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Overview

Prof Chris Done

Professor

BSc Astronomy, Astrophysics and Theoretical Physics (St Andrews), PhD Astrophysics (Cambridge)


Affiliations
AffiliationRoom numberTelephone
Professor in the Department of PhysicsOCW132+44 (0) 191 33 43614
Member of the Centre for Extragalactic Astronomy  

Biography

After gaining my PhD from Cambridge on X-rays from black holes, I went to NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center on an NRC fellowship for two years, where a highlight was being part of ground control flying an X-ray telescope in the payload bay of the space shuttle! I returned to the UK on a junior (2 year) and then senior (5 year) research fellowship from the UK research council before getting tenure at the University of Durham in 2000. I was promoted to full professor in 2006, becoming one of the first women to hold this post. I am also a non-stipendiary Visiting Professor at the Kavli Institute for Physics and Mathematics of the Universe of the University of Tokyo, having spent the academic year 2016/2017 in Tokyo on a sabbatical working with the Japanese Space Agency.

Marks of my standing in the community are that I am one of only two European scientists supported by the European Space Agency to be part of XRISM, the next Japanese/US X-ray telescope. I chair of one of the Science Working Groups for this mission as well being a member of the Science Management Office which advises the mission Principal Investigator. I also chair of one of the Science Working Groups for the Athena X-ray satellite (due for launch by the European Space Agency in 2030) and have served as overall chair (Chair of chairs) of the NASA Chandra time allocation committee in 2016. Other indications of esteem include being awarded the Royal Astronomical Society George Darwin Lectureship for a distinguished and eloquent speaker in 2019 and being invited on the Stephen Murray Distinguished Visitor Program, Harvard, USA in 2018. 

For more information and links, see my

personal web page

Responsibilities within department

Director of Research (till August 2021)

Teaching activity

I now teach the L1 sections on Special Relativity and Quantum Mechanics as part of the Foundations of Physics module.

I used to teach the L2 course on Quantum Mechanics, and the L4 course on  general relativity

Research interests

I am interested in anything with a decent gravitational field,especially black holes formed from stellar evolution in our Galaxy and the supermassive black holes in the centres of other galaxies which are thought to power the Quasars and Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). An enormous amount of gravitational potential energy can be released in the form of high energy X-ray radiation where these capture (accrete) any nearby material. I use this X-ray emission to study the radiation mechanisms and environment of these extreme gravitational objects, but X-rays do not penetrate through our atmosphere, so this can only be studied from space - so I'm a rocket scientist!!

Research interests

  • Black holes

Research groups

Related Links

Media Contacts

Available for media contact about:

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics: black holes, quasars

Publications

Chapter in book

  • Done, Chris (2004). Accretion flows in X-ray binaries. In Frontiers of X-ray astronomy. Cambridge University Press. 89-105.

