Paula Chadwick

FRAS FInstP
Born
Mary Paula Chadwick
Alma materQueen Mary University of London
Durham University
Scientific career
InstitutionsDurham University
ThesisVery high energy cosmic gamma rays from radio and x-ray pulsars (1987)
Websitewww.durham.ac.uk/staff/p-m-chadwick/

Mary Paula Chadwick FRAS FInstP is a British physicist who is professor and head of the Department of Physics at Durham University. Her research investigates gamma-ray astronomy and astroparticle physics. She is involved with the Cherenkov Telescope Array.[1]

Early life and education

Chadwick became interested in astronomy as a child. She believes the Apollo 11 moon landing may have triggered her passion.[2] Chadwick was an undergraduate student at Queen Mary University of London.[2] She moved to Durham University for her doctoral research, where she studied high energy cosmic gamma rays from pulsars.[3]

Research and career

Chadwick leads gamma-ray astronomy at Durham University.[4][5] She is particularly interested in supernova explosions and black holes which produce high-speed jets.[2] When gamma rays (the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation) hit the atmosphere, they produce a cascade of high energy matter that travels faster than the speed of light in air.[2] This produces a brief flash of high energy light (Cherenkov radiation), which Chadwick tries to detect with large telescopes.[2][6][7]

In 2015, Chadwick was awarded the Lawrence Bragg Medal and Prize for her efforts to engage undergraduates with industry.[8]

Selected publications

  • A Abramowski; F Acero; F Aharonian; et al. (22 January 2013). "Search for photon-linelike signatures from dark matter annihilations with H.E.S.S.". Physical Review Letters. 110 (4): 041301. arXiv:1301.1173. doi:10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.110.041301. ISSN 0031-9007. PMID 25166149. Wikidata Q51274745.
  • F. Aharonian; A. G. Akhperjanian; A. R. Bazer-Bachi; et al. (12 September 2006). "Observations of the Crab nebula with HESS". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 457 (3): 899–915. arXiv:astro-ph/0607333. Bibcode:2006A&A...457..899A. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20065351. ISSN 0004-6361. Wikidata Q53161742.
  • M. Actis; G. Agnetta; F. Aharonian; et al. (23 November 2011). "Design concepts for the Cherenkov Telescope Array CTA: an advanced facility for ground-based high-energy gamma-ray astronomy". Experimental Astronomy. 32 (3): 193–316. arXiv:1008.3703. Bibcode:2011ExA....32..193A. doi:10.1007/S10686-011-9247-0. ISSN 0922-6435. Wikidata Q56933794.

References

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