Philippa Browning

Philippa Browning
FInstP
Born
Philippa K. Browning
EducationMillfield[2]
Alma materUniversity of Cambridge (BA)
University of St Andrews (PhD)
AwardsChapman Medal (2016)
Scientific career
FieldsAstrophysics
Solar physics
InstitutionsUniversity of Manchester
University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology
ThesisInhomogeneous magnetic fields in the solar atmosphere
Doctoral advisorEric Priest[1]
Websitewww.jodrellbank.manchester.ac.uk/people/staff-spotlights/philippa-browning

Philippa K. Browning FInstP is a Professor of Astrophysics in the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Manchester.[3] She specialises in the mathematical modelling of fusion and solar plasmas.[4]

Early life and education

Browning was educated at Millfield[2] and studied the Mathematical Tripos at the University of Cambridge, graduating in 1979.[5] She completed Part III of the Mathematical Tripos in 1980.[6] She was inspired by Yuri Gagarin to work in astrophysics.[7][8] For her graduate studies Browning joined the University of St Andrews working with Eric Priest.[9][10] She submitted her thesis on Inhomogeneous Magnetic Fields in the Solar Atmosphere in 1984.[1]

Research and career

After completing her PhD Browning worked as a postdoctoral researcher with Eric Priest.[9] She studied coronal loops, finding they were a balance of magnetic tension forces, buoyancy and pressure gradients.[11] Her work covered the fundamentals of flux tubes.[12] Browning was appointed a lecturer at University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) in 1985.[citation needed] She joined the University of Manchester in 2004, where she works on the interactions between plasmas and magnetic fields.[3] She is particularly interested in solar flares.[13][14][15] In 2009, Browning was promoted to professor at the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics.[4] She served as editor of the Journal of Geophysical Research from 2010 to 2013.[16] She contributed to the book Multi-scale Dynamical Processes in Space and Astrophysical Plasmas.[17] She continues to study coronal heating.[18][19]

In 2013 Browning was made chair of the Institute of Physics Plasma Physics Committee and the Solar Physics Council.[20] Through the Solar Physics Council, Browning is a mentor for young solar physicists.[21] In 2014 Browning arranged two-day meeting to discuss coronal heating at the Royal Society.[22]

As of 2018 Browning is working on the Solar Orbiter and Parker Solar Probe.[7] Browning has appeared at the Bluedot Festival. She discussed her work on solar flares and their interaction with the earth.[23] She has taken part in the Manchester Science Festival.[24] Browning serves on the Institute of Physics Women in Physics advisory panel.[25]

Awards and honours

Browning was awarded the Chapman Medal by the Royal Astronomical Society in 2016.[26][27] The medal recognised her "pioneering work on energy release by magnetic relaxation in stressed coronal magnetic fields".[28] In 2017 she was awarded a Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) research grant to explore particle acceleration in twisted magnetic fields.[29] She was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Physics (FInstP).[when?]

References

  1. ^ a b Browning, Philippa K. (1984). Inhomogeneous magnetic fields in the solar atmosphere (PhD thesis). University of St Andrews. hdl:10023/3830. OCLC 890152927. EThOS uk.bl.ethos.349463. Free access icon
  2. ^ a b Browning, Philippa (2017). "Q&A Philippa Browning". Astronomy & Geophysics. 58 (1): 1.43. doi:10.1093/astrogeo/atx029. ISSN 1366-8781.
  3. ^ a b "Philippa Browning". University of Manchester. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Prof Philippa Browning". University of Manchester. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  5. ^ "MSAS Our Programme". msas.org.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  6. ^ "Young Researchers". www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Philippa Browning: Science and Engineering". University of Manchester. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  8. ^ Anon (9 August 2016), Women of Wonder: Prof Philippa Browning, retrieved 16 September 2018 – via YouTube
  9. ^ a b Priest, E. R. (2014). "A Life of Fun Playing with Solar Magnetic Fields (Special Historical Review)". Solar Physics. 289 (10): 3579–3615. arXiv:1405.3481. Bibcode:2014SoPh..289.3579P. doi:10.1007/s11207-014-0554-2. ISSN 0038-0938. S2CID 119269151.
  10. ^ "Conference honours Professor". news.st-andrews.ac.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  11. ^ 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. Bibcode:1986SoPh..106..335B. doi:10.1007/bf00158500. ISSN 0038-0938. S2CID 122021661.
  12. ^ Browning, P. K.; Priest, E. R. (1983). "Structure of twisted magnetic flux tubes". Astrophysical Journal. 266 (2): 848–865. Bibcode:1983ApJ...266..848B. doi:10.1086/160833. ISSN 0004-637X.
  13. ^ Iliadis, Dennis; Gullo, Bill; Wakefield, Rhys; Miller, Logan; Hinshaw, Ashley; Hall, Natalie, Plus One, ISBN 978-0788617539, OCLC 867735697
  14. ^ "Philippa Browning on Solar Flares". Durham University. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  15. ^ 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. arXiv:1110.2359. Bibcode:2011SSRv..159..357Z. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.749.591. doi:10.1007/s11214-011-9803-y. ISSN 0038-6308. S2CID 119206279.
  16. ^ "Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics". agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  17. ^ Leubner, Manfred P.; Vörös, Zoltán (2012). Multi-scale Dynamical Processes in Space and Astrophysical Plasmas. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9783642304415.
  18. ^ De Moortel, Ineke; Browning, Philippa (2015). "Recent advances in coronal heating". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences. 373 (2042): 20140269. arXiv:1510.00977. Bibcode:2015RSPTA.37340269D. doi:10.1098/rsta.2014.0269. ISSN 1364-503X. PMC 4410557. PMID 25897095.
  19. ^ Moortel, Ineke De; Browning, Philippa (2015). "Recent advances in coronal heating". Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A. 373 (2042): 20140269. arXiv:1510.00977. Bibcode:2015RSPTA.37340269D. doi:10.1098/rsta.2014.0269. ISSN 1364-503X. PMC 4410557. PMID 25897095.
  20. ^ "Synergy between Solar and Tokamak Plasma Theory". University of Warwick. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  21. ^ "Mentors". uksolphys.org. UK Solar Physics. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  22. ^ Anon (2014). "New approaches in coronal heating". royalsociety.org. London: Royal Society. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  23. ^ "Philippa Browning". discoverthebluedot.com. Bluedot Festival. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  24. ^ "8 Minutes". Manchester Science Festival. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  25. ^ "WIPG Advisory Panel". iop.org. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  26. ^ Hollis, Morgan (2016). "Winners of the 2016 awards, medals and prizes – full details". ras.org.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  27. ^ "STFC-supported scientists awarded for geophysics and astronomy work". stfc.ukri.org. Science and Technology Facilities Council. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  28. ^ Anon (2016). "Royal Astronomical Society medals go to IOP members". iop.org. Institute of Physics. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  29. ^ Anon (2017). "Grant winners – 20 April 2017". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 16 September 2018.