Philippa Browning Explained

Philippa Browning
Birth Name:Philippa K. Browning
Workplaces:University of Manchester
University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology
Education:Millfield
Alma Mater:University of Cambridge (BA)
University of St Andrews (PhD)
Awards:Chapman Medal (2016)
Fields:Astrophysics
Solar physics
Doctoral Advisor:Eric Priest
Thesis Title:Inhomogeneous magnetic fields in the solar atmosphere
Thesis Url:http://hdl.handle.net/10023/3830

Philippa K. Browning is a Professor of Astrophysics in the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Manchester. She specialises in the mathematical modelling of fusion plasmas.

Early life and education

Browning was educated at Millfield[1] and studied the Mathematical Tripos at the University of Cambridge, graduating in 1979.[2] She completed Part III of the Mathematical Tripos in 1980.[3] She was inspired by Yuri Gagarin to work in astrophysics.[4] For her graduate studies Browning joined the University of St Andrews working with Eric Priest.[5] [6] She submitted her thesis on Inhomogeneous Magnetic Fields in the Solar Atmosphere in 1984.[7]

Research and career

After completing her PhD Browning worked as a postdoctoral researcher with Eric Priest. She studied coronal loops, finding they were a balance of magnetic tension forces, buoyancy and pressure gradients.[8] Her work covered the fundamentals of flux tubes.[9] Browning was appointed a lecturer at University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) in 1985. She joined the University of Manchester in 2004, where she works on the interactions between plasmas and magnetic fields.[10] She is particularly interested in solar flares.[11] [12] In 2009, Browning was promoted to professor at the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics.[13] She served as editor of the Journal of Geophysical Research from 2010 to 2013.[14] She contributed to the book Multi-scale Dynamical Processes in Space and Astrophysical Plasmas.[15] She continues to study coronal heating.[16] [17]

In 2013 Browning was made chair of the Institute of Physics Plasma Physics Committee and the Solar Physics Council.[18] Through the Solar Physics Council, Browning is a mentor for young solar physicists.[19] In 2014 Browning arranged two-day meeting to discuss coronal heating at the Royal Society.[20]

Browning is working on the Solar Orbiter and Parker Solar Probe. Browning has appeared at the Bluedot Festival. She discussed her work on solar flares and their interaction with the earth.[21] She has taken part in the Manchester Science Festival.[22] Browning serves on the Institute of Physics Women in Physics advisory panel.[23]

Awards and honours

Browning was awarded the Chapman Medal by the Royal Astronomical Society in 2016.[24] [25] The medal recognised her "pioneering work on energy release by magnetic relaxation in stressed coronal magnetic fields".[26] In 2017 she was awarded a Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) research grant to explore particle acceleration in twisted magnetic fields.[27] She was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Physics (FInstP).

Notes and References

  1. Browning. Philippa. Q&A Philippa Browning. Astronomy & Geophysics. 58. 1. 2017. 1.43. 1366-8781. 10.1093/astrogeo/atx029. free.
  2. Web site: MSAS Our Programme. msas.org.uk. 16 September 2018.
  3. Web site: Young Researchers. www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk. 16 September 2018.
  4. Web site: Philippa Browning: Science and Engineering . University of Manchester . 16 September 2018.
  5. Priest. E. R.. 2014. A Life of Fun Playing with Solar Magnetic Fields (Special Historical Review). Solar Physics. 289. 10. 3579–3615. 10.1007/s11207-014-0554-2. 0038-0938. 1405.3481. 2014SoPh..289.3579P. 119269151.
  6. Web site: Conference honours Professor. news.st-andrews.ac.uk. 16 September 2018.
  7. PhD. University of St Andrews. 1984. Philippa K.. Browning. Inhomogeneous magnetic fields in the solar atmosphere. . 10023/3830. 890152927.
  8. Browning. P. K.. Priest. E. R.. 1986. The shape of buoyant coronal loops in a magnetic field and the eruption of coronal transients and prominences. Solar Physics. 106. 2. 335–351. 10.1007/bf00158500. 0038-0938. 1986SoPh..106..335B. 122021661.
  9. Browning. P. K.. Priest. E. R.. 1983. Structure of twisted magnetic flux tubes. Astrophysical Journal. 266. 2. 848–865. 0004-637X. 10.1086/160833. 1983ApJ...266..848B.
  10. Web site: Philippa Browning . University of Manchester . 16 September 2018.
  11. Web site: Philippa Browning on Solar Flares . Durham University. 16 September 2018.
  12. Zharkova. V. V.. Arzner. K.. Benz. A. O.. Browning. P.. Dauphin. C.. Emslie. A. G.. Fletcher. L.. Kontar. E. P.. Mann. G.. 2011. Recent Advances in Understanding Particle Acceleration Processes in Solar Flares. Space Science Reviews. 159. 1–4. 357–420. 10.1007/s11214-011-9803-y. 0038-6308. 10.1.1.749.591. 2011SSRv..159..357Z. 1110.2359. 119206279.
  13. Web site: Prof Philippa Browning . University of Manchester. 16 September 2018.
  14. Web site: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics . agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com. 16 September 2018.
  15. Book: Multi-scale Dynamical Processes in Space and Astrophysical Plasmas. Leubner. Manfred P.. Vörös. Zoltán. 2012. Springer Science & Business Media. 9783642304415. en.
  16. De Moortel. Ineke. Browning. Philippa. 2015. Recent advances in coronal heating. 1510.00977. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences. 373. 2042. 20140269. 10.1098/rsta.2014.0269. 25897095. 4410557. 1364-503X. 2015RSPTA.37340269D.
  17. Moortel. Ineke De. Browning. Philippa. 2015. Recent advances in coronal heating. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A. 373. 2042. 20140269. 10.1098/rsta.2014.0269. 1364-503X. 25897095. 4410557. 2015RSPTA.37340269D. 1510.00977.
  18. Web site: Synergy between Solar and Tokamak Plasma Theory. University of Warwick. 16 September 2018.
  19. Web site: Mentors . uksolphys.org. UK Solar Physics. 16 September 2018.
  20. Web site: New approaches in coronal heating. Anon. 2014 . royalsociety.org. Royal Society. London. 16 September 2018.
  21. Web site: Philippa Browning. discoverthebluedot.com. Bluedot Festival. 16 September 2018.
  22. News: 8 Minutes . Manchester Science Festival. 16 September 2018.
  23. Web site: WIPG Advisory Panel. iop.org. 16 September 2018.
  24. Web site: Winners of the 2016 awards, medals and prizes – full details. Hollis. Morgan. 2016. ras.org.uk. 16 September 2018.
  25. Web site: STFC-supported scientists awarded for geophysics and astronomy work . stfc.ukri.org. Science and Technology Facilities Council. 16 September 2018.
  26. Web site: Royal Astronomical Society medals go to IOP members. 2016. Anon. iop.org. Institute of Physics. 16 September 2018.
  27. News: Grant winners – 20 April 2017. 2017. Anon. Times Higher Education. 16 September 2018.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Philippa Browning".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.