| Citation | R.D. Blandford is distinguished for his impressive range of original contributions to high energy astrophysics. He has been a leader in developing 'beam' models to explain the phenomenology of cosmic radio sources, and has studied plasma processes and radiation mechanisms relevant to pulsars and compact sources. He has explored the astrophysical implications of gravitational collapse, showing in particular how the energy of spinning black holes can be extracted electromagnetically to provide the primary power source in active galactic nuclei. He has investigated in detail the acceleration of relativistic particles in shock fronts, and has offered original ideas on the origin of neutron star magnetic fields. He gave, with Teukolsky and Smarr, a definitive discussion of relativistic effects in binary systems. Blandford's contributions surpass those of his contemporaries (in the US as well as the UK) because - to an exceptional degree - he combines physical insight and an interest in observations with a technical mastery of plasma physics and relativity. Although he is now based at Caltech, he retains strong academic links with this country. |