Computer simulations of stellar winds interacting with the interstellar medium

Space observatories are finding more and more stars that lose some of their atmosphere in the form of a stellar wind (like our Sun’s solar wind) which interacts with the ever-present interstellar gas in such a way that bow shocks and other interaction features light up. The project focuses on simulating this stellar wind / dense interstellar gas interaction in 3D, synthesizing observables numerically, and then comparing them to the observations to explore the physics of the interaction. The project involves computer modeling (adapting an existing solar wind model) and analyzing simulation data. The prerequisite is having an affinity for using computers extensively in this way.

FACULTY CONTACT: Hans Mueller