Dorland, William
Biography
Bill Dorland graduated with a B.S. in physics (special and highest honors) from the University of Texas in 1988, and received his Ph.D. in Astrophysical Sciences from Princeton University in 1993. He also earned a Master’s degree in Public Affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University in 1993, after completing a course of study focused on international science policy. He won the 2009 E. O. Lawrence Medal of the Department of Energy for his work on the theory and simulations of turbulence in nuclear fusion reactors. He is a UMD Distinguished Scholar-Teacher, and served as Director of the Honors College for seven years. He works in plasma theory and computational physics.
Research
Research:
- Astrophysical Turbulence
- Computational Physics
- Simulations of Collisionless Plasma Turbulence
Notable Publications:
- G.G.Howes, W. Dorland, S. C. Cowley, G. W. Hammett, E. Quataert, A. A. Schekochihin, T. Tatsuno, "Kinetic simulations of magnetized turbulence in astrophysical plasmas",Phys. Rev. Letters 100, 065004 (2008).
- I. G. Abel, M. Barnes, S. C. Cowley, W. Dorland and A. A. Schekochihin, "Linearized model Fokker-Planck collision operators for gyrokinetic simulations. I. Theory", Phys. Plasmas, 15, 122509, (2008).
- M. Barnes, I. G. Abel, W. Dorland, D. R. Ernst, G. W. Hammett, P. Ricci, B. N. Rogers, A. A. Schekochihin, T. Tatsuno, "Linearized model Fokker-Planck collision operators for gyrokinetic simulations. II. Numerical Implementation and Tests", Phys. Plasmas, 16, 072107, (2009).
- A. A. Schekochihin, S. C. Cowley, W. Dorland, G. W. Hammett, G. G. Howes, E. Quataert, T. Tatsuno, "Astrophysical gyrokinetics: Kinetic and fluid turbulent cascades in magnetized weakly collisional plasmas", Ap. J. Supp., 182, 310, (2009).
- W. Dorland, F. Jenko, M. Kotschenreuther, B. N. Rogers, "Electron Temperature Gradient Turbulence", Phys. Rev. Lett., 85, 5579, (4 pages) (2000).
Centers & Institutes: Institute for Research in Electronics & Applied Physics
Dragt, Alex
Drake, James
Biography
James Drake's research focus is on the theory and modeling of plasmas with applications to laboratory, space and astrophysical systems. He has made important contributions to the understanding of laser-plasma interactions, plasma turbulence and magnetic reconnection. On the topic of magnetic reconnection he and his students and colleagues have made key discoveries on the mechanisms that control the rate of reconnection, its explosive onset and the production of energetic particles. Collaborations with scientists with access to laboratory and satellite data have tested his models against reality. He is a UMD Distinguished University Professor.
Research
Research Area:
Research Projects:
- magnetic reconnection and associated particle acceleration
- magnetospheric multiscale mission (MMS)
- solar probe plus mission (SPP)
- the FLARE reconnection experiment
Centers & Institutes: Institute for Physical Science & Technology; Institute for Research in Electronics & Applied Physics; Joint Space-Science Institute
News
- New Study Identifies Mechanism Driving the Sun’s Fast Wind
- New Research Reveals How Energy Dissipates Outside Earth’s Magnetic Field
- Switchbacks Science: Explaining Parker Solar Probe’s Magnetic Puzzle
- Drake Paper Featured in Astrophysical Journal Letters
- Professors Drake, Gates named Distinguished University Professors
- James Drake Elected a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union
- James Drake Receives 2010 James Clerk Maxwell Prize
- James Drake Awarded SPD Popular Writing Award
Einstein, Theodore L
Biography
Ted Einstein received his B.S. in 1969 from Harvard University and his Ph.D. in 1973 from the University of Pennsylvania. He is an internationally recognized physicist addressing exciting questions in the field of theoretical condensed matter physics, especially in the area of surface physics. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, a Fellow of the American Vacuum Society and a recipient of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Distinguished Senior U.S. Scientist Award.
Research
Research Area:
Research Projects:
- Physics of surfaces, complex interfaces, and nanostructures on surfaces
- Properties of vicinal surfaces
- Statistical mechanics of lower dimensions
- Indirect electronic interactions and their consequences
Centers & Institutes: Condensed Matter Theory Center; Maryland NanoCenter