Conference Paper

  • Truss, M. & Done, C. (2006), The decline and fall of GRS 1915+105: the end is nigh?, L22+.
  • Madejski, G. Done, C. Zycki, P.T. & Greenhill, L. (2006), X-Ray Emission from Megamaser Galaxy IC 2560, 636: 75-82.
  • Done, C. & Gierliński, M. (2005), Accretion in Strong Gravity: from Galactic to Supermassive Black Holes, 300: 167-175.
  • Beckwith, K. & Done, C. (2005), Observational Effects of Strong gravity, 300: 87-96.
  • Sobolewska, Małgorzata & Done, Chris (2005), What is the origin of the soft excess in AGN?, AIP Conf. Proc. 774: X-ray Diagnostics of Astrophysical Plasmas: Theory, Experiment, and Observation 774: 317-319.
  • Done, C. & Gierliński, M. (2005), Scaling variability from stellar to supermassive black holes, 364: 208-216.
  • Done, C. & Gierlinski, M. (2004), X-ray emission from Galactic black hole binary systems, 35th COSPAR Scientific Assembly 991-.
  • Mueller, Martin, Madejski, Greg, Done, Christine and & Zycki, Piotr (2004), The X-ray Variability of NGC 4945: Characterizing the Power Spectrum through Light Curve Simulations, AIP Conf. Proc. 714: X-ray Timing 2003: Rossi and Beyond 714: 190-193.
  • Zycki, P., Madejski, G. & Done, C. (2003), Chandra/XTE observations of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 4945, ASP Conf. Ser. 290: Active Galactic Nuclei: From Central Engine to Host Galaxy 290: 137-.
  • Done, C. (2001), Galactic Black Holes: Modeling the Spectrum, X-ray Emission from Accretion onto Black Holes
  • Gierliński, Marek, Done, Chris and Barret, Didier (2001), Phase-resolved Spectra of the Millisecond Pulsar SAX J1808.4-3658, ASP Conf. Ser. 251: New Century of X-ray Astronomy 251: 352-.
  • Życki, Piotr T., Done, Chris and Smith, David A. (2001), Soft Spectral States of Soft X-ray Transients, ASP Conf. Ser. 251: New Century of X-ray Astronomy 251: 432-.
  • Gierlinski, M., Done, C. and Barret, D. (2001), Phase-resolved X-ray spectroscopy of the millisecond pulsar SAX J1808.4-3658, X-ray Emission from Accretion onto Black Holes
  • Done, Chris (2001), Accretion Flows in X-ray Binaries and Active Galactic Nuclei (Invited), ASP Conf. Ser. 251: New Century of X-ray Astronomy 251: 102-.
  • Done, C. (2000), Relativistic Iron Lines from Galactic BLack Holes, Rossi2000: Astrophysics with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer. March 22-24, 2000 at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD USA, meeting abstract
  • Wilson, C., Done, C. & Zycki, P. (2000), Spectral Variability of the linear rise of the X-ray Transient J1550, Rossi2000: Astrophysics with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer. March 22-24, 2000 at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD USA, meeting abstract
  • Madejski, G.M., Done, C. & Zycki, P.T. (2000), Rapid Hard X-ray Variability of the Heavily Absorbed Seyfert 2 Galaxy NGC 4945, Rossi2000: Astrophysics with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer. March 22-24, 2000 at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD USA, meeting abstract
  • Done, C. & Zycki, P.T. (1999), Relativistic Distortions in the Low/Hard State X-ray Spectrum of CYG X-1, ASP Conf. Ser. 161: High Energy Processes in Accreting Black Holes 161: 76-.
  • Zycki, P.T., Done, C. & Smith, D.A. (1999), On Accretion Flow in Soft X-ray Transients, Disk Instabilities in Close Binary Systems 273-.
  • de Martino, D., Matt, G., Belloni, T., Beuermann, K., Bonnet-Bidaud, J.-M., Chiappetti, L., Done, C., Gänsicke, B. T., Mouchet, & M. and Mukai, K. (1999), BeppoSAX observations of Polars, ASP Conf. Ser. 157: Annapolis Workshop on Magnetic Cataclysmic Variables 157: 119-.
  • Done, C. & Zycki, P.T. (1999), An Unstable Inner Disk in Cyg X-1 ?, Disk Instabilities in Close Binary Systems 251-.
