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My research interests lie in astrophysical fluid dynamics, solar and stellar plasma physics, and magnetohydrodynamic simulations. More specifically, I study Rossby waves in the Sun and other stars—large-scale motions that quietly run the show deep beneath stellar surfaces.
From a distance, the Sun looks calm and well-behaved. Up close (or rather, deep inside), it is anything but. Beneath its glowing surface, vast waves travel through rotating plasma, subtly choreographing magnetic activity and long-term cycles. These waves, called Rossby waves, are cousins of the atmospheric waves that shape Earth’s weather—except instead of rain and wind, they influence magnetism.
Physicists believe the Sun’s magnetic field is generated in a thin, hidden layer below the visible surface, where turbulence and rotation constantly wrestle with each other. My research explores how Rossby waves behave in this layer and how they may help keep the Sun’s magnetic rhythm—sometimes speeding it up, sometimes throwing it off beat.
And the Sun may not be doing all of this on its own. Nearby planets or companion stars can gently tug on it through gravitational “tides,” periodically stirring its interior. Under the right conditions, these subtle nudges can amplify internal waves and boost magnetic activity.
By studying these hidden waves and their interactions, my work aims to better understand how stars generate magnetic fields—and how even distant cosmic companions can occasionally lend a gravitational hand.
我的研究兴趣主要集中在天体物理流体力学、太阳与恒星等离子体物理以及磁流体力学数值模拟领域。更具体地说，我研究的是太阳及其他恒星中的罗斯贝波——这些潜藏在恒星表面之下、悄然“掌控全局”的大尺度运动。
从远处看，太阳显得平静而乖巧；但走近一些（准确地说，是深入内部），情况完全不是这样。在炽热明亮的表面之下，巨大的波动在旋转的等离子体中穿行，暗中编排着太阳的磁活动和长期变化周期。这些被称为罗斯贝波的结构，与塑造地球天气的大气波动在精神上颇为相似——只不过，它们影响的不是风雨，而是磁场。
物理学家认为，太阳的磁场诞生于可见表面之下的一层薄薄的“隐秘区域”，在那里，湍流与自转不断角力。我的研究关注罗斯贝波在这一层中的行为，以及它们如何帮助维持太阳的磁节律——有时让节奏加快，有时又让它“跑调”。
而太阳可能并不是独自完成这一切的。附近的行星或伴星会通过引力对太阳施加温和的“潮汐”作用，周期性地搅动其内部。在合适的条件下，这些看似微不足道的拉扯，反而可能放大内部波动，并增强磁活动。
通过研究这些隐藏在恒星内部的波动及其相互作用，我的工作旨在更深入地理解恒星磁场是如何产生的，以及遥远的宇宙伙伴如何偶尔通过引力“搭一把手”。