Benjamin Chandran
Professor Chandran received his Ph.D. from Princeton University in 1997. His research is in the areas of theoretical plasma physics and theoretical astrophysics, particularly problems at the interface between these two fields. His main interests are plasma turbulence, the role of turbulence in the solar corona and other astrophysical settings, and the evolution of baryonic matter in clusters of galaxies. He has also worked on cosmic-ray propagation, particle acceleration at shocks, and the origin of astrophysical magnetic fields. His research program is supported by grants from NASA, NSF, and DOE, and offers research opportunities for undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars.
Courses Taught
- 408: General Physics II Recitation
- 944: Quantum Mechanics II
- 999: Doctoral Research
- PHYS 407: General Physics I
- PHYS 407J: General Physics Review I
- PHYS 408: General Physics II
- PHYS 615: Mechanics/Mathematical Phys I
- PHYS 701: Quantum Mechanics I
- PHYS 702: Quantum Mechanics II
- PHYS 944: Quantum Mechanics II
- PHYS 999: Doctoral Research
Selected Publications
Bourouaine, S., Perez, J. C., Raouafi, N. E., Chandran, B. D. G., Bale, S. D., & Velli, M. (2022). Features of Magnetic Field Switchbacks in Relation to the Local-field Geometry of Large-amplitude Alfvenic Oscillations: Wind and PSP Observations. ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS, 932(2). doi:10.3847/2041-8213/ac67d9
van der Holst, B., Huang, J., Sachdeva, N., Kasper, J. C., Manchester, W. B., Borovikov, D., . . . MacDowall, R. J. (2022). Improving the Alfven Wave Solar Atmosphere Model Based on Parker Solar Probe Data. ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, 925(2). doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ac3d34
Verniero, J. L., Chandran, B. D. G., Larson, D. E., Paulson, K., Alterman, B. L., Badman, S., . . . Whittlesey, P. L. (2022). Strong Perpendicular Velocity-space Diffusion in Proton Beams Observed by Parker Solar Probe. ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, 924(2). doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ac36d5
Mallet, A., & Chandran, B. D. G. (2021). Exact nonlinear solutions for three-dimensional Alfven-wave packets in relativistic magnetohydrodynamics. JOURNAL OF PLASMA PHYSICS, 87(6). doi:10.1017/S0022377821000970
Bale, S. D., Horbury, T. S., Velli, M., Desai, M. I., Halekas, J. S., McManus, M. D., . . . Woolley, T. (2021). A Solar Source of Alfvenic Magnetic Field Switchbacks: In Situ Remnants of Magnetic Funnels on Supergranulation Scales. ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, 923(2). doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ac2d8c
Kasper, J. C., Bale, S. D., Belcher, J. W., Berthomier, M., Case, A. W., Chandran, B. D. G., . . . Schwadron, N. A. (2019). Alfvenic velocity spikes and rotational flows in the near-Sun solar wind. NATURE, 576(7786), 228-+. doi:10.1038/s41586-019-1813-z
Bale, S. D., Goetz, K., Harvey, P. R., Turin, P., Bonnell, J. W., Dudok de Wit, T., . . . Wygant, J. R. (2016). The FIELDS Instrument Suite for Solar Probe Plus. SPACE SCIENCE REVIEWS, 204(1-4), 49-82. doi:10.1007/s11214-016-0244-5
Kasper, J. C., Abiad, R., Austin, G., Balat-Pichelin, M., Bale, S. D., Belcher, J. W., . . . Zank, G. (2016). Solar Wind Electrons Alphas and Protons (SWEAP) Investigation: Design of the Solar Wind and Coronal Plasma Instrument Suite for Solar Probe Plus. SPACE SCIENCE REVIEWS, 204(1-4), 131-186. doi:10.1007/s11214-015-0206-3
Chandran, B. D. G., Li, B., Rogers, B. N., Quataert, E., & Germaschewski, K. (2010). PERPENDICULAR ION HEATING BY LOW-FREQUENCY ALFVEN-WAVE TURBULENCE IN THE SOLAR WIND. ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, 720(1), 503-515. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/720/1/503
Chandran, B. D. G., & Cowley, S. C. (1998). Thermal Conduction in a Tangled Magnetic Field. Physical Review Letters, 80(14), 3077-3080. doi:10.1103/physrevlett.80.3077
Most Cited Publications