James Stone

Stone is a computational astrophysicist who develops and applies numerical algorithms to study problems in astrophysical fluid dynamics.  He led development of the publicly available radiation magnetohydrodynamic codes ZEUS and ATHENA, two of the most widely used codes in astrophysics.  Stone’s numerical work is characterized by exacting standards and rigorous tests of numerical methods. He is equally influential in applying these codes to important astrophysical problems. Key contributions include algorithm development for many key processes (e.g., magnetic fields, radiation, and plasma effects); studies of turbulence in the interstellar medium and its role in star formation; and a particularly broad and deep oeuvre on accretion disks in nearly all astrophysical environments, from proto-stars to black holes.