General Information

I obtained my Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1999 and am currently conducting research at the University of California, Berkeley focusing on observations of compact objects (black holes, neutron stars, and even, occasionally, a white dwarf).  My Ph.D. thesis involves observations of X-ray binaries and the construction and testing of an X-ray polarimeter for studying these objects.  I have been involved in gamma-ray, X-ray, UV, optical, infrared, and radio observations of X-ray binaries, and I also am involved in gamma-ray and X-ray instrumentation projects.  Please see my CV (pdf) for more information.

Research

• X-Ray Binaries:  X-ray binaries are objects that consist of a normal star orbiting a neutron star or a black hole.  X-rays are produced when the compact object rips material off the normal star.  As the matter falls toward the compact object it forms an accretion disk.  In these systems, one finds the highest densities, strongest magnetic fields and strongest gravitational potentials in the universe, providing an opportunity to study extreme conditions and allowing for tests of physical theories in these conditions.  Many of these objects also produce relativistic jets, and are sometimes called "microquasars" because of their similarity to the super-massive black holes found in quasars.
  

• The Chandra X-ray Observatory:  Chandra provides unprecedented angular and spectral resolution for X-ray observations, leading to many exciting results.

• The Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer:  The large collecting area of the RXTE instruments makes it ideal for timing studies of X-ray binaries in the 2-250 keV energy range.  My main RXTE program in recent years involves the study of black hole X-ray transients during outburst decay.

• INTErnational Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory:  INTEGRAL is a hard X-ray and gamma-ray mission.  It has excelled in taking hard X-ray images of the Galactic plane, and has been finding many new and interesting "IGR" sources.
• See also the HEASARC page for information about other high energy observatories (XMM-Newton, Swift, Suzaku) that I use for my research.
  

Click here to see some pictures (Max, Sydney, etc.)

Dr. John A. Tomsick
Space Sciences Laboratory

University of California, Berkeley

7 Gauss Way

Berkeley, CA 94720-7450
phone: (510) 643-4758

fax: (510) 643-7629

e-mail: jtomsickATssl.berkeley.edu