Publications

O. Rice and A. Yeates, Global Coronal Equilibria with Solar Wind Outflow

Published in The Astrophysical Journal. A new method to model the solar corona based on radial photopsheric magnetic field measurements. The method imporoves upon existing PFSS models by taking into account the effect of the solar wind. My python code for calculating such fields is freely available here.

A figure from this paper was selected as a 'featured image' by AAS Nova, and this work also featured in a RHESSI nugget.

O. Rice and A. Yeates, Eruptivity Criteria for Two-Dimensional Magnetic Flux Ropes in the Solar Corona

Published in Frontiers in Applied Mathematics. The paper describes an extensive parameter study regarding the formation and behaviour of two-dimensional flux ropes. We found that there are entire classes of eruptions that cannot be preited using the so-called 'eruptivity index' and instead found that other quanitites are good predictors of eruptivity, such as the ratio of axial rope current to total relative helicity. Some of these quantities predicted eruptions with up to 93% accuracy.

P.Bhowmik, A. Yeates and O. Rice, Exploring the Origin of Stealth Coronal Mass Ejections with Magnetofrictional Simulations

Published in Solar Physics. A paper describing the behaviour of 'Stealth CMEs', coronal eruptions that do not have any clear signature on the solar surface. I assisted with the two-dimensional paramter study.

O. Rice, Magnetic Predictions

Published in Astronomy and Astrophysics Magazine. An article summarising my PhD research so far, discussing both the work on outflow field equilibria and the 2.5D magnetofrictional parameter study. I was asked to write this article after winning the UKSP Poster prize at the National Astronomy Meeting 2022.

O. Rice and A. Yeates, Eruptivity Criteria for Solar Coronal Flux Ropes in Magnetohydrodynamic and Magnetofrictional Models

Published in The Astrophysical Journal. A follow-up paper to the first eruptivity criteria paper. We expand upon that work by now including a new magnetofrictional model in polar coordinates, and an MHD study using the LARE2D code. We also introduce more possibilities for potential eruptivity criteria, with a proposed new definition for the eruptivity index. We also compared the criteria for flux rope instabilities in both MF and MHD, deducing that the magnetofrictional method can indeed be used (with care) in place of MHD in certain scenarios.

Awards

UKMHD Sheffield 2022 - Second-best talk

Awarded for a brief talk on the initial results from the 2.5D parameter study.

UKSP (UK Solar Physics) Poster Prize 2022

Awarded for my poster presented at the National Astronomy Meeting 2022, discussing the results from the first eruptivity critiera paper. This prize awarded me the chance to write an article for the A&G Magazine (see above).

UKSP Special Prize 2023

Awarded for producing 'excellent solar posters at NAM over the last two years'. The prize is an invited talk at either NAM 2024 or the UKSP Early Career Workshop in 2024. The poster presented was a summary of the new 2.5D parameter study, including the MHD simulations.

The Quayle Postgraduate Bursary Award 2023
Awarded on the recommendation of the Heads of Departments in Mathematics and Physics to one or more research students to enable to spend a period in another university or research institution to further essential aspects of their pojects.