Clemson Computational Astrophysics

Jonathan Zrake

Assistant Professor of Physics

My group at Clemson works on topics in high energy and multi-messenger astrophysics, using high-performance, state-of-the-art computing. My interests include binary neutron star mergers, gamma-ray bursts, pulsar wind nebulae, AGN jets, binary black hole accretion, turbulence, and magnetic reconnection.

Positions

2020 –

Assistant Professor

Clemson University

Accretion onto binary black hole systems, orbital evolution of supermassive black hole binaries.

2017 – 2020

Research Scientist

Columbia University

MHD turbulence in magnetar magnetospheres, photospheric models of gamma-ray burst prompt emission, modeling of GRB-170817A. Supervisor: Andrei Beloborodov.

2013 – 2017

Kavli Fellow

Stanford University

Crab Nebula gamma-ray flares, magnetic energy dissipation in pulsar wind nebulae, particle acceleration by the helical kink instability in AGN jets. Supervisors: Roger Blandford, Tom Abel.

2007 – 2013

Graduate Student

New York University

Thesis: A numerical investigation of relativistic turbulence. Advisor: Dr. Andrew MacFadyen.