Dr Gerald K Skinner

Astrophysics Science Division
NASA/GSFC
Code 661, GSFC
Greenbelt, MD 20771

tel: 301 286 1350
fax:
e-mail: gerald.k.skinner @ nasa.gov

Present Position

Senior Research Scientist
University Of Maryland
College Park

Brief Bio

Current position (since Jan 2008)

Previous posts

Educational Background

BSc Physics (1st Class), University of Birmingham(1965)

PhD Thesis “Electron Transfer in CaF2:Eu,Sm crystals” University of Birmingham (1969)

Research Interests

Current Projects

Integral/SPI : Gamma-ray line studies

Swift Bat Survey : AGN, Novae

Coded Mask Imaging Theory

Development of lenses for X-ray and Gamma-ray astronomy

Selected Publications

1. Bélanger, G., A. Goldwurm, M. Renaud, R. Terrier, F. Melia, N. Lund, J. Paul, G. Skinner, and F. Yusef-Zadeh ``A Persistent High-Energy Flux from the Heart of the Milky Way: INTEGRAL's View of the Galactic Center'' Ap. J., 636, 275 (2006)

2. Weidenspointner, G., C. R. Shrader, J. Knödlseder, P. Jean, V. Lonjou, N. Guessoum, R. Diehl, W. Gillard, M. J. Harris, G. K. Skinner, P. von Ballmoos, G. Vedrenne, J.-P. Roques, S. Schanne, P. Sizun, B. J. Teegarden, V. Schönfelder, and C. Winkler “The sky distribution of positronium annihilation continuum emission measured with SPI/INTEGRAL'' A&A 450, 1013 (2006)

3. Bode, M. F., T. J. O'Brien, J. P. Osborne, K. L. Page, F. Senziani, G. K. Skinner, S. Starrfield, J.-U. Ness, J. J. Drake, G. Schwarz, A. P. Beardmore, M. J. Darnley, S. P. S. Eyres, A. Evans, N. Gehrels, M. R. Goad, P. Jean, J. Krautter, and G. Novara “Swift Observations of the 2006 Outburst of the Recurrent Nova RS Ophiuchi. I. Early X-ray Emission from the Shocked Ejecta and Red Giant Wind'' Ap. J. 652, 629 (2006)

4. Band, D. L., J. E. Grindlay, J. Hong, G. Fishman, D. H. Hartmann, A. Garson III, H. Krawczynski, S. Barthelmy, N. Gehrels, and G. Skinner ``EXIST's Gamma-Ray Burst Sensitivity'' Ap. J To be published (2007)

5. Chesneau, O., N. Nardetto, F. Millour, C. Hummel, A. Domiciano de Souza, D. Bonneau, M. Vannier, F. Rantakyrö, A. Spang, F. Malbet, D. Mourard, M. F. Bode, T. J. O'Brien, G. Skinner, R. G. Petrov, P. Stee, E. Tatulli, and F. Vakili “AMBER/VLTI interferometric observations of the recurrent Nova RS Ophiuchii 5.5 days after outburst'' A&A 464, 119 (2007)

6. Weidenspointner, G., Skinner, G., Jean, P., Knödlseder, J., von Ballmoos, P., Bignami, G., Diehl, R., Strong, A. W., Cordier, B., Schanne, S., Winkler, C., “An asymmetric distribution of positrons in the Galactic disk revealed by gamma-rays” Nature, To be published (2007)

7. Skinner, G.K., "Diffractive/refractive optics for High Energy Astronomy: I Gamma-ray Fresnel Lenses" A&A. 375, 691-700 (2001)

8. Skinner, G.K., "Diffractive/refractive optics for High Energy Astronomy: II Variations on the theme" A&A 383, 352-359 (2002)

9. Skinner, G.K., Gorenstein, P. “Astronomy (communication Arising): Black holes, fleas and microlithography” Nature, 426, 245-246, (2003).

10. Skinner, G.K. von Ballmoos, P. , Gehrels, N., Krizmanic, J. “Fresnel lenses for X-ray and gamma-ray astronomy” , Proc SPIE 5168, 459-470 (2004)

12. Skinner, G. K. “Gamma Ray Fresnel lenses - why not?'' Exp. Astr. 20, 289-298 (2006)

Publications at the ADS website.