Benjamin Chandran

PROFESSOR
Phone: (603) 862-2255
Office: Physics, Morse Hall Rm 242, Durham, NH 03824
Benjamin D. G. 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.

Education

  • Ph.D., Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University
  • M.A., Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University
  • B.A., Physics, Yale University
  • B.A., History, Yale University

Courses Taught

  • PHYS 407: General Physics I
  • PHYS 407J: General Physics Review I
  • PHYS 408: General Physics II Recitation
  • PHYS 702: Quantum Mechanics II
  • PHYS 944: Quantum Mechanics II
  • PHYS 999: Doctoral Research

Selected Publications

Bowen, T. A., Chandran, B. D. G., Squire, J., Bale, S. D., Duan, D., Klein, K. G., . . . Woodham, L. D. (2022). In Situ Signature of Cyclotron Resonant Heating in the Solar Wind.. Phys Rev Lett, 129(16), 165101. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.129.165101

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

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