Adam Frank Professor of Physics & Astronomy Theoretical Astrophysics and Plasma Physics office: phone: Bausch & Lomb 417A (585) 275-1717 fax: email: (585) 273-3237 afrank@pas.rochester.edu home page: http://www.pas.rochester.edu/~afrank/afrankhome/afrank.html

Biographical Sketch

Prof. Frank received his Ph.D. in Physics (1992) from University of Washington. He held postdoctoral and visiting scientist positions at Leiden University and the University of Minnesota. In 1995 he was awarded a Hubble Fellowship. He joined the University as an Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy in 1996. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2000 and to Professor in 2004. He received a University Bridging Fellowship in 2005.

Research

Prof. Frank's research is in the general area of Theoretical Astrophysics, and in particular the hydrodynamic and magneto-hydrodynamic evolution of matter ejected from stars. Current research topic include jets from Young Stellar Objects, bipolar outflows from evolved stars such as Planetary Nebulae and Massive stars. Investigations are carried out though the use of large scale numerical simulations. For more detail, see the Theoretical Astrophysics page.

Prof. Frank is also active member of the Department's Plasma Physics program, which is part of the University's interdisciplinary program in High Energy Density Plasmas. In collaboration with faculty at the University's Laboratory for Laser Energetics (an Inertial Confinement Fusion facility) he is conducting plasma astrophysical research on topics such as magentic diffusion in interstellar clouds and the evolution of solar magnetic flux tubes.

Prof. Frank is also actively involved in science outreach as a popular science writer. He has contributed articles to Discover and Astronomy magazines. He received the science-writing prize from the Solar Physics Division of the American Astronomical Society in 1999,

Recent Publications

1. Outflow-driven Cavities: Numerical Simulations of Intermediaries of Protostellar Turbulence
   Andrew J. Cunningham , Adam Frank , Alice C. Quillen , and Eric G. Blackman
   The Astrophysical Journal 653, 416-424 (2006)
   (abstract | download)
   
   
2. Astrophysical explosions driven by a rotating, magnetized, gravitating sphere.
   Sean Matt; Adam Frank; Eric G. Blackman
   The Astrophysical Journal 647, L45-L48 (2006)
   (abstract)
   
   
3. Protostellar jet collisions reduce the efficiency of outflow-driven turbulence in molecular clouds
   Andrew J. Cunningham , Adam Frank , and Eric G. Blackman
   Astrophysical Journal 646, 1059-1069 (2006)
   (abstract | download)
   
   
4. Planets rapidly create holes in young circumstellar disks.
   P. Varnière , Eric G. Blackman , A. Frank , and Alice C. Quillen
   Astrophysical Journal 640, 1110-14 (2006)
   (abstract | download)
   
   
5. Grand Challenges in Planetary Nebulae Studies: Binary Evolution and MHD
   Adam Frank
   IAU Symposium 234, 293-296 (2006)
   (abstract | download)
   
   

For further details, go to Prof. Frank's home page at: http://www.pas.rochester.edu/~afrank/afrankhome/afrank.html

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