  • Zycki, P.T., Done, C. & Smith, D.A. (1999), On the Geometry of Accretion Flow in Soft X-ray Transients from Modeling the X-ray Reprocessing, in Poutanen, Juri & Svensson, Roland eds, Astronomical Society of the Pacific conference series 161: High Energy Processes in Accreting Black Holes. Gräftåvallen, Astronomical Society of the Pacific, San Francisco, 70-75.
  • Done, C. & Magdziarz, P. (1998), The X-Ray Spectrum of the Polar by Cam, The Active X-ray Sky: Results from BeppoSAX and RXTE 376-.
  • di Salvo, T., Burderi, L., Robba, N. R., Done, C. and & Zycki, P. (1998), BeppoSAX Observation of the Black Hole Candidate CYG X-1, Abstracts of the 19th Texas Symposium on Relativistic Astrophysics and Cosmology, held in Paris, France, Dec. 14-18, 1998. Eds.: J. Paul, T. Montmerle, and E. Aubourg (CEA Saclay), meeting abstract
  • Zycki, P.T., Done, C. & Smith, D.A. (1998), Geometry of Accretion in Soft X-Ray Transients, American Institute of Physics Conference Series 431: 319-.
  • Done, C., Zycki, P. T. and Smith, D. A. (1998), Relativistic Smearing of the Reflection Spectrum in Galactic Black Hole Candidates, The Active X-ray Sky: Results from BeppoSAX and RXTE 352-.
  • Zycki, P. T., Done, C. and Smith, D. A. (1997), Relativistic Effects in the X-ray Spectra of the Black Hole Candidate GS 2023+338, AIP Conf. Proc. 410: Proceedings of the Fourth Compton Symposium 410: 962-.
  • Done, C. & Osborne, J.P. (1997), The X-Ray Spectrum of the Dwarf Nova SS CYG, X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy of Cosmic Hot Plasmas 559-.
  • Gierlinski, M., Zdziarski, A. A., Johnson, W. N., Phlips, & B. F., Ebisawa, K. and Done, C. (1996), The first simultaneous X-ray/ gamma-ray observations of CYG X-1 by {\it Ginga} and OSSE, Roentgenstrahlung from the Universe 139-140.
  • Done, C., Osborne, J.P. & Beardmore, A.P. (1996), The hard X-ray spectra of EF ERI and other CVs, ASSL Vol. 208: IAU Colloq. 158: Cataclysmic Variables and Related Objects 205-.
  • Shanks, T., Almaini, O., Boyle, B. J., della Ceca, R., Done, C., Georgantopoulos, I., Griffiths, R. E., Rawling, S. J., Roche, N., & and Stewart, G. C. (1996), The Faint Galaxy Contribution to the X-ray Background, Roentgenstrahlung from the Universe 341-344.
  • Done, C. & Smith, D.A. (1995), The X-ray Spectra of Seyfert 2s Observed by GINGA, Oxford Torus Workshop 179-.
  • Osborne, J. P., Beardmore, A. P., Done, C., Ishida, M. & Mukai, K. (1995), GINGA and ASCA Observations of AM HER and EF ERI, ASP Conf. Ser. 85: Magnetic Cataclysmic Variables 85: 128-.
  • Beardmore, A. P., Done, C., Osborne, J. P. and Ishida, M. (1995), The Ginga Hard X-Ray Spectrum of AM Herculis, ASSL Vol. 205: Cataclysmic Variables 471-.
  • Warwick, R.S., Done, C. & Smith, D.A. (1995), The Soft X-ray Spectrum of NGC4151, Oxford Torus Workshop 175-.
  • Done, C., Pounds, K. A., Nandra, K. and Fabian, A. C. (1994), X-Ray Monitoring of NGC 5548, ASP Conf. Ser. 69: Reverberation Mapping of the Broad-Line Region in Active Galactic Nuclei 69: 211-.
  • Madejski, G. M., Done, C., Turner, T. J., Mushotzky, R. & F., Serlemitsos, P., Fiore, F., Sikora, M. and Begelman, M. C. (1994), Solving the mystery of the periodicity in the Seyfert galaxy NGC 6814, IAU Symp. 159: Multi-Wavelength Continuum Emission of AGN 159: 127-130.
  • Ueda, Y., Ebisawa, K. & Done, C. (1994), Spectral Study of GX339-4 in the Low Intensity State Observed with Ginga, AIP Conf. Proc. 308: The Evolution of X-ray Binariese 308: 181-.
  • George, I. M., Nandra, K., Fabian, A. C., Turner, T. J., & Done, C. and Day, C. S. R. (1994), Dramatic X-ray Spectral Variability of Mkn 841, The Nature of Compact Objects in Active Galactic Nuclei 278-.
  • Done, C., Pounds, K. A., Nandra, K. and Fabian, A. C. (1994), ROSAT Monitoring of NGC 5548, New Horizon of X-Ray Astronomy. First Results from ASCA 571-.
  • Zdziarski, A. A., Johnson, W. N., Done, C., Smith, D. and & McNaron-Brown, K. (1994), The Average X-ray/Gamma-ray Spectra of Seyfert Galaxies from Ginga and OSSE, New Horizon of X-Ray Astronomy. First Results from ASCA 601-.
  • Done, C., Madejski, G. M., Mushotzky, R. F., Turner, T. & J., Koyama, K. and Kunieda, H. (1992), The X-ray variability of AGN and the anomalous behavior of NGC 6814, American Institute of Physics Conference Series 254: 83-92.
  • Stecker, F. W., Done, C., Salamon, M. H. and Sommers, P. (1992), High energy neutrinos from the cores and jets of active galaxies, High Energy Neutrino Astrophysics 1-.
  • Madejski, G., Serlemitsos, P., Marshall, F., Kallman, T., Mushotzky, R., Turner, J., Done, C., Arnaud, K., Boldt, E., Holt, S., Jahoda, K., Kelley, R., Petre, R., Smale, A., Swank, J., Szymkowiak, A. & Weaver, K. (1992), BBXRT Observations of BL Lac Objects PKS 2155-304 and H1426+428, Frontiers Science Series 583-.
  • Done, C., Madejski, G. M., Mushotzky, R. F., Turner, T. & J., Koyama, K. and Kunieda, H. (1992), X-Ray Variability of NGC6814, Frontiers Science Series 525-.
  • Stecker, F. W., Done, C., Salamon, M. H. and Sommers, P. (1992), Neutrinos from Hell, Trends in Astroparticle Physics 326-.
  • Done, C., Mulchaey, J. S., Mushotzky, R. F. and Arnaud, & K. A. (1992), Problems for the standard black hole/accretion disk models in Cygnus X-1?, American Institute of Physics Conference Series 254: 196-199.
  • Stecker, F. W., Done, C., Salamon, M. H. and Sommers, P. (1992), Ultrahigh Energy Neutrinos From Active Galactic Nuclei, Particles, Strings and Cosmology 441-.
  • Done, C., Koyama, K., Kunieda, H., Madejski, G., & Mushotzky, R. and Turner, T. J. (1991), Quasi-Periodic Continuum Variability of NGC 6814, IAU Colloq. 129: The 6th Institute d'Astrophysique de Paris (IAP) Meeting: Structure and Emission Properties of Accretion Disks 417-.
  • Owens, Alan & Done, Chris (1991), A composite emission model for Cygnus X - 1, International Cosmic Ray Conference 1: 101-.
  • Turner, T. J., Done, C., Kunieda, H., Mushotzky, R. and & Awaki, H. (1991), An Accretion Disk Model for NGC 6814 ?, IAU Colloq. 129: The 6th Institute d'Astrophysique de Paris (IAP) Meeting: Structure and Emission Properties of Accretion Disks 545-.
  • Stecker, F. W., Done, C., Salamon, M. H. and Sommers, P. (1991), High energy neutrinos from primary cosmic rays accelerated in the cores of active galaxies, International Cosmic Ray Conference 4: 642-.
  • Done, C., Ghisellini, G. and Fabian, A. C. (1990), Reacceleration and Pair Loading in Compact Sources, Physical Processes in Hot Cosmic Plasmas. Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop Physical Processes in Hot Cosmic Plasmas, held in Vulcano, Sicily, Italy, May 29-June 2, 1989. Editors, Wolfgang Brinkmann, Andrew C. Fabian, FrancoGiovannell 401-.
  • Ghisellini, G., Done, C. and Fabian, A. C. (1989), Reacceleration of pairs in compact sources, ESA SP-296: Two Topics in X-Ray Astronomy, Volume 1: X Ray Binaries. Volume 2: AGN and the X Ray Background 813-817.
  • Done, C. & Fabian, A.C. (1989), Pair Production in AGN, IAU Symp. 134: Active Galactic Nuclei 134: 194-.

Journal Article

Report

  • Done, C., Madejski, G. M., Mushotzky, R. F., Turner, T. & J., Koyama, K. and Kunieda, H. (1992). The X ray variability of AGN and the anomalous behavior of NGC6814.
  • Done, C., Madejski, G. M., Mushotsky, R. F., Turner, T. & J., Koyama, K. and Kunieda, H. (1992). The X ray variability of NGC6814: Power spectra.
  • George, I. M., Nandra, K., Fabian, A. C., Turner, T. J., & Done, C. and Day, C. S. R. (1992). The broad-band X ray spectral variability of MKN 841.

Supervision students