Bing Zhang

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Distinguished Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy
Director, Nevada Center for Astrophysics
Expertise: Astrophysics, Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs), Gamma-ray Bursts (GRBs), Electromagnetic Radiation, Black Holes (Accretion Disks), Neutron Stars, Neutrinos, Gravitational Waves

Biography

Bing Zhang is a distinguished professor in 51ԹϺ’s department of physics and astronomy who researches high-energy astrophysics, which explores the energy emitted by powerful stellar masses, like black holes and neutron stars. Zhang is especially knowledgeable about fast radio bursts (FRBs) and gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), the most luminous explosions in the universe.

Zhang’s main research interests include transient astrophysics, jet and accretion physics, multi-wavelength astrophysics, pulsars, gravitational waves, X-rays to low frequency radio waves, and other general topics relating to astrophysics. His research papers have been cited over 35,000 times by peers in his field, and his work has been recognized by NASA.

A frequent media source to top media outlets like CNN and Vice, Zhang is the author of The Physics of Gamma-Ray Bursts, a textbook that is taught today in graduate classes for students studying gamma-ray bursts and is frequently referenced by fellow researchers.

Prior to joining 51ԹϺ in 2004, Zhang did postdoctoral fellowships at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and Pennsylvania State University.  

Education

  • Ph.D., Astrophysics, Peking University
  • M.S., Astrophysics, Peking University
  • B.S., Geophysics, Peking University

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Bing Zhang In The News

Archyworldys
Our Milky Way has a strange, monstrous black hole at its center, which is spinning extremely fast and out of direction with respect to the rest of the galaxy. An international research team has just discovered why the monster black hole Sagittarius A* (Sagittarius A*) appears to be “lost” compared to the rest of the Milky Way.
Financial Express
Milky Way’s supermassive black hole has a mysterious past, and scientists have found some evidence to explain its behaviour. The supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*, is located 26,000 light-years away from Earth in the center of our galaxy.
Knowridge
Large galaxies like ours are hosts to Supermassive Black Holes (SMBHs.) They can be so massive that they resist comprehension, with some of them having billions of times more mass than the Sun. Ours, named Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), is a little more modest at about four million solar masses.
LiveScience
Astronomers studying the Milky Way's supermassive black hole have found "compelling evidence" that could finally help explain its mysterious past. Located 26,000 light-years away in the center of our galaxy, Sagittarius A* is a gargantuan tear in space-time that is 4 million times the mass of our sun and 14.6 million miles (23.5 million kilometers) wide.
All Bing Zhang In The News

Articles Featuring Bing Zhang

51ԹϺ Newsmakers 2024: September
Undergrad researcher Benjamin Sabir helps H. Jeremy Cho examine an atmospheric water harvesting device. (Jeff Scheid/51ԹϺ)
Campus News | October 1, 2024

A monthly roundup of the top news stories featuring 51ԹϺ staff and students.

Study: Plasma Bubbles and the "Engine" of Cosmic Fast Radio Bursts
artist rendering of deep-space plasma bubble
Research | August 7, 2024

New study by international team of scientists in the journal Nature has discovered the origin of the persistent emission of radiation observed in some deep-space fast radio bursts.

51ԹϺ Newsmakers 2023: August
Students at Pida Plaza on the first day of classes (Josh Hawkins, 51ԹϺ).
Campus News | September 1, 2023

A roundup of prominent news stories highlighting university pride, research, and community collaboration.

All Articles Featuring Bing Zhang