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Uzdensky, Dmitri A.

Professor

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Research

research overview

  • Prof. Uzdensky leads the Theoretical Plasma Astrophysics Group at CU. His current research focuses on Extreme Plasma Astrophysics --- studying collective plasma processes in astrophysically-relevant physical regimes where relativistic, radiation, and QED effects become important. This new frontier pioneered by D. Uzdensky is important for understanding plasma phenomena around neutron stars and accreting black holes. In particular, Prof. Uzdensky studies the fundamental dynamical aspects, nonthermal particle acceleration, and radiation signatures of relativistic magnetic reconnection and turbulence, including how these fundamental collective plasma processes are affected by radiation reaction, and their applications to pulsar and magnetar magnetospheres, pulsar wind nebulae, black-hole accretion flows, coronae, and jets, and gamma-ray bursts.

keywords

  • theoretical plasma physics, space physics, solar physics, plasma astrophysics, high-energy astrophysics, magnetohydrodynamics, magnetic reconnection, turbulence, relativistic plasmas, radiation processes in plasmas

Publications

selected publications

Teaching

courses taught

  • ASTR 5150 - Introductory Plasma Physics
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2018 / Spring 2020
    Includes basic phenomena of ionized gases, static and dynamic shielding, linear waves, instabilities, particles in fields, collisional phenomena, fluid equations, collisionless Boltzman equations, Landau damping, scattering and absorption of radiation in plasmas, elementary nonlinear processes, WKB wave theory, controlled thermonuclear fusion concepts, astrophysical applications and experimental plasma physics (laboratory). Same as PHYS 5150.
  • ASTR 7160 - Intermediate Plasma Physics
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2021 / Spring 2023
    Topics vary yearly but include nonlinear effects such as wave coupling, quasilinear relaxation, particle trapping, nonlinear Landau damping, collisionless shocks, solutions; nonneutral plasmas; kinetic theory of waves in a magnetized plasma; anisotropy; inhomogeneity; radiation- ponderomotive force, parametric instabilities, stimulated scattering; plasma optics; kinetic theory and fluctuation phenomena. Recommended prerequisite: PHYS 5150. Same as PHYS 7160.
  • MATH 5030 - Intermediate Mathematical Physics 1
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2018
    Surveys classical mathematical physics, starting with complex variable theory and finite dimensional vector spaces. Discusses topics in ordinary and partial differential equations, the special functions, boundary value problems, potential theory, and Fourier analysis. Department enforced prerequisite: MATH 4001. Instructor consent required for undergraduates. Same as PHYS 5030.
  • PHYS 1110 - General Physics 1
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2019 / Fall 2023
    Three lect., one rec. per week, plus three evening exams in the fall and spring semesters. First semester of three-semester sequence for science and engineering students. Covers kinematics, dynamics, momentum of particles and rigid bodies, work and energy, gravitation, simple harmonic motion and introduction to thermodynamics. Degree credit not granted for this course and PHYS 1115.
  • PHYS 1140 - Experimental Physics 1
    Secondary Instructor - Fall 2022
    Introduces experimental physics through laboratory observation of a wide range of phenomena. Covers experiments on physical measurements, including mechanics, electricity & magnetism, and optics, with the mathematical analysis of physical errors associated with the experimental process.
  • PHYS 3210 - Classical Mechanics and Mathematical Methods 2
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2020 / Spring 2022
    Lagrangian and Hamiltonian treatment of theoretical mechanics, including coupled oscillations, waves in continuous media, central force motion, rigid body motion and fluid dynamics. The calculus of variations, linear algebra, tensor algebra, vector calculus, and partial differential equations will be introduced in the context of the mechanics.
  • PHYS 4150 - Plasma Physics
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2021
    Discusses the fundamentals of plasma physics, including particle motion in electromagnetic fields, wave propagation, collisions, diffusion, and resistivity. Presents examples from space plasmas, astrophysical plasmas, laboratory fusion plasmas, and plasmas in accelerators.
  • PHYS 5030 - Intermediate Mathematical Physics 1
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2018
    This course and its continuation, PHYS 5040, form a survey of classical mathematical physics. Studies complex variable theory and finite vector spaces, and includes topics in ordinary and partial differential equations, boundary value problems, potential theory, and Fourier analysis. Same as MATH 5030.
  • PHYS 5150 - Introductory Plasma Physics
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2018 / Spring 2020
    Includes basic phenomena of ionized gases, static and dynamic shielding, linear waves, instabilities, particles in fields, collisional phenomena, fluid equations, collisionless Boltzman equations, Landau damping, scattering and absorption of radiation in plasmas, elementary nonlinear processes, WKB wave theory, controlled thermonuclear fusion concepts, astrophysical applications and experimental plasma physics (laboratory). Department enforced prerequisite: PHYS 3310. Instructor consent required for undergraduates. Same as ASTR 5150.
  • PHYS 6950 - Master's Thesis
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2022 / Fall 2022 / Spring 2023 / Summer 2023
    Approved problem in theoretical or experimental physics under the direction of staff members. Intended to introduce the student to procedures in research and development work. Work of an original nature expected.
  • PHYS 7160 - Intermediate Plasma Physics
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2019 / Spring 2021 / Spring 2023
    Continuation of PHYS 5150. Topics vary yearly but include nonlinear effects such as wave coupling, quasilinear relaxation, particle trapping, nonlinear Landau damping, collisionless shocks, solutions; nonneutral plasmas; kinetic theory of waves in a magnetized plasma; anisotropy; inhomogeneity; radiation- ponderomotive force, parametric instabilities, stimulated scattering; plasma optics; kinetic theory and fluctuation phenomena. Recommended prerequisite: PHYS 5150. Same as ASTR 7160.
  • PHYS 7810 - Special Topics in Physics
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2024
    Various topics not normally covered in the curriculum; offered intermittently depending on student demand and availability of instructors. May be repeated up to 7 total credit hours.

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