Heather Ratcliffe

Dr. Heather Ratcliffe is a Researcher at the University of Warwick, affiliated with the Physics Centre for Fusion, Space and Astrophysics. Her primary responsibilities include supporting the EPOCH code under Professors Tony Arber and Keith Bennett, developing a number theory database with J. Cremona, and managing access to the Athena Tier-2 supercomputing facility. She holds a PhD in Physics and Astronomy from the University of Glasgow (2013) and a Master’s in Mathematics and Physics from the University of Warwick (2008).

Her research focuses on plasma physics, solar flares, and radio emission mechanisms. Key areas include electron beam interactions, whistler-mode waves, and solar radio bursts. She employs advanced computational methods like particle-in-cell simulations to explore nonlinear plasma dynamics and wave-particle interactions.

Recent work highlights include studies on electron diffusion in magnetospheric plasmas and large-scale simulations of solar radio bursts. Her 2014 review articles underscore her contributions to understanding solar radio emissions and their observational signatures. Collaborations span computational astrophysics and interdisciplinary projects with mathematicians.

• Scientific Awards: None explicitly listed.
• Advising & Grants: No formal advisees listed; her work emphasizes collaborative research with senior academics.
• Labs/Teams: Core contributor to the EPOCH project team and the Scientific Computing RTP at Warwick.