Christopher S. Reynolds

Chris Reynolds and his group conduct a broad program of research in theoretical and observational high-energy astrophysics with a focus on supermassive black holes. The observational aspects of this research center on X-ray studies of black holes and diffuse hot plasma using Chandra, XMM-Newton, NuSTAR and Swift. Theoretical work focus on the magnetohydrodynamics and plasma physics of black hole accretion flows and the hot diffuse plasmas in galaxies and galaxy clusters. Chris has been on the Astronomy Faculty at the University of Maryland since 2001, stepping away temporarily (2017-2023) to take a position as the Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy at the University of Cambridge. Immediately prior to joining the UMD faculty, he spent five years as a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Colorado Boulder. Chris holds a B.A. in Physics & Theoretical Physics, an M.Math in Applied Mathematics & Theoretical Physics, and a Ph.D. in Astronomy, all from the University of Cambridge.

Research Areas:

High-energy astrophysics

Solar, stellar & space plasma physics

Cosmology & structure formation

Computation and Simulation

Research Centers & Collaborations: Center for Theory & Computation Joint Space-Science Institute

Space Missions

Facilities:

Supercomputing