I’m Uddipan Banik, a theoretical astrophysicist and Yakov B. Zel’dovich Fellow at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. I use analytical theory and numerical simulations to study the non-linear relaxation of galaxies and dark matter halos, and astrophysical plasmas ranging from stellar interiors to accretion disks around black holes. I am intrigued by how universal scaling relations emerge in seemingly complex environments.
Uddipan Banik · Perimeter Institute for Theoretical PhysicsMy research spans the dynamics of galaxies, dark matter halos and plasmas. I study how gravity and electromagnetic forces drive the relaxation of many-body astrophysical systems.
At Yale, I developed kinetic theories of dynamical friction and phase-space spirals in galaxies. My postdoctoral work explains the formation of dark matter halo profiles and non-thermal particle distributions, and investigates the origin of magnetic cycles in the Sun and accretion disks.
See the research themesDuring my PhD, I studied how gravitational perturbations reshape galaxies. My postdoctoral research uses kinetic theory to study dark matter halo profiles and particle acceleration in plasmas, and MHD to investigate magnetic-field generation and cycles in the Sun and accretion disks.
In my PhD research, I developed theories of how galaxies and dark matter halos respond to gravitational perturbations. I studied how encounters with satellite galaxies generate phase-space spirals in stellar disks and how resonant orbits drive dynamical friction, buoyancy, and core-stalling.
My postdoctoral work uses kinetic theory to study the origin of universal dark matter halo profiles and non-thermal particle acceleration in collisionless plasmas, and MHD to understand how large-scale magnetic fields arise and self-organize in the Sun and accretion disks.
Exact dynamo-wave solutions and anelastic MHD simulations show how magnetic fields reverse and meridional circulation develops.
Solar magnetismKinetic theory asks why collisionless dark matter halos can approach familiar density profiles.
Physical Review D · 2025Boltzmann–Poisson theory connects collapse, accretion and substructure to prompt cusps and halo profiles.
Submitted to Physical Review DCollective plasma physics shapes non-thermal particle tails, heating and solar-coronal temperatures.
Journal articles + preprintsWave interference and shearing-box simulations probe the slow MRI dynamo.
2026 preprintQuantum kinetics examines stationary states, correlations and the path to thermalization.
Ongoing researchPhase-space spirals and gravitational drag reveal how galaxies respond to perturbations.
PhD researchA kinetic-gravity computational laboratory for dark matter evolution and relativistic collapse.
Ongoing softwareFigures and simulations from my papers, ongoing projects, and research talks. Select a visual to see the full result.
The animations open at full length, with late-time stills displayed before playback.
Selected submitted manuscripts, refereed papers, codes, and work in preparation are listed below.
Public recordings and talk pages from recent research presentations.
Watch Perimeter talkPerimeter Institute · September 29, 2026 · recording
TIFR Astronomy and Astrophysics Seminar · February 11, 2026
Perimeter Institute · July 10, 2023
Perimeter Institute · November 22, 2022
My current CV includes publications, software, research interests, appointments, talks, and teaching.
Download CV (PDF)For research discussions, seminars, or collaborations, please email me.
ubanik@perimeterinstitute.ca
