Astrophysics group | Astrophysics

About the group

The group carries out research into a wide range of topics involving astrophysical fluid dynamics and nonlinear dynamics. Specific astrophysical interests include the dynamics of astrophysical discs, planetary formation and evolution, extrasolar planetary systems and stellar magnetohydrodynamics (particularly dynamo theory, magnetoconvection and the physics of sunspots).

News and events

(Apr 2025) The group welcomes David Hosking, a new Junior Research Fellow at Gonville & Caius.

(Mar 2025) Welcome to Octave Mullie, a visiting student from the ENS Lyon, who will be working with Thomas and Henrik for the next few months.

(Dec 2024) The group congratulates Nathan Magnan, who successfully defended his PhD thesis. Nathan will take up a research fellowship in Nice later in 2025. Well done, Nathan!

(Oct 2024) Congratulations to Giulio del Zanna for being appointed Honorary Professor in the School of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Leicester!

(Oct 2024) Our group welcomes Johannes Sadler, new PhD student, Nicole Shibley, new Assistant Professor, and Mor Rozner, new Junior Research Fellow.

(Sep 2024) Congratulations to Helen Mason on being awarded the Ogden Trust's Sustained Contribution to Physics Outreach Award 2024.

Vacancies

Numerous opportunities exist for research fellowships that can be held in, or in association with, the Astrophysics Group.

PhD opportunties

Applications are now closed for PhD applications with an October 2025 start. Please contact us, however, if interested in applying for the following year.

Astrophysical dynamics

Discs are ubiquitous in astrophysics and participate in some of its most important processes. Most, but not all, feed a central mass: by facilitating the transfer of angular momentum, they permit the accretion of material that would otherwise stay in orbit. As a consequence, discs are essential to star, planet and satellite formation. They also regulate the growth of supermassive black holes and thus indirectly influence galactic structure and the intra-cluster medium.

Atomic astrophysics

Atomic physics plays a key role in astrophysics as astronomers' only information about a particular object comes through the light that it emits, and this light arises through atomic transitions. The main astronomical body that we study is the Sun and, in particular, the hot atmosphere of the Sun called the corona. The best parts of the electromagnetic spectrum to study the corona are the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and X-rays.

Recent Publications

Nigel R. Badnell (1958–2024): A Legacy in Atomic Astrophysics

G Del Zanna, HE Mason, PJ Storey, S Kuhr, C Zhang, J Mao, GJ Ferland, A Giunta, RP Dufresne

– Atoms

(2025)

13,

(doi: 10.3390/atoms13060055)

Structure and Dynamics of the Sun’s Interior Revealed by the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager

AG Kosovichev, S Basu, Y Bekki, JC Buitrago-Casas, T Chatzistergos, R Chen, J Christensen-Dalsgaard, A Donea, B Fleck, D Fournier, RA García, AV Getling, L Gizon, DO Gough, S Hanasoge, CS Hanson, SA Hess Webber, JT Hoeksema, R Howe, K Jain, S Kasapis, SG Kashyap, IN Kitiashvili, R Komm, SG Korzennik, NA Krivova, JR Kuhn, ZC Liang, C Lindsey, SS Mahajan, K Mandal, P Mani, JC Martinez Oliveros, S Mathur, MC Rabello Soares, SP Rajaguru, J Reiter, EJ Rhodes, JP Rozelot, PH Scherrer, SK Solanki, JT Stefan, J Toomre, SC Tripathy, LA Upton, J Zhao

– Solar Physics

(2025)

300,

(doi: 10.1007/s11207-025-02480-6)

Toward a Self-consistent Hydrodynamical Model of the Solar Tachocline

P Garaud, DO Gough, LI Matilsky

– Astrophysical Journal

(2025)

985,

151

(doi: 10.3847/1538-4357/adc72b)

Modelling Stellar Irradiances II: Correlations of solar irradiances with proxies of activity along a cycle

E Deliporanidou, G Del Zanna, TN Woods, D Woodraska

– Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

(2025)

540,

1765

(doi: 10.1093/mnras/staf812)

Evidence of Extreme-ultraviolet Resonant Excitation in the Middle Corona during a Solar Flare

DB Seaton, C Downs, G Del Zanna, MJ West, EMB Thiemann, A Caspi, EE DeLuca, L Golub, JP Mason, R Patel, KK Reeves, YJ Rivera, SL Savage

– The Astrophysical Journal

(2025)

985,

(doi: 10.3847/1538-4357/adcab5)

Astrophysics

About the group

News and events

Vacancies

PhD opportunties

Astrophysical dynamics

Atomic astrophysics

Recent Publications

DAMTP Astrophysics Seminars

Study at Cambridge

About the University

Research at Cambridge