PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Chi-kwan Chan

Also known as CK Chan

Chi-kwan “CK” Chan is an astrophysicist whose recent research brings AI into black-hole simulations. He posted a numerical preprint on viscous accretion disks in 2008 and built computing systems for the Event Horizon Telescope in 2019. He led modeling work on Sagittarius A* and used Codex to develop methods for black-hole simulations. As of October 2026, he is an associate astronomer and research professor at the University of Arizona’s Steward Observatory and Department of Astronomy.

Works
129
Citations
19,416
h-index
38
Badges

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 19 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. 2008

    Simulating accretion disks

    In 2008, he posts a numerical preprint that uses a pseudo-spectral algorithm to study oscillations in the inner regions of viscous accretion disks.

  2. 2019

    Building EHT data systems

    In 2019, he architects cloud-computing infrastructure for the Event Horizon Telescope and co-develops one of its main data-processing pipelines.

  3. 2020–2022

    EHT Science Council

    From 2020 to 2022, he serves as secretary of the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration Science Council.

  4. 2022

    Modeling Sagittarius A*

    In 2022, he leads the EHT’s theoretical modeling and interpretation efforts for Sagittarius A*.

  5. June 2026

    AI methods with Codex

    In June 2026, astrophysicist Chi-kwan Chan and his collaborators use Codex to generate, test, and refine numerical methods for black-hole simulations.

  6. As of October 2026

    Associate astronomer at Steward

    As of October 2026, he is an associate astronomer and research professor at Steward Observatory and the Department of Astronomy, University of Arizona.

Career

  1. Since 2006University of ArizonaAssociate Astronomer
  2. 2022–2024Princeton University
  3. 2020–2022Event Horizon Telescope CollaborationSecretary
  4. 2007–2009Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian

From the biography and OpenAlex affiliations (the years of papers that list the organization), so some years are approximate.

Most-cited works

  1. First M87 Event Horizon Telescope Results. I. The Shadow of the Supermassive Black Hole2019 · The Astrophysical Journal Letters · 4,192 citationsWith Katie Bouman and William T. Freeman
  2. First Sagittarius A* Event Horizon Telescope Results. I. The Shadow of the Supermassive Black Hole in the Center of the Milky Way2022 · The Astrophysical Journal Letters · 1,856 citationsWith Katie Bouman and William T. Freeman
  3. First M87 Event Horizon Telescope Results. VI. The Shadow and Mass of the Central Black Hole2019 · The Astrophysical Journal Letters · 1,628 citationsWith Katie Bouman
  4. First M87 Event Horizon Telescope Results. IV. Imaging the Central Supermassive Black Hole2019 · The Astrophysical Journal Letters · 1,497 citationsWith Katie Bouman and William T. Freeman
  5. First M87 Event Horizon Telescope Results. V. Physical Origin of the Asymmetric Ring2019 · The Astrophysical Journal Letters · 1,426 citationsWith Katie Bouman

From OpenAlex, as of 19 October 2026.

  1. More people shaping AI studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at any other institutionIncludes University of Arizona. Our estimates of where the people shaping AI studied and where their careers led, from education records in cited biographies.
  2. The company share of AI researchers’ top papers rose from 2% to 32%Includes University of Arizona. We estimate where leading AI researchers worked when their most-cited papers appeared. The company share rose from 2% in 1975–1979 to 32% in 2020–2024.
  3. Stanford University trained or employed 20 of the 89 AI major-prize winners, more than any other universityIncludes Princeton University. Stanford University trained or employed 20 of the 89 AI major-prize winners, more than any other university. We compare doctorate and employment links for major-prize and best-paper winners.
  4. 44% of AI career moves go from one university to anotherIncludes Princeton University. We estimate how 14,272 AI career moves link universities, companies, labs and government research centers, with net flows and the most common paths.

Colleagues

People with dated positions at the same organization in the same years.

Sources and credits

Photo: We have no published photo of Chi-kwan Chan yet. Send us a free-licensed photo.

  1. Oscillations of the Inner Regions of Viscous Accretion Disks arxiv.org. Checked 19 October 2026.
  2. CyVerse Community Member and Astrophysicist Helps Lead Event Horizon Telescope Data Processing cyverse.org. Checked 19 October 2026.
  3. Chi-Kwan “CK” Chan | Steward Observatory astro.arizona.edu. Checked 19 October 2026.
  4. Making sense of the nonsensical: Black holes and the simulation library news.arizona.edu. Checked 19 October 2026.
  5. University of Arizona Astrophysicist Chi-kwan Chan Uses AI to Advance Black Hole Simulation Research astro.arizona.edu. Checked 19 October 2026.