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Zaven Arzoumanian

Photo of ZAVEN ARZOUMANIAN

Zaven Arzoumanian

  • Research AST, Fields and Particles
  • 301.286.2547
  • NASA/GSFC
  • Mail Code: 662
  • Greenbelt , MD 20771
  • Employer: NASA

    • Research Interests

    High-energy and radio astronomy of neutron stars and black holes
    Gravitation
    Astronomical instrumentation
    Interferometry
    Diffractometry
    Signal processing

    Current Projects

    Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) Mission

    Deputy Principal Investigator and Science Lead

    X-ray and radio studies of pulsars and associated phenomena, including the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav)

    Internal and emission properties, nebulae, tests of relativity, binary evolution, and low-frequency gravitational waves

    Technology development

    X-ray diffractometry using CCDs, for Earth and planetary exploration
    Modulated X-ray sources, for detector calibration, communication, material science, and medical applications
    X-ray "concentrator" optics, for telescopes with large effective-area to mass ratios

    Positions/Employment

    1/2017 - Present

    Research Astrophysicist

    NASA, NASA GSFC, Greenbelt, MD
    2011 - 1/2017

    Senior Research Scientist

    USRA, NASA GSFC, Greenbelt, MD
    10/2011 - 7/2012

    Director of Astronomy

    USRA, Arecibo Observatory, Arecibo, PR
    2004 - 2011

    Research Scientist

    USRA, NASA GSFC, Greenbelt, MD
    2001 - 2004

    Research Associate

    USRA, NASA GSFC, Greenbelt, MD
    1999 - 2001

    Natl Res. Council Associate

    NASA GSFC, Greenbelt, MD
    1994 - 1999

    Research Associate

    Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
    1992 - 1994

    Graduate Teaching Assistant

    Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
    1989 - 1994

    Graduate Research Assistant

    Princeton University, Princeton, NJ

    Education

    1995 PhD, Physics Princeton University
    Thesis: "Radio Observations of Binary Pulsars: Clues to Binary Evolution and Tests of General Relativity". Advisor: J. H. Taylor
    1991 MA, Physics Princeton University
    1989 BSc, Physics (Highest Honours) McGill University

    Special Experience

    Founding Director & current President, Wild Me, 501(c)(3) scientific charitable organization — www.wildme.org and www.whaleshark.org. NASA technology transfer success story at http://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2009/er_1.html

    Selected Publications

    Refereed

    Arzoumanian, Z., E. V. Gotthelf, S. M. Ransom, et al. S. Safi-Harb, R. Kothes, and T. L. Landecker. 2011. "Discovery of an Energetic Pulsar Associated with SNR G769+10." Astrophysical Journal, 739 (1): 39 [10.1088/0004-637X/739/1/39]

    Arzoumanian, Z., S. Safi-Harb, T. L. Landecker, R. Kothes, and F. Camilo. 2008. "Chandra Confirmation of a Pulsar Wind Nebula in DA 495." The Astrophysical Journal, 687: 505 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1086/591654]

    Arzoumanian, Z., J. Holmberg, and B. Norman. 2005. "An Astronomical Pattern-Matching Algorithm for Computer-Aided Identification of Whale Sharks." Journal of Applied Ecology, 42: 999.

    Stairs, I. H., S. E. Thorsett, and Z. Arzoumanian. 2004. "Measurement of Spin-Orbit Coupling in a Binary Pulsar System." Physics Review Letters, 93: 101.

    Arzoumanian, Z., K. C. Gendreau, W. C. Cash, A. F. Shipley, and S. Z. Queen. 2004. "Laboratory Testbeds for Broadband X-ray Interferometry." SPIE, 5488: 623.

    Selected Publications

    Refereed

    Arzoumanian, Z., E. V. Gotthelf, S. M. Ransom, et al. S. Safi-Harb, R. Kothes, and T. L. Landecker. 2011. "Discovery of an Energetic Pulsar Associated with SNR G769+10." Astrophysical Journal 739 (1): 39 [10.1088/0004-637X/739/1/39]

    Arzoumanian, Z., S. Safi-Harb, T. L. Landecker, R. Kothes, and F. Camilo. 2008. "Chandra Confirmation of a Pulsar Wind Nebula in DA 495." The Astrophysical Journal 687 505 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1086/591654]

    Arzoumanian, Z., J. Holmberg, and B. Norman. 2005. "An Astronomical Pattern-Matching Algorithm for Computer-Aided Identification of Whale Sharks." Journal of Applied Ecology 42 999

    Stairs, I. H., S. E. Thorsett, and Z. Arzoumanian. 2004. "Measurement of Spin-Orbit Coupling in a Binary Pulsar System." Physics Review Letters 93 101

    Arzoumanian, Z., K. C. Gendreau, W. C. Cash, A. F. Shipley, and S. Z. Queen. 2004. "Laboratory Testbeds for Broadband X-ray Interferometry." SPIE 5488 623

                                                                                                                                                                                            
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    • Last Updated: 09/21/2023