We are a theoretical astrophysics research group, focusing on studying the behavior of astrophysical plasmas in extreme conditions around neutron stars and black holes.
We are based at the University of Maryland, College Park.
About Us
Much of our research builds on applying modern numerical algorithms to understand basic phenomena in relativistic plasmas, such as relativistic magnetic reconnection and turbulence, pair production discharges, relativistic beam instabilities; as well as studying the large-scale structure of relativistic magnetospheres of black holes and neutron stars.
A recent focus of the group has been on: (i) developing models of coherent radio emission produced during pair production lightnings and relativistic magnetic reconnection occurring in magnetospheres of neutron stars, in application to rotation-powered pulsars and Fast Radio Bursts; (ii) understanding mechanisms of producing electromagnetic flares in accretion flows around supermassive black holes and magnetospheres of merging neutron stars and magnetars; (iii) exploring the role of kinetic plasma effects in shaping the dynamics and observational appearance of accreting plasmas around black holes in M87 and Milky Way; (iv) investigating electron and proton acceleration in radiative plasma turbulence occurring in the magnetized coronae of black holes.
We are a node of the NSF-funded Multi-Messenger Plasma Physics Center (MPPC, with Princeton University, Columbia University and Washington University in St Louis) and of the Simons Collaboration on Extreme Electrodynamics of Compact Sources (SCEECS), where Sasha Philippov is a deputy director.