Doctor of Philosophy in Astrophysical Sciences - Plasma Astrophysics

Princeton has a long tradition of excellence in the field of plasma astrophysics, dating back to Lyman Spitzer's pioneering work on the physical properties of interstellar gas. This tradition continues with active research in plasma astrophysics involving collaborations throughout the Princeton area -- including the Department of Astrophysical Sciences, the Princeton University Program in Plasma Physics (which is also part of the Department of Astrophysical Sciences), the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), and the Institute for Advanced Study -- as well as with the Max Planck Institutes for Plasma Physics in Garching and Greifswald. Key research topics include magnetic reconnection (Stephen Jardin, Hantao Ji, Russell Kulsrud, Stewart Prager, Anatoly Spitkovsky, Masaaki Yamada), angular momentum transport in accretion disks (Princeton Magnetorotational Instability [MRI] Experiment, Jeremy Goodman, Greg Hammett, Hantao Ji, Matthew Kunz, Eve Ostriker, Stewart Prager, James Stone), collisionless shocks (Jeremy Goodman, Anatoly Spitkovsky), heliospheric physics (Amitava Bhattacharjee, Matthew Kunz), protostellar cores and protoplanetary disks (Matthew Kunz, Eve Ostriker, James Stone), and the physics of high-energy-density plasmas (Nat Fisch). Magnetic reconnection (Magnetic Reconnection Experiment, MRX) is a key subject to identify physical mechanisms responsible for rapid changes in magnetic field topologies and the associated release of magnetic energy commonly observed in magnetospheric storms, solar corona, accretion disks, and compact objects, as well as laboratory plasma experiments.

All official Transcripts. A bachelor's degree or its foreign equivalent from an accredited college or university. Official transcripts of your grades. Three letters of recommendation. Applicants are required to upload a transcript (may be unofficial at this time) including the key from all attended colleges or universities.The transcript must show the name of the student, name of the issuing institution, name of courses taken, and the grades received in those courses. The Graduate School does not have a minimum TOEFL or IELTS score requirement. If you are offered admission and accept our offer and have scored below a 27 on the Speaking sub-section of the TOEFL iBT or below an 8.0 on the Speaking sub-section of the IELTS you will be required to take an English placement test at the start of the fall term. Students who do not pass the test will be required to enroll in English Language Program classes.
GRE :
General Test optional/not required, Physics Subject Test optional/not required