Two PhD positions in Solar Physics

Organisation & Position Details

Organisation/Company: KU LEUVEN

Field:
Astronomy >
Astrophysics >
Mathematics >
Applied mathematics

Position:
First Stage Researcher (PhD) – Researcher Profile R1

Final date to receive applications: 2 Mar 2026 – 23:59 (UTC)

Country:
Belgium

Type of

Contract:

Temporary

Status:
Full-time

Offer Starting Date: 15 Sep 2026

Funding:
Not funded by an EU programme (Reference Number BAP-)

Research Infrastructure Staff Position? No

We are seeking two PhD candidates to work on the following projects.

Supervisors:
Tom Van Doorsselaere & Fabio Bacchini

The solar corona is an extremely hot, low‑density plasma with temperatures exceeding one million kelvin. Collisions between electrons and ions give rise to several radiative emission processes, which transport energy away from the plasma and contribute to its cooling. Among these, spectral line emission accounts for the majority of the observed radiation. This process occurs when electrons excite ions, which subsequently emit photons as they relax to lower energy states.

In this project, we aim to incorporate spectral line radiation into particle‑in‑cell (PIC) simulations of the solar corona. PIC simulations model plasma behaviour on kinetic scales by representing the plasma as an ensemble of individual charged particles, enabling particle‑field interactions to evolve self‑consistently. The next stage will investigate how radiative losses influence plasma dynamics during energy‑release processes, including turbulence and magnetic reconnection.

Supervisor:
Tom Van Doorsselaere

The solar corona is significantly hotter than the solar surface – a longstanding and unresolved phenomenon known as the coronal heating problem. Increasing evidence indicates that the extreme coronal temperatures are sustained by the dissipation of magneto hydrodynamic (MHD) waves, including Alfvén and kink waves. MHD simulations are widely used to model the propagation and energy transport of these waves in the solar corona.

The project supervisor has recently developed the Q‑variables, a new formalism that decomposes wave modes into forward‑ and backward‑propagating components, allowing analysis of wave propagation, reflection and energy transport. In this project, Q‑variables will be used to derive analytical expressions for kink‑wave reflection and interaction terms, and to investigate coupling mechanisms between kink waves and other MHD wave modes. The analytical results will be validated using numerical simulations of kink‑wave reflection and wave‑wave interactions.

Finally, the derived expressions will be applied to improve existing MHD models of the solar corona.

• Communicate research results through peer‑reviewed publications and conference contributions.
• Complete the doctoral programme at the Arenberg Doctoral School, including professional training in management, science communication, and teaching.
• Take part in international conferences, workshops, and research visits.
• Teach exercise classes in mathematics.
• Assist in the supervision of bachelor’s projects.

• Hold a master’s degree in physics, mathematics, astrophysics, or an equivalent qualification with a strong mathematical component by the time the PhD project begins.
• Demonstrate excellent academic performance.
• Have a strong interest in solar physics.
• Possess a solid background in computational modelling and programming.
• Be curious, highly motivated, and possess strong analytical skills.
• Have a good command of English and strong written and oral communication skills.

• Two PhD scholarships within the CmPA in the Department of Mathematics.
• Scientific objectives are flexible and can be tailored to the candidate’s research interests.
• Scholarships cover a total period of four years, with renewal for three additional years following a positive evaluation after the first year.
• Access to a supportive and collaborative research team with state‑of‑the‑art simulation methods.
• An open, dynamic, and…