Barbara Ercolano

{{short description|Italian astrophysicist}} '''Barbara Ercolano''' (born 1977) is an Italian [[Astrophysics|astrophysicist]] recognized for her research and work on [[Cosmic dust|interstellar dust]], [[star formation]], and [[Protoplanetary disk|protoplanetary disks]]. She holds the position of Professor for Theoretical Astrophysics in the [[University Observatory Munich]] at [[LMU Munich]]. Her work has been significant to understanding the processes involved in planet formation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ercolano |first=Barbara |title=Prof. Dr. Barbara Ercolano |url=https://www.imprs-astro.mpg.de/content/prof-dr-barbara-ercolano.html |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=The International Max Planck Research School on Astrophysics}}</ref>

== Early life and education == Ercolano was born and originally from [[Naples]] in Italy, where she lived until she was 18. She then moved to London to study astrophysics at [[University College London]] (UCL). She obtained her PhD at UCL, during which she developed the first version of MOCASSIN, a 3D photoionization and dust radiative transfer code.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Ercolano |first=Barbara |title=Biography |url=https://ercolano4.wixsite.com/homepage/bio |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=homepage |language=en}}</ref> The code’s ability to stimulate interactions between radiation and dust in astrophysical environments became a foundation of her research moving forward. After obtaining her PhD and spending time doing postdoctoral research at UCL, the [[Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics|Center for Astrophysics]] | [[Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics|Harvard & Smithsonian]], and the [[University of Cambridge]]. Her experience across many institutions expanded her expertise in theoretical astrophysics that she was able to become a professor. She became a lecturer in astrophysics at the [[University of Exeter]] and then she moved to Germany to join [[LMU Munich]] as a professor in 2010.<ref name=":0" />

== MOCASSIN and research focus == Barbara Ercolano’s research has been a significant contribution to the understanding of many interstellar subjects like interstellar dust, star formation, and protoplanetary disks. A central aspect of her work is MOCASSIN, a 3D code written in the [[Fortran|Fortran 90]] coding language, which uses the Monte Carlo approach to model transfer of radiation. Ercolano’s work and her work using the MOCASSIN code has provided many insights into how radiation from young stars affect their surrounding environments and the formation of planets.<ref name=":0" /> In addition to her research and work with MOCASSIN, Ercolano has co-authored many research papers. For example, her work on the dispersal planet-forming disk explores mechanisms on how protoplanetary disks dissipate over time.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Owen |first1=James E. |last2=Clarke |first2=Cathie J. |last3=Ercolano |first3=Barbara |date=2012-05-21 |title=On the theory of disc photoevaporation |journal=Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society |volume=422 |issue=3 |pages=1880–1901 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.20337.x |doi-access=free |issn=0035-8711|arxiv=1112.1087 |bibcode=2012MNRAS.422.1880O }}</ref> This research shows that high energy radiation from young stairs plays a crucial role in causing gas to escape from the disk, influencing how the disk develops and the formation of planets. One of her other notable papers, co-authored with [[James E. Owen]] and [[Cathie Clarke|Cathie J. Clarke]], focused on how X-ray photoevaporation affects evolution and dispersal of protoplanetary disks.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Owen |first1=James E. |last2=Ercolano |first2=Barbara |last3=Clarke |first3=Cathie J. |date=2011-03-21 |title=Protoplanetary disc evolution and dispersal: the implications of X-ray photoevaporation |journal=Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society |volume=412 |issue=1 |pages=13–25 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.17818.x |doi-access=free |issn=0035-8711|arxiv=1010.0826 |bibcode=2011MNRAS.412...13O }}</ref> It demonstrates that high-energy X-rays from a young star can drive the removal of gas from these disks, influencing the disk’s evolution and potential for planet formation.

== Awards and recognition == Ercolano is the 2010 winner of the Fowler Award for Early Career Achievements in Astronomy from the [[Royal Astronomical Society]]. The award recognized her contributions to the field such as the development of MOCASSIN and her research on protoplanetary disks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Previous Fowler Award winners (Astronomy) |url=https://ras.ac.uk/sites/default/files/fowler_award_a_winners_1_0.pdf |series=Royal Astronomical Society }}</ref>

==References== <references></references>

==External links== *[https://ercolano4.wixsite.com/homepage Home page]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ercolano, Barbara}} [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Italian astrophysicists]] [[Category:German astrophysicists]] [[Category:Italian women astrophysicists]] [[Category:Alumni of University College London]] [[Category:Academics of the University of Exeter]]