Dr Istvan Ballai's main research interest is in linear and nonlinear MHD waves occurring in solar and interplanetary plasmas.

Waves can carry energy and momentum; when transferred to inhomogeneous plasmas they can heat or accelerate the plasma therefore MHD waves may play an important role in explaining the observed high temperatures in the solar corona.

Waves can transport information about the environment in which they propagate, so they serve as a perfect tool for plasma diagnostics. We use local and global coronal waves to find average values for magnetic field and transport coefficients in the solar corona. 

Publications

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Dr Malcolm Druet is an internationally recognised expert in the numerical modelling of solar plasma  (MHD, radiative transfer, and flares).

Team member and developer of MHD codes: Bifrost, AMRVAC.

Radiative transfer codes: MULTI3D, HYDRO2GEN. 

Publications

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Prof Viktor Fedun's research is primarily concerned with the mathematical modelling of physics of solar/space plasmas, sun-solar wind and solar-terrestrial systems.

The study of processes occurring in such systems is crucially important for understanding the sun, predicting space weather and understanding the dynamics of space and laboratory plasmas.

This includes mathematical modelling of solar magnetic flux tubes and processes that heat and maintain the coronal plasma at multi-million degree temperatures, studying fundamental plasma processes such as waves and instabilities in inhomogeneous media and determining the physical parameters of solar magnetic structures.

Publications

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Dr Rekha Jain is interested in physical processes of plasmas. Her recent research has been focussed on investigating, theoretically and observationally, various wave phenomena that occur on the sun.

More specifically, this includes:

• investigating the effects of magnetism on the solar oscillations

• studying wave propagation in astrophysical atmospheres

• modelling and analysing resonant modes of magnetic loops in the sun's corona

• understanding how the sun's outer atmosphere is heated to million degrees

• modelling of magnetic reconnection and nanoflare heating

• numerical simulation of forced magnetic reconnection

Publications 

Dr Gary Verth is interested in the energy transport and dissipation of various MHD wave modes on their journey up through the sun's atmosphere.

His models are tested using the latest and highest spatial/temporal resolution ground and space-based wave observations.

More recently, he has become interested in testing these MHD models in laboratory plasma experiments.

Publications

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Dr Hua-Liang Wei in an international expert in the field of identification and modelling for complex nonlinear systems. His research interests include: 

• NARMAX methodology and applications

• Artificial neural networks (ANN), radial basis function networks (RBFN), wavelet neural networks and multiresolution wavelet models, computational statistics, machine learning, intelligent computation and data mining

• Regression analysis, parameter estimation and optimization, sparse representation

• Spatio-temporal system identification and modelling

• Forecasting and analysis of complex stochastic dynamical processes with applications in space weather systems, environmental systems and computational economics and finance

Applications and developments of signal processing, system identification and data modelling to control engineering, bioengineering, neuroscience, systems/synthetic biology, environments, space weather and other emerging areas.

Publications 

Dr Suzana Silva is interested in uncovering essential aspects of the solar atmospheric dynamics by identifying the regions of transport and rotation of magnetic field lines in the lower solar atmosphere. The investigations are made by means of realistic MHD simulations complemented by the analysis of data from the active and calm Sun regions.

Publications

Google Scholar

Dr Samuel Skirvin is interested in understanding the properties of MHD waves in non-uniform plasmas, in addition to modelling MHD wave propagation throughout the structured solar atmosphere. 

Samuel is the core developer of the 1D numerical eigensolver SESAME and has a research background in conducting 3D numerical simulations of MHD wave propagation in the stratified and structured solar atmosphere. 

Publications

Google Scholar

The understanding of energy transport within the solar atmosphere is an important topic of modern solar physics. It is widely accepted, the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves are primary candidates to be energy carriers to the upper layers of the solar atmosphere. Therefore, investigation of the excitation mechanisms and further propagation of these waves within various magnetic structures are important for quantifying their roles in heating the Sun’s atmosphere. In the proposed research several new models will be analysed analytically and numerically to address this topic.

Supervisors

Dr Istvan Ballai, Dr Gary Verth, Prof Viktor Fedun

Supervisors

Dr Istvan Ballai, Prof Viktor Fedun, Dr Gary Verth

Supervisors

Dr Istvan Ballai, Dr Gary Verth, Prof Viktor Fedun

Supervisors

Drs Istvan Ballai, Gary Verth, Prof Viktor Fedun

Supervisors

Dr Malcolm Druett

Supervisors

Drs Istvan Ballai, Gary Verth, Prof Viktor Fedun

Mr Matthew Lennard is working on the application of machine learning on forecasting flux emergence on the photosphere.

He is currently interested in dynamical systems and convolutional neural networks, in particular the implementation of physics informed neural networks to improve the understanding and knowledge of the dynamics observed in the photosphere of our Sun.

Supervisors

Prof Viktor Fedun, Dr Gary Verth

Supervisors

Dr Istvan Ballai, Dr Gary Verth, Prof Viktor Fedun

Lauren will study the physics and main properties of solar plasma flows, which are fundamentally important for the understanding of energy transport between the lower and upper layers of the solar atmosphere. In the framework of this project, she will develop a new algorithm to fully automate the process of plasma flow identification, vortices interactions within their communities and interactions between communities. To identify communities of closely related K- and M-vortices and their networks, she will apply a state-of-the-art

community detection algorithm (CDA) and Biot- Savart Law. These analyses will be complemented by ML techniques e.g. DeepVel (Ramos et al., 2017). This research is important for the currently available and near-future solar observations with DKIST and EST.

Supervisors

Prof Viktor Fedun, Drs Gary Verth, Istvan Ballai

Sergey's main research interests and experience are in data analysis and mathematical modelling of Very Low Frequency waves in the Earth-Ionosphere wave guide.

Supervisors

Prof Viktor Fedun, Drs Gary Verth, Istvan Ballai,  Iñaki Esnaola

Dr Mykola Gordovskyy works in the field of solar physics with particular interests in particle acceleration in various solar magnetic field configurations.

Publications

ADS

Prof Dave Jess' main studies of the sun concern its lower atmosphere which can be seen in optical wavelengths. He is predominantly interested in how the sun's energy travels through its atmosphere, both in the form of flares and waves.

To study this, Dave utilises a wide range of instruments, including the Queen's University developed ROSA camera system, as well as the Royal Society funded Hydrogen-Alpha Rapid Dynamics camera (HARDcam), of which he is the Principal Investigator.

Publications

ADS

Dr Yuriy Khotyaintsev's research interests include

• magnetospheric physics

• magnetic reconnection and particle energisation

• analysis of satellite data

Publications

ADS

Dr Eamon Scullion's research interests include

• observational solar physics

• numerical simulations of the sun

• plasma physics

• magneto-hydrodynamics

• astrophysics

Publications

ADS

Dr Sergiy Shelyag's main research interests and experience are

• large-scale mathematical modelling of astrophysical processes

• astrophysical plasma physics

• computational fluid dynamics and magnetohydrodynamics (MHD)

• numerical radiative transport

• spectropolarimetry with applications to the solar and stellar atmospheres

Publications

ADS

Research interests:

• MHD turbulence and transport of magnetic fields, momentum and chemical species.

• Generation and evolution of magnetic fields (dynamos) and differential rotations.

• Anomalous transport and its regulation in laboratory plasmas.

• Non-equilibrium statistical theory, structure formation and self-organisation.

Publications

Google Scholar, ResearchGate

Alastair is interested in the mathematical modelling and analysis of MHD wave propagation in the various magnetic configurations of the solar atmosphere.

Now a Post Doc at KU Leuven.

Viva 12.07.2024

PhD: 2020-2024

Mr Max Mcmurdo is working on problems related to the MHD wave propagation in the solar atmosphere.

Supervisors

Dr Istvan Ballai, Dr Gary Verth, Prof Viktor Fedun

2021-2025

Thesis

Slow body magnetohydrodynamic waves in solar photospheric flux tubes with inhomogeneous equilibria

Mr Fisal Ahmed H Asiri is working on problems related to the MHD wave propagation in the solar atmosphere.

Supervisors

Dr Istvan Ballai, Dr Gary Verth, Prof Viktor Fedun

2018 - 2023

Thesis

The Analysis of the Solar Vortex on the Solar Atmosphere

In the framework of the project, Yuyang will study the physics and main properties of solar spicules, which are fundamentally important for the understanding of energy transport between the lower and upper layers of the solar atmosphere.

The machine learning, deep learning and pattern recognition methods will be used for comprehensive analysis of observational data.

He will develop a new algorithm to fully automate the process of spicule identification and tracking to facilitate a more robust statistical analysis of their properties (based on Solar-H-alpha and Ca-II spectral observations). These analyses will be based on the techniques mentioned above which will be complemented by computer vision, POD/DMD methods.

Results of the project will lead to the better understanding of the origin of spicules and their generic properties such as length, width, life-time and behaviour (oscillations). By developing this automated detection and tracking system, it will both speed up the analysis processes and save time for further study.

This research is extremely important for near future solar observations with the new Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST, USA) and the European Solar Telescope (EST, Europe) which are being constructed and aimed at resolving the solar coronal heating paradox. The UK and the University of Sheffield academics in DKIST are supported by STFC.

Supervisors

Dr Gary Verth, Dr Viktor Fedun

2018 - 2022 

Thesis

Dynamics of vortices on the solar photosphere

Supervisors

Dr Istvan Ballai, Dr Gary Verth, Dr Viktor Fedun

2018 - 2022 

Thesis

Investigation of the properties of MHD waves in the presence of non-uniform equilibria and flow using a numerical approach

Supervisors

Prof Viktor Fedun, Dr Gary Verth

2022 - 04.2024

Postdoctoral researcher in solar physics – KU Leuven, Belgium https://www.kuleuven.be/wieiswie/en/person/00153820 

2018 - 2022 

Thesis

Waves in Partially Ionised Multi-Fluid Solar Atmospheric Plasmas

Supervisors

Dr Istvan Ballai, Dr Gary Verth, Prof Viktor Fedun

2018 - 2022 

Thesis

A Novel Approach to Identify Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) Waves in Solar Sunspots

Supervisors

Dr Istvan Ballai, Dr Gary Verth, Prof Viktor Fedun

2017 - 2021 

Thesis

An Analysis of Magnetohydrodynamic Waves and Oscillations in the Solar Corona

Supervisors

Dr Rekha Jain

2017 - 2021

Thesis

MHD Wave Modes in the Solar Magnetic Flux Tubes with Various Cross-Sectional Shapes

Supervisors

Dr Gary Verth, Prof Viktor Fedun

2015 - 2019

Thesis

Waves and Instabilities at Contact Discontinuities

Supervisors

Dr Istvan Ballai, Prof R Von Fay-Siebenburgen

2016 - 2020

Thesis

Study of Oscillations and Flows in Solar Magnetic Active Regions

Supervisors

Dr Rekha Jain

2013 - 2017

Thesis

Axisymmetric MHD Modes in Twisted Magnetic Fields

Supervisors

Dr G Verth, Prof V Fedun, Prof R Von Fay-Siebenburgen

My current research is connected with the investigation of electromagnetic phenomena related to large earthquakes in the global lithosphere-atmosphereionosphere coupled system using simultaneous satellite and ground-based observations.

The seismo-electromagnetic effects are the electric and magnetic perturbations caused by natural geophysical activities such as earthquakes, tsunami and volcanic eruptions.

It includes

• electromagnetic emissions in a large frequency range

• perturbations of ionospheric layers

• anomalies on the records of Very Low Frequency transmitter signals

• night airglow observations

Such phenomena are of great interest, because they may start several days or a few hours before the shock and can be considered as short term precursors.

A main problem in using of this method is to distinguish the physical processes in the ionosphere, which are generated by lithosphere, atmosphere (ie planetary waves, cyclones) or solar activity (ie CME, solar flares, etc).

Publications

ADS

Sergey's main research interests and experience are in data analysis and mathematical modelling of Very Low Frequency waves in the Earth-Ionosphere wave guide.