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Researchers Reveal Model of Sun's Magnetic Field
5 June 2013
Professor Steve Tobias is co-author of an article in Nature which uncovers an important mechanism behind the generation of astrophysical magnetic fields such as that of the Sun.
The research, published in the journal Nature, explains how the cyclical nature of large-scale magnetic fields emerges, providing a solution to the mathematical equations governing fluids and electromagnetism for a large astrophysical body.
Shear-driven dynamo waves at high magnetic Reynolds number by Professors Steve Tobias (Leeds University) and Fausto Cattaneo (University of Chicago) appears in Nature Volume 497, Number 7450 and is featured in a University of Leeds press release: Researchers Reveal Model of Sun's Magnetic Field
Image credit: NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory
How does innovation spread in a community?
24 April 2013
Mathematical models can be used to study the spread of technological innovations among individuals connected to each other by a network of peer-to-peer influences, such as in a physical community or neighbourhood.
One such model was introduced in a paper published in the SIAM Journal on Applied Dynamical Systems.
Authors N. J. McCullen, A. M. Rucklidge, C. S. E. Bale, T. J. Foxon, and W. F. Gale focus on one main application: The adoption of energy-efficient technologies in a population, and consequently, a means to control energy consumption. By using a network model for adoption of energy technologies and behaviors, the model helps evaluate the potential for using networks in a physical community to shape energy policy.
See also: SIAM Connect
Back to basics for climate models
23 April 2013
Professors Steve Tobias (University of Leeds) and Brad Marston (Brown University) have published a paper in Physical Review Letters which uses basic physics and statistical tools to model key elements of the Earth's climate.
The research shows that a technique called direct statistical simulation accurately models fluid jets, fast-moving flows that form naturally in oceans and in the atmosphere. The weather of Britain and northern Europe, for example, is heavily dominated by one of these fluid jets commonly known as "The Jet Stream".
For further details, see the University press release: http://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/3376/back_to_basics_for_climate_models
Big Questions Answered
9 October 2012
Dr Mike Evans, is to have a series of articles published in the popular Sky at Night Magazine.
The series entitled ‘Big Questions’ will begin with three consecutive four-page features on topics relating to space in the November, December and January issues. The features will tackle what space is, how it works and where it comes from, with the aim to convince readers that they don’t need to be Albert Einstein to understand the answers. This will then be followed up with answers to other ‘Big Questions’ later on in the year.
The first article will be called ‘What is Spacetime?’ and will feature in the November issue which is due out on Tuesday 16 October.
New website for our students
14 September 2012
The School is pleased to announce that resources for all our students have been brought together in a new website.
The new site is www.mathsstudents.leeds,.ac.uk
It contains information for maths undergraduates, taught postgraduates and research students as well as many links to useful resources elsewhere on the internet.
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