Solar Physics

Solar physics at the University of Glasgow focuses on the dynamics and energetics of the Sun - how magnetic energy is stored, released, and transported in the Sun’s atmosphere, and how this drives flares, jets, and other eruptive events. Our work connects fundamental plasma physics with observations from ground- and space-based instruments, with strong links to space weather and data-driven modelling. International collaboration is a core part of our world leading research.

Main research themes

  • Solar flares and energy release: We investigate what triggers solar eruptions (including the Hot Onset precursor), how magnetic energy is transferred into other forms (particularly particle acceleration and waves) and how this is deposited in the lower atmosphere. We do this through the studying the resulting multi-wavelength flare emission from these processes.
  • Coronal heating and solar activity: We study some of the smallest flares and quiescent Sun impulsive event to determine their contribution to heating the Sun’s atmosphere, and how they relate to larger active Sun flares.
  • Solar radio and high-energy diagnostics: We develop and apply radio and X-ray analysis methods to probe fast particles, reconnection, and wave-particle interactions. We also study the in-situ particle distributions in interplanetary space.
  • Solar Prominences: We analyze the emission from prominences and filaments, relatively cool and dense plasma is suspended in the hot and tenuous corona, using instruments from the ground and space. These are modelled in terms of their radiative properties.
  • Spectroscopy and inversion methods: We use UV, EUV, optical, and X-ray spectroscopy, alongside inversion and forward-modelling tools, to extract quantitative properties of solar atmosphere.
  • Theory and simulation: We combine radiation hydrodynamics, radiative transfer, plasma kinetic theory, and numerical modelling to test physical scenarios against observations.

Observations, data, and facilities

Our research uses multi-wavelength observations from missions and facilities including IRIS, Hinode, SDO, RHESSI, Solar Orbiter, Parker Solar Probe, NuSTAR, DKIST, ALMA and LOFAR, as well as upcoming missions like MUSE and SKAO.

We develop and use advanced analysis tools, including regularized differential emission measure approaches, modern inversion pipelines and machine learning, on these observations to extract physical properties to compare to models and numerical simulations.

People and collaboration

Solar research in the group spans expertise in flare physics, spectroscopy, radio diagnostics, energetic particles, and numerical modelling. To learn more about specific projects and opportunities, see our People pages and current Opportunities.