Roger Blandford

About

Roger Blandford is the Luke Blossom Professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences at Stanford University, and a Professor of Physics and of Particle Physics and Astrophysics in the Physics Department. His research interests include theoretical astrophysics and cosmology, focusing on understanding the fundamental processes governing the universe. His work contributes to the broader field of astrophysics through theoretical investigations into cosmic phenomena, advancing knowledge in areas such as particle physics and astrophysical cosmology.

Research topics

• Physics
• Astrophysics
• Astronomy
• Optics

Selected publications

• Fermi Large Area Telescope Fourth Source Catalog

  The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series · 2020 · 1332 citations

  Abstract We present the fourth Fermi Large Area Telescope catalog (4FGL) of γ -ray sources. Based on the first eight years of science data from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope mission in the energy range from 50 MeV to 1 TeV, it is the deepest yet in this energy range. Relative to the 3FGL catalog, the 4FGL catalog has twice as much exposure as well as a number of analysis improvements, including an updated model for the Galactic diffuse γ -ray emission, and two sets of light curves (one-yea…

  DOI

• Incremental Fermi Large Area Telescope Fourth Source Catalog

  The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series · 2022 · 533 citations

  Abstract We present an incremental version (4FGL-DR3, for Data Release 3) of the fourth Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) catalog of γ -ray sources. Based on the first 12 years of science data in the energy range from 50 MeV to 1 TeV, it contains 6658 sources. The analysis improves on that used for the 4FGL catalog over eight years of data: more sources are fit with curved spectra, we introduce a more robust spectral parameterization for pulsars, and we extend the spectral points to 1 TeV. The sp…

  DOI

• Fermi-GBM Discovery of GRB 221009A: An Extraordinarily Bright GRB from Onset to Afterglow

  The Astrophysical Journal Letters · 2023 · 135 citations

  Abstract We report the discovery of GRB 221009A, the highest flux gamma-ray burst (GRB) ever observed by the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (Fermi-GBM). This GRB has continuous prompt emission lasting more than 600 s, which smoothly transitions to afterglow emission visible in the Fermi-GBM energy range (8 keV–40 MeV), and total energetics higher than any other burst in the Fermi-GBM sample. By using a variety of new and existing analysis techniques we probe the spectral and temporal evolution of…

  DOI

• Compact Symmetric Objects. III. Evolution of the High-luminosity Branch and a Possible Connection with Tidal Disruption Events

  The Astrophysical Journal · 2024-01-31 · 31 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract We use a sample of 54 compact symmetric objects (CSOs) to confirm that there are two unrelated CSO classes: an edge-dimmed, low-luminosity class (CSO 1), and an edge-brightened, high-luminosity class (CSO 2). Using blind tests, we show that CSO 2s consist of three subclasses: CSO 2.0, having prominent hot spots at the leading edges of narrow jets and/or narrow lobes; CSO 2.2, without prominent hot spots and with broad jets and/or lobes; and CSO 2.1, which exhibit mixed properties. Most…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• GRB 221009A: The B.O.A.T. Burst that Shines in Gamma Rays

  The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series · 2025-02-28 · 16 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract We present a complete analysis of Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) data of GRB 221009A, the brightest gamma-ray burst (GRB) ever detected. The burst emission above 30 MeV detected by the LAT preceded, by 1 s, the low-energy (<10 MeV) pulse that triggered the Fermi Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor (GBM), as has been observed in other GRBs. The prompt phase of GRB 221009A lasted a few hundred seconds. It was so bright that we identify a bad time interval of 64 s caused by the extremely high flu…

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• New Challenges to Astrophysical Particle Acceleration

  NSF · $222k · 2012–2015

• Gravitational Optics, Dark Matter, and the Evolution of Faint Galaxies

  NSF · $471k · 2004–2008

• Cosmological Applications of Gravitational Lensing

  NSF · $501k · 2008–2014

Frequent coauthors

• I. A. Grenier

  Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

  2536 shared

• J. M. Casandjian

  Université Paris Cité

  1747 shared

• L. Tibaldo

  Université de Toulouse

  1708 shared

• A. Reimer

  1664 shared

• E. Nuss

  Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier

  1642 shared

• F. Piron

  Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier

  1598 shared

• O. Reimer

  1596 shared

• J. Cohen-Tanugi

  Université Clermont Auvergne

  1579 shared

Labs

• Undergraduate Physics MajorsPI

Education

• Ph.D., Physics

  Princeton University

  1977

• B.A., Physics

  Harvard University

  1972

Similar researchers at Stanford University

• Persis S. Drellh-190
• Risa Wechslerh-165
• Steven Chuh-123