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Astrophysics

Read more at: About the group
Astrophysics group photo October 2024

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).

Read more at: News and events

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.
 
Read more at: Vacancies

Vacancies

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

Read more at: PhD opportunties

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.

Read more at: Astrophysical dynamics

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.

Read more at: Atomic astrophysics

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

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, Z-C Liang, C Lindsey, SS Mahajan, K Mandal, P Mani, JC Martinez Oliveros, S Mathur, MC Rabello Soares, SP Rajaguru, J Reiter, EJ Rhodes, J-P Rozelot, PH Scherrer, SK Solanki, JT Stefan, J Toomre, SC Tripathy, LA Upton, J Zhao
– Solar Physics
(2025)
300,
70
(doi: 10.1007/s11207-025-02480-6)
Toward a Self-consistent Hydrodynamical Model of the Solar Tachocline
P Garaud, DO Gough, LI Matilsky
– The 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)
staf812
(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,
89
(doi: 10.3847/1538-4357/adcab5)
UK APAP R-Matrix Electron-Impact Excitation Cross-Sections for Modelling Laboratory and Astrophysical Plasma
G Del Zanna, G Liang, J Mao, NR Badnell
– Atoms
(2025)
13,
44
(doi: 10.3390/atoms13050044)

DAMTP Astrophysics Seminars

Jonathan Squire [Otago, New Zealand]
Elena Khomenko (IAC Tenerife)
Gavin Coleman [Queen Mary University London]

Study at Cambridge

About the University

Research at Cambridge