About

Welcome to my research website. I am a plasma astrophysicist investigating some of the universe’s most energetic phenomena through supercomputer simulations and analytical calculations. I am currently working in New York City as a research scientist in the Department of Astronomy and the Department of Physics of Columbia University, where I’m exploring the plasma processes responsible for generating high-energy particles and radiation from different astrophysical sources such as the Sun, Neutron Stars, and Black Holes. Before joining Columbia, I was a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Astrophysical Sciences of Princeton University and a long term visitor in the Theory Department of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.

Luca Comisso at Carnegie Lake

I grew up and had my early education in Meduno (Italy), a small town of about 1500 inhabitants right at the foot of the Dolomites (lower Alps). After completing a technical high school in the close town (about 50 km away) of Udine, I enrolled at the Polytechnic University of Milan, where I obtained a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering and a master’s degree in space engineering. My interest in physics, however, led me to explore a different path, and after gaining experience in controlled thermonuclear fusion research at CNR (National Research Council) and delving into cosmic rays studies at the INFN (National Institute for Nuclear Physics), I embarked on my doctoral journey at the Polytechnic University of Turin, where I earned my PhD in plasma physics.

I have had the opportunity to work in the dynamic fields of plasma physics and astrophysics, exploring scientific questions across a broad range of spatiotemporal scales—from the microcosmic realm of nuclear fusion experiments to the macrocosmic universe of astrophysical plasmas. My research has focused on understanding phenomena such as the acceleration of particles to extreme energies, the turbulent nature of astrophysical plasmas, the dynamics of magnetic reconnection, energy extraction from black holes, and the production of neutrinos in active galactic nuclei. If you would like to learn more about my research, feel free to browse through my publications or take a look at a selection of scientific findings that have been featured in the general news media.

I love sharing new ideas and working together with colleagues and students. Science is a collective effort, and by encouraging everyone’s participation and contributions, we can achieve the best results, in addition to fostering a supportive environment for learning and growth. I’m also passionate about sharing the latest scientific developments with the general public and engaging them in the excitement of discovery. In this way I hope to inspire curiosity and a sense of wonder about the world, and to foster an appreciation for the beauty and importance of science in our lives.

If you’d like to learn more about my research or explore potential projects for students and postdocs, please don’t hesitate to reach out using the contact details provided here.

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