Philip H. Scherrer

Professor (Research), Physics

HEPL Annex B208
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-4085 

tel 650-723-1504

pscherrer@solar.stanford.edu

homepage 

group page

Research Interests

Our group operates the Wilcox Solar Observatory (WSO) at Stanford, and is engaged in building a satellite-based solar telescope. 

The Solar Oscillation Investigation - Michelson Doppler Imager (SOI-MDI) project, begun in 1988, involves the design and construction of a solar telescope to measure the velocity patterns on the surface of the Sun. Using techniques of helioseismology, the surface velocity patterns produced by waves trapped in the solar interior are analyzed to deduce the internal structure of the star. The MDI is on the of the major instruments on the SOHO spacecraft. SOHO will be launched in December 1995. 

The WSO program of daily solar magnetic and velocity field observations has continued for 20 years. Topics of interest include the solar cycle, the large scale structure and evolution of the solar magnetic field, the varying influence of the Sun's magnetic field on the solar wind and the Earth, and solar rotation. 

• Observational Astrophysics 

Career History

• A.B. Physics, University of California at Berkeley, 1968 
• Ph.D. Physics, University of California at Berkeley, 1973 
• Research Associate in Institute for Plasma Research, Stanford University, 1974-1979 
• Acting Director, Wilcox Solar Observatory, Stanford University, 1985-1987 
• Senior Research Associate, Institute for Plasma Research (now Center for Space Science and Astrophysics), Stanford University, 1979-1987 
• Professor (Research), Department of Applied Physics, 1987-1995 
• Professor, Department of Physics, 1995-present 
• Member American Astronomical Society 
• Member Astronomical Society of the Pacific 
• Member American Geophysical Union 
• Member American Association for the Advancement of Science 
• Member International Astronomical Union 
• Member International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics 

Graduate Students

• Tom Berger 
• Peter Giles 
• Weber Hoen 
• Rakesh Nigarm 
• Karen Tian