Suoqing Ji, Professor, Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Bin Shi, Associate Professor

Microphysical and non-thermal processes in the circumgalactic medium: turbulence, magnetic fields and cosmic rays

14:00-15:00 March 13 ( Monday), Z311

Multiphase gas structure is ubiquitous in our universe. Recent observations suggest that large quantities of cool (10^4 K) gas are detected in the circumgalactic medium (CGM) of galaxy halos, which extends up to a few times of galactic virial radius. In addition, warm gas at a few 10^5 K is found to be tightly associated with the star-forming galaxies, but not the quenched ones. However, the origin and fate of such multiphase gas remain unclear. In this talk, I will discuss how magnetic fields, turbulent mixing layers and cosmic rays can play a crucial role in the formation and stability of the multiphase CGM.

Bio: Dr. Suoqing Ji is a research professor at Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, CAS. After obtaining his Ph.D. in physics from the University of California Santa Barbara in 2018, he moved to Caltech as a Sherman Fairchild fellow in theoretical astrophysics from 2018 to 2021. His research interests include magnetohydrodynamics, turbulence, hydrodynamic and thermal instabilities, cosmic rays, etc., and their application in galaxy formation, the circumgalactic medium and stellar physics.