British physicist and academic
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
- ^ www.durham.ac.uk/staff/p-m-chadwick/
- ^ a b c d e 'Paula Chadwick - Gamma Rays' in Life Science Centre's Space Zone, retrieved 2022-11-23
- ^ Chadwick, Mary Paula (1987). Very high energy cosmic gamma rays from radio and x-ray pulsars. dur.ac.uk (PhD thesis). Durham University. OCLC 499864144. EThOS uk.bl.ethos.378488.
- ^ "Fellow Detail Page". royalsociety.org. Retrieved 2022-11-23.
- ^ "Centre for Advanced Instrumentation : Group Members - Durham University". dur.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-11-23.
- ^ Chadwick, Paula (2021). "35 Years of Ground-Based Gamma-ray Astronomy". Universe. 7 (11): 432. Bibcode:2021Univ....7..432C. doi:10.3390/universe7110432. ISSN 2218-1997.
- ^ Cowen, Ron (December 11, 2004). "Gamma view of a big blast". Science News; Washington. Vol. 166, no. 24. p. 282 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Lawrence Bragg Medal and Prize recipients".
