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Physics Centre for Fusion, Space and Astrophysics

Research Interests

Planetary Magnetospheres & Radiation Belts

This research area focuses on understanding how planetary magnetospheres and their radiation belts interact with and respond to their surrounding plasma environments. To this end I have developed a massively parallel particle simulation code which runs in-line with our global-MHD simulations, to examine the evolution of ultra-relativistic particle distributions within dynamic magnetospheric fields. This model won funding under the SPF NERC SWIMMR programme to deliver worst-case space weather scenario prediction to the UK MET Office Space Weather Operations Centre. I am also interested in beyond MHD magnetospheric modelling and extra-solar planetary magnetospheres.
Simulation of the global magnetosphere and van allen radiation belts

Global simulation of the terrestrial magnetosphere and Van Allen radiation belts responding to the solar wind.

Solar Corona and Heliosphere

This research area focusses on understanding how the solar wind and impulsive phenomena such as jets, coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and solar energetic particles (SEPs) propagate through the heliosphere. The solar wind and coronal mass ejections are modelled using three dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulations. Recent simulations have expanded outward to examine the magnetised interaction with the ISM, local bubble and beyond.
 Gibson-Low flux rope erupting from within a magnetostatic corona Simulation of a Gibson-Low flux rope erupting from within a magnetostatic corona
3-D simulation of a Gibson-Low flux rope erupting from the solar surface from within a magnetostatic solar corona.

Particle-In-Cell Simulations

This research area focuses on modelling fundamental plasma phenomena, such as the generation of space plasma micro-instabilities and the interaction of plasmas with a charged spaceraft, using Particle-In-Cell and Hybrid simulation codes. I am currently examining how plasma waves are generated in the Jovian system and how Saturnian plasmas interacted with the Cassini spacecraft to affect measurements taken during the Grand Finale.

 Full PIC simulation of the Cassini spacecraft interacting with Saturn's ionosphere during the Grand Finale hybrid simulations of an anisotropic particle distribution as it generates an electromagnetic plasma instability.

Full-PIC simulation of the Cassini spacecraft during the Grand Finale and hybrid-PIC simulation of an anisotropic particle distribution generating an electromagnetic plasma instability.