Jeffrey Cummings

Jeffrey Cummings is an associate research scientist in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Johns Hopkins University. His research in stellar astrophysics examines the evolution of low- to intermediate-mass stars into white dwarfs, the initial-final mass relation (IFMR) connecting progenitor masses to remnant white dwarf masses, lithium abundances in open clusters, and the identification of Type Ia supernova progenitors. Cummings employs photometric and spectroscopic observations of star clusters, field stars, and Hubble Space Telescope data to constrain stellar evolution models and galactic chemical evolution processes.

Among his prominent publications, Cummings led the study 'The White Dwarf Initial–Final Mass Relation for Progenitor Stars from 0.85 to 7.5 M⊙' (2018, The Astrophysical Journal), establishing the IFMR across a wide progenitor mass range using data from open clusters like NGC 2099 and NGC 2323, and field white dwarfs. He co-authored 'Carbon star formation as seen through the non-monotonic initial–final mass relation' (Marigo et al., 2020, Nature Astronomy), revealing white dwarfs as the dominant carbon producers in the Milky Way through AGB nucleosynthesis and dredge-up processes. Other key works include 'A cooling anomaly of high-mass white dwarfs' (Cheng, Cummings, & Ménard, 2019, The Astrophysical Journal), 'Double white dwarf merger products among high-mass white dwarfs' (Cheng et al., 2020, The Astrophysical Journal), and 'When Do Stars Go Boom?' (Tremblay et al., 2022, The Astrophysical Journal Letters), probing supernova progenitors via white dwarf masses in globular clusters. Earlier contributions encompass lithium depletion studies in Hyades and Praesepe (Cummings et al., 2017, The Astronomical Journal) and the field white dwarf mass distribution (Tremblay et al., 2016, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society). Cummings has served as co-investigator on HST programs GO-15173 and GO-13727, advancing dynamical and stellar evolution links in metal-poor clusters. His research informs white dwarf cosmochronology, galactic carbon budgets, and binary evolution pathways.

Professional Email: jcummi19@jhu.edu