Gary Zank

Professor and Pei-Ling Chan Chair of Physics
Director, CSPAR

Cramer Hall, Room 2002
Phone: 256-961-7401

Research Interests

My research interests range from space physics to astrophysics to laboratory plasma physics. I use a combination of large computer simulations, modeling, and analysis to address problems of interest and the results are then related, where possible, to observations. In space physics, my activities encompass the physics of the solar corona and solar wind acceleration, the interaction of the solar wind with the non-magnetized bodies, the interplanetary medium (turbulence, shock waves, solar wind composition, neutral and charged particle transport, particle acceleration, solar energetic particles and cosmic rays, dust, etc.), and the interaction of the heliosphere with the local interstellar medium (LISM). I maintain an active research program in several areas of plasma astrophysics, focusing primarily but not exclusively on galactic cosmic rays, the interstellar medium, galactic magnetic fields, and the interaction of stellar winds with their local interstellar environment

Education

• BSc, 1982, University of Natal
• BSc(Hons.), 1983, University of Natal
• PhD, 1987, University of Natal