Space physics researcher Immanuel Christopher Jebaraj Wins 2024 Vincenzo Ferraro Prize

Immanuel Christopher Jebaraj has won the international prize for space physics awarded by the Vincenzo Ferraro Association in Italy. The prize recognises excellence in scientific research and pays tribute to the Italian scientist Vincenzo C.A. Ferraro, an astrophysicist and pioneer in plasma physics, in order to encourage studies in the field of space plasmas.

Jebaraj is a postdoctoral researcher in Space Research Laboratory of the Department Physics and Astronomy, of the University of Turku. The award was given to Jebaraj for his extraordinary contributions in space plasma physics.

The main contributions are Jebaraj’s interpretations of novel spacecraft data on two fronts. First, Jebaraj discovered the so-called “fundamental-harmonic pairs,” a ubiquitous feature of collective plasma radiation predicted in 1958. Second, he provided the first demonstration that strong shock waves close to the Sun evolve as predicted by theory. Understanding shock waves near the Sun is imperative, as they are responsible for producing highly energetic particles hazardous to humans in space.

“The prize is an honor for me as it shows the community’s appreciation for my hard work and validates the path I have chosen. It is the biggest compliment that an early-career scientist can receive, which significantly boosts morale and motivates further achievements,” Jebaraj said.

Together with the researchers of Space Research Laboratory of the University of Turku, Immanuel Christopher Jebaraj is currently working on identifying key aspects of the energetic particle acceleration at shock waves using novel data analysis methods.

The Vincenzo Ferraro award was established by Maddalena Ferraro, in honor of her uncle and illustrious scientist Vincenzo Ferraro, who emphasized that “culture must not bore”, summarizing with this phrase the mission of the award, that is, to make science accessible and fascinating for everyone.