Affiliate Scientist: Viggo Hansteen

HAO welcomes its newest affiliate scientist Professor Viggo Hansteen from the University of Oslo’s Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics. Author of over 160 scientific articles with more than 2,200 citations, Viggo has spent a considerable amount of time at HAO conducting research on solar wind acceleration and coronal heating, mostly with former director Tom Holzer and senior scientist Philip Judge.

In recent years Viggo has invested a considerable amount of his time developing the three-dimensional radiation magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) code “Bifrost” (in Norse mythology Bifrost is the path from the mortal world to that of the Gods). Bifrost has provided invaluable physical insight into the tiggering, formation, and appearance of chromospheric spicules, as well as the passage of Alfvénic waves through the outer solar atmosphere. We hope Viggo will bring his considerable set of skills to bear on his visits to Boulder, helping us improve our understanding of chromospheric magnetism and dynamics as part of Frontier One in HAO’s 2011–2015 Strategic Plan.

Caption: Outside of science Viggo is a real competitor, participating in a great number of outdoor activities including skiing, soccer, and cycling. This picture was taken during the 2011 Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) in Belgium where amateur and professional cyclists participate side-by-side in the grueling race.

List of HAO affiliate scientists: Link »