the formation, evolution, and population synthesis of binary systems containing collapsed stars.
Research Areas
Astrophysics Observation, Instrumentation, and Experiment
(617) 253-7551
Office: Ronald McNair Building, 37-647
Affiliated Center(s): MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research

Research Interests

  • compact objects in binaries
  • multiple-star systems
  • exoplanets
  • disintegrating
  • ultra-short period
  • asteroids
  • exocomets

Biographical Sketch

Professor Rappaport joined the MIT Department of Physics as an Assistant Professor in 1969 and became a full Professor in 1981. From 1993-95, he was Head of the Astrophysics Division.  He retired in 2010.

He received his AB from Temple University (1963) and his PhD from MIT in 1968.

Awards & Honors

  • 1974 // Sloan Research Fellowship

Key Publications