Education
Ph.D., Astrophysics, Rice University
M.S., Astrophysics, Rice University
B.S., Astrophysics, University of California, Los Angeles
Parviz Ghavamian
Professor
Areas of Expertise
Multiwavelength study of collisionless astrophysical shocks and application to modeling
of SNRs and shocks in the warm-hot intergalactic medium (WHIM)
Kinematics of SNRs
Nucleosynthesis and dust formation in core-collapse supernovae
Evolution of high velocity clouds (HVCs) and their role in fueling star formation
Thermal structure and evolution of the interstellar medium in spiral galaxies
Research Interests
I am interested in the multi-wavelength study of shocks in space, from supernova remnants to galaxy clusters. I use spectroscopic observations in the optical, UV and X-rays to understand the plasma physics of the shocks, and how energetic cosmic rays are accelerated at shock transitions. I also use mid-infrared spectroscopy to study how astrophysical dust (both in supernova ejecta and in the interstellar medium) is heated and destroyed in shocks. In my research I use both ground-based observatories and space-based facilities, the latter including the Spitzer Space Telescope, the Herschel Space Telescope, Hubble Space Telescope and Chandra X-ray Observatory.