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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/ Edit this at Wikidata

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

References

  1. ^ www.durham.ac.uk/staff/p-m-chadwick/ Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ a b c d e 'Paula Chadwick - Gamma Rays' in Life Science Centre's Space Zone, retrieved 2022-11-23
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "Fellow Detail Page". royalsociety.org. Retrieved 2022-11-23.
  5. ^ "Centre for Advanced Instrumentation : Group Members - Durham University". dur.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-11-23.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Cowen, Ron (December 11, 2004). "Gamma view of a big blast". Science News; Washington. Vol. 166, no. 24. p. 282 – via ProQuest.
  8. ^ "Lawrence Bragg Medal and Prize recipients".
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