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Faculty of Mathematics

 

Career

  • 2025- to date: Research Professor, DAMTP, University of Cambridge
  • 2024- to date: Honorary Professor, University of Leicester
  • 2012-2025:  Senior Research Associate, DAMTP, University of Cambridge
  • 2008-2012: STFC Advanced Fellow, DAMTP, University of Cambridge
  • 2007-2008: PPARC/STFC  Advanced Fellow, MSSL, University College London
  • 2004-2007: Research Fellow, MSSL, University College London
  • 2002-2004:  Research Associate, DAMTP, University of Cambridge
  • 2001:  Research Associate,  University of Florence, Italy
  • 1999-2001:  Research Associate, DAMTP, University of Cambridge

Research

I am a member of the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics  Atomic Astrophysics research group. My current research interests are on energy transfer processes in the solar corona.

Atomic physics calculations and plasma diagnostic techniques applied to XUV spectroscopic observations allow the measurements of plasma parameters such as electron density, temperature, chemical abundances. In conjunction with modeling, they can help us in understanding how magnetic energy is transferred into heat in all varieties of solar coronal features, from active region loops to solar flares.

I have also been working on measuring the solar EUV irradiance and its variations during the last solar cycle, and how these variations can be modeled and models applied to other stars.

I contributed to atomic data calculations (within the UK APAP network), to line identifications and benchmarking atomic data against laboratory and astrophysical spectra, to atomic data distribution via the CHIANTI atomic database and VAMDC.

I have been PI of STFC grants for a while. 

I am the PI for Cambridge of the STFC large award "The Solar Atmospheric Modelling Suite" (SAMS),  aiming to model stellar chromospheres, see  https://sams-project-uk.github.io/about/

 

 

Publications

Non-Maxwellian Analysis of the Transition-region Line Profiles Observed by the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph
J Dudík, V Polito, E Dzifčáková, G Del Zanna, P Testa
– The Astrophysical Journal
(2017)
842,
19
Analysis and modelling of recurrent solar flares observed with Hinode/EIS on March 9, 2012∗
V Polito, G Del Zanna, G Valori, E Pariat, HE Mason, J Dudík, M Janvier
– Astronomy & Astrophysics
(2017)
601,
a39
Multiconfiguration dirac-hartree-fock calculations with spectroscopic accuracy: Applications to astrophysics
P Jönsson, G Gaigalas, P Rynkun, L Radžiūtė, J Ekman, S Gustafsson, H Hartman, K Wang, M Godefroid, CF Fischer, I Grant, T Brage, G Del Zanna
– Atoms
(2017)
5,
16
Multi-instrument observations of a failed flare eruption associated with MHD waves in a loop bundle⋆
G Nisticò, V Polito, VM Nakariakov, G Del Zanna
– Astronomy & Astrophysics
(2017)
600,
a37
CHIANTI: An Atomic Database for Astrophysical Plasmas
E Landi, KP Dere, PR Young, GD Zanna, HE Mason
– Fusion Science and Technology
(2017)
63,
324
Temperature and density structure of a recurring active region jet⋆
SM Mulay, G Del Zanna, H Mason
– Astronomy & Astrophysics
(2016)
598,
a11
Scaling of collision strengths for highly-excited states of ions of the H- and He-like sequences⋆
L Fernández-Menchero, G Del Zanna, NR Badnell
– Astronomy & Astrophysics
(2016)
592,
a135
SLIPPING MAGNETIC RECONNECTION, CHROMOSPHERIC EVAPORATION, IMPLOSION, AND PRECURSORS IN THE 2014 SEPTEMBER 10 X1.6-CLASS SOLAR FLARE
J Dudík, V Polito, M Janvier, SM Mulay, M Karlický, G Aulanier, GD Zanna, E Dzifčáková, HE Mason, B Schmieder
– Astrophysical Journal
(2016)
823,
41
Multiwavelength study of 20 jets that emanate from the periphery of active regions⋆
SM Mulay, D Tripathi, G Del Zanna, H Mason
– Astronomy & Astrophysics
(2016)
589,
a79
Atomic processes for astrophysical plasmas
NR Badnell, GD Zanna, L Fernández-Menchero, AS Giunta, GY Liang, HE Mason, PJ Storey
– Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
(2016)
49,
094001
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Research Groups

Astrophysics
Atomic Astrophysics

Room

F1.05

Telephone

01223 337916