Prof Carlo Barenghi (Emeritus)
My research interests are Taylor-Couette flow, vortices and turbulence, superfluid hydrodynamics, superfluidity and Bose-Einstein condensation, quantum vortices and quantum turbulence
I have worked on a broad range of problems relating to astrophysical fluid dynamics and dynamo theory. My main area of astrophysics research centres around the origin and evolution of magnetic fields in the solar interior, but I have also worked on planetary atmospheres and the dynamics of the interstellar medium. More generally, I am also interested in assessing the capabilities and limitations of sound-proof approximations in fluid dynamics.
I work on experimental and numerical modelling of internal solitary waves (ISWs) in the stratified ocean specifically in the context of Offshore Wind, Sea-Ice, and interaction with topography. My expertise includes laboratory generation and visualisation of ISWs (via PIV and micro-conductivity sensors) and numerical modelling via a spectral parallel incompressible Navier-Stokes solver.
I work on the fluid dynamics of the ocean and atmosphere, using a combination of asymptotic methods and numerical simulations. In particular, I study submesoscale processes (scales of 100m-10km) such as ocean fronts, internal waves, baroclinic and symmetric instabilities, coastal-trapped waves, and dipolar vortices.
I research the physical processes governing galaxy evolution and, in particular, the growth of supermassive black holes, the impact of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), the hydrodynamics of galactic outflows and the origin of multi-phase structure. My research combines analytic modelling, radiation-hydrodynamic simulations and the analysis of multi-wavelength data.
Dr Céline Guervilly (group leader)
I work on the fluid dynamics of planetary interiors and the generation of planetary magnetic fields using computational modelling. My current research involves rotating convection with applications to terrestrial liquid cores and gas giants: formation of large-scale vortices, magneto-convection, dynamo action, and double-diffusive effects.
Prof Chris Jones (visiting researcher)
My research interests are: Magnetic field generation in the Earth and other planets; structure and dynamics of the Earth’s outer core; thermal convection in rotating and magnetic systems; structure and dynamics of the giant planets and their magnetic fields; deep zonal flows in the giant planets; instability mechanisms and angular momentum transport in stars; the solar dynamo.
I am interested in a wide range of problems in geophysical and astrophysical fluids and magnetohydrodynamics. Much of my research has been on planetary dynamos, with some focus on field reversals; but I have also worked extensively on magnetic field generation and cosmic ray dynamics in the supernova-driven interstellar medium. I am currently involved in a project studying double-diffusive convection in planetary interiors.
My main research fields are: Interstellar medium, Astrophysical magnetohydrodynamics, Dynamo theory.
Other fields: Fluid dynamics, Turbulence, Mathematical modelling for stem cells research and prehistoric population dynamics, Medical image analysis, Air quality control in urban environments.
Current research interests: Magnetic fields of galaxies, Dynamo theory, Interstellar matter, Interstellar turbulence; Cosmic rays; Neolithic dispersal in Eurasia, Stochastic dynamics of prehistoric settlement systems; Dynamics of human stem cells.
I am interested in the fluid dynamics of stellar interiors, including the Sun and neutron stars, where magnetic fields play a crucial role. My current research involves magneto-hydrodynamics and superfluidity.
Dr Niraj Prasad (postdoc)
My work primarily involves experimental and computational investigation of mode-2 internal solitary waves. I am currently working on the laboratory generation of mode-2 waves with multi-humped profiles. I have also performed experimental research in microfluidics and microfabrication and have expertise in photolithography and multiphase modelling of viscoelastic fluids.
Dr Yue-Kin Tsang (postdoc)
I am interested in the many complex phenomena arise in various geophysical and astrophysical fluid systems. This ranges from vortices and waves in Earth’s atmosphere and oceans to the dynamos inside the Earth and the giant planets of our solar system. A recent project is the investigation of double-diffusive convection under Saturn-like condition.
Martin Gray (PhD student)
I am a PhD student and my current research is on double-diffusive convection in planetary interiors of Mercury-like planets working under Céline Guervilly and Graeme Sarson. Some of my other areas of interest are Astophysical Magnetohydronamics, Dynamo Theory and Turbulence.
Rose Hinz (PhD student)
My research focuses on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) using Dedalus, a spectral partial differential equation (PDE) solver widely used by researchers. Specifically, I model incompressible, rotating convection under low Prandtl number conditions. The primary goal of my research is to explain the formation, evolution, and structure of the large-scale vortices observed in Jupiter’s polar region. Additionally, I am working on integrating machine learning to support the computationally intensive CFD programs. My areas of interest include surrogate modeling, super-resolution, and autoencoding methods.
Scott Hopper (PhD student)
I am a PhD student supervised by Toby Wood and Paul Bushby. My work revolves around the solar interior, specifically looking at magnetohydrodynamic instabilities which may arise in the solar tachocline. These include tearing instability, magnetorotational instability and magnetic buoyancy instability